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Helaughed. “I’msurethatwon’t bean issuefor him.”
Evangeline wassilentforamoment. “Chelsea camebylookingfor you.”Hedidn’tsayanything. “I didn’trealizeyoutwowere having problems.”
“Whatmakesyou thinkwe’rehaving problems?”
“Max,please;givemeabitofcredit.Youdidn’teventellyourwifethatyouwereleavingwith your daughter togo toNewYorkfor fourmonths.”
Heswirledthewordshewasgoingtosayaroundin hismouthforamoment.“Shewalkedouton usthree monthsago.”
“Oh,Max.”
“Idon’tneedyourpity,Angel.”Hiswordswerewearywithresignation.“Sendingmeherewas thebestthing you could haveever done.”
“Well,I didn’tknowanyofthisbeforeItold her wheretofind you. I’msorryifsheshowsup.”
“Shealreadydid,”hereplied. “I sent her away.”
“Isthereanything I can dofor you?”
Hewiped thesweatnowtrickling fromhisbrow. “No.I’mgood.Thanks,though.So,when isBrian coming in?”
“Tonight. I told himtogo and seeyou atfive. I alsogavehimyour number.”
“Howmuch longer willI bestaying in NewYork?”
Apentappedinthebackground.“OnceyougiveBriantherundown,whichIcan’tseelasting morethanacoupleofdays,I’dliketohaveyoubackatworkforFridaynight.I’llstartlookingat flightsleaving mid-morning.Thatshouldget you backwithenoughtimetorestandgetreadyforthe nightshift.”
MaxsmiledtightlyatacoupleoffemalejoggerssmilingathimafterglancingdownatErin.
“Soundsfine. IguessI’llseeyouon Friday.”
“It’ll be good tohaveyouback.”
Heendedthecallandbeganwalkingagain,hismusclesalreadytighteningupfromtheshort break.Hereplayedthephonecallinhishead,alwayscomingbacktoonething—hewasleavingon Fridaymorning.That invisibledeadlinethathadbeenhanging over hisandGigi’sheadwasnow a tangiblereality.Thethoughtofleavingalmosthurtasbadlyasithadwhenshehadwalkedouton himthemorningbefore.Whatwasshegoingtosay?Whatweretheygoingtodo?Hedidn’tthink shewouldtake thenews verywell.Healsodoubtedtheywoulddoalong-distancething,butthe thoughtof walking awayfromwhattheyhad wasalsoa hugehell-fucking-no.
Palming hisphoneagain,hepulled up Gigi’scontactdetails. “Hello?”sheanswered a fewringsin. Shesounded breathless.
“Areyourunning?”heasked.
Shechuckled.“Iforgottoputmyphoneonsilent.MyprofessorhatescellsgoingoffinclasssoI had toleavetheroomin ahurrytoescapethelaser beamshewasshooting at me with his eyes.”
Hismouthflexedintoasmileattheimage,buthismoodquicklysobered.“Ijustspoketomy boss,theoneinLA.”
“Oh?”
Hesqueezedthemusclesinthebackofhisneck.“I’mleaving onFriday.”For amomentallhe could hearwasher heavy breathing ontheotherendof theline.“Pleasesaysomething.”
“Friday?”shewhispered.
“I know;it’stoosoon,butshefound a new manager torun theshow. Theguyisstarting tonightto learn theropes.Itwon’ttakehimlong,though—heused torun Bembe.”
“Friday?”sherepeated,her disbelief haemorrhagingfromthatoneword.
“I’msorry.”What elsecould hesay?Hehadn’tthoughtbeyond histimein NewYork. Could they dolong-distance?Heknewhecouldn’taskhertocomebacktoLA withhim;shehadherwholelife hereinNewYork.Shehad herhopespinned ontheinternshipatthe museum, andifshegotit,he had nodoubtthatshewould securethejob attheendoftheyeartoo.
CouldheliveinNewYork,though?Hecouldn’tleavehisjob.Hecouldn’tleavehismother;he couldn’t keep Erin awayfromher. Hehad madealifein California,even if Chelseahad temporarily destroyed it.
“Gigi?Areyou still there?”
Sheclearedher throat.“Yeah,I’mstill here.”
“Willyoustill comeand staywith meand Erin?”
Sheexhaled.“Yes.”
Thetension inMax’sshoulders eased. “Thankyou.”
“I havetogo. I’ll seeyoutonight.”With aclick,thecalldisconnected.
