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Chapter 30
Gigi watched Max’scab driveaway,itstaillightsdisappearing around a corner toosoon.The goodbyethey’d justsharedwasbittersweet,butinawayshethoughtshepreferred ittotheone theywould have had in twodays’time.Thisonewasveiledwith anotherkindofsadness,which seemed toeclipsethepainshefelt becauseMax’swasthatmuchmorepotent.
Shecouldn’tfathomlosingoneof herparents. Itwasone of hergreatestfears,butsomething thateverychild had toexperiencealong thislong road called life.Turning,shestepped backintothe apartmentbuilding. Theplacefeltsoempty, knowingMaxandErin wouldn’tbereturning. Walking thequiethallway,sheshutMax’sbedroomdoor behind her and breathed in thesilence. Itsettled heavilyin her lungs,making her feelasifsheweresuffocating. Shere-packed hersuitcaseand then climbed intoMax’ssideofthebed. Thescentof himlingered thereand Gigi clutched athispillow.
Shefeltthefirstof hertearsfall. Shewondered howit hadn’ttakenall thatlong for himtobecomesoimportanttoher. Itmadeabsolutelynosenseatall, butshesupposed itdidn’thaveto. Hehad becomeimprinted on her soul and sheknewshewould neverforgethim.
*
Sunlightstreamedthroughthesheercurtains,wakingGigi.Hereyesfeltpuffyandsore,evidence thatshe’dcriedherselftosleepafterMaxhadleft.Grabbingherphonefromthenightstand,she lookedat thetime;he wouldbeboardinghisflight.Shegot out ofbedandstaggeredtothe bathroomfor aquickshower.Shehadclasses this morningthatshe couldn’t miss,consideringshe’d skippedthe onethedaybefore. Onceshewassatisfiedwiththestate of theapartment,shedragged hersuitcase outintothehall.Butinstead ofgoingtotheelevator,shewentjustafewdoorsupfrom Max’splaceandknocked.
Jeremylooked surprised tofind her standingon hisdoorstep. “Gigi,right?”
Shenodded. Hedid remember her fromtheclub, then. Holding outher hand,shedropped theset of keysMaxhad cutforherintohispalm.“I’msure you’veheard bynow.”
“Yeah,I did. Isheall right?”
Sheshrugged.“He’sokay—shockedmostly.Anyway,IthoughtI’dgiveyoumykeystopassonto therealtorsinceI won’tbe needing themanymore.”
Jeremyfrowned. “Whywon’tyou needthem?”
“Hewon’tbecoming back.”
Hisfrowndeepened. “AmImissing something?”
“Youdon’tknow?” she asked.Jeremyshookhishead.“MaxwasreturningtoLAonFriday.Hisbossfounda replacementfor him.”
“Right.”
“I’msorryifI’vetold you something I shouldn’t,”shesaid in a rush.
“It’sfine,Gigi.Don’tworryaboutit. I’llmakesuretogetthesekeysbacktotherealtor.”
“Thanks. IguessI’llsee youaround.”
HenoddedandGigiturned,ridingtheelevatordownforthefinaltimeandsteppingfromthe apartmentbuilding.
*
Classesdraggedbythatday.Gigicouldn’trecallasinglethingthathadbeendiscussed—norcould shesummon theinteresttocare. Shewasfunctioningon autopilotuntil lunch when Alextracked her down ata local deli.
“Gigi,I’vebeen trying tocatch you all day,” hesaid,taking theemptyseatbeside her.
Shedidn’tevenbothertolookathim.Herattention wasfirmlyfixedon theturkey onryeinfront of her.“Sorry.”
“Hey,”hesaid softly,touching her shoulder.“What’swrong?”
“Nothing’swrong.”
“Youknowyoucantellmeanything,right?”hesaid,ignoringthewayshe’djustshruggedoffhis concern.
With a sigh,shelooked athim. “There’snothing totell,Alex.”
“IsittheAMNH internshipposition?”
Yeah,that’ll do,shethought. “Sure.”
“Theydosecond-roundintakes,youknow.Someofthepeoplewhoappliedturneddowntheir offer.”
