I giggle. His elation is contagious. “I’m so glad you’re happy, and she said yes! When? How did it go?”
“I’ll tell you over dinner,” he grumbles. “Or I’ll let her. She’s the better storyteller. Come on, Erika. I don’t want to be late!”
I climb into his car, and Max zooms out of the lot. During the entire ride, I tease him about his driving. It’s a little reckless but nothing too worrisome.
“Why didn’t you pick her up?” I ask.
“Her office is actually a block away,” he says, pointing south. “I offered to get her, but she said she would drive. Besides, she hasn’t moved in yet, so she’ll be heading back to her place tonight.”
“Alone?” I lift my eyebrows.
“Erika! You aren’t supposed to know about any of that.”
“Any of what?” I tease.
“Any…” He waves his hand and fumbles to grab the keys.
We climb out of the car, and he hands his key to the valet.
“Any shenanigans,” Max whispers.
“Ah. Don’t you mean the birds and the bees?”
His face turns beet red. No, it’s redder than a beet and a tomato.
I burst out laughing. "Max, if you want to have kids, you're going to have to tell them about sex one day."
“I can leave that up to Emma.”
“Yeah, if you have a girl. If you have a boy…”
“Ah, porn can teach him.”
“Max!”
“Relax! I’m just kidding. All right.” He exhales loudly and guides me inside.
The hostess takes his name and directs us to a table. We find out that Emma is already there. She looks even better up close.
“You could be a model,” I tell her after Max introduces us.
Max coughs into his fist and grimaces at me.
I wave to him.
Emma smiles. “Thank you, hon, but the same could be said about you. Such lovely dark hair. Are you mixed?”
“Mixed?” I ask, confused.
“I just never saw a white person with such dark hair. I thought…”
“My parents are both white,” I say, my confusion transforming into embarrassment.
“Oh, okay. Is it dyed?”
“No.” I clear my throat. “How did Max propose?”
“Oh, Max.” Emma smiles and pats his hand. “He’s been such a gem. I’m a real estate agent, and the hours can be so very long, and it’s crazy, all of it! The business trips… Well, speaking of, I came home early from a business trip, and of course, I told Max that I was coming in on which flight, could he pick me up…”