"It was just as I suspected. Her cousin was threatening her, so she was turning her back on his dealing drugs out of the Club. It pisses me off that she would put me and Sam at risk like that, but I'm also bothered that she didn't feel like she could come talk to us. I always felt like we were approachable and supportive to all our staff."
"I'm sure you are. But maybe her cousin was threatening her about telling you as well. And sometimes it’s hard to know how people will take unexpected information, even if you believe them to be a good and decent person." I definitely knew that firsthand. I had very important news to tell Max, but hell if I could find the words to say them. Perhaps as the call went on, I’d find the nerve and the words.
"I suppose you're right. How are things with you? Have you signed the vineyard yet?"
I smiled, loving how he remembered aspects of my life. Again, my heart wanted to believe it meant something. But all it really meant was that Max was a nice man.
"I did. I spent the weekend there and then gave my presentation, walking away with a signed contract."
"That's fantastic.”
"Not only did I get the contract, but she said she was going to send me a case of wine." Of course, I wouldn't be able to drink it for the next nine months.
“That’s great, Amelia. I’m sure you deserve both. Listen, by running out the way I did, we didn't finish taking care of the paperwork."
It was stupid how disappointed I was that he wanted to talk about the annulment. "I was thinking I could file the paperwork. I'm still not sure that being drunk is enough to say we were incapacitated, but since we can’t remember getting the license or getting married, I figured I could try."
"I still need to sign something, right?"
"First, I'd have to serve you. I could hire a courier to get it to you." I wanted to seem helpful even as I hoped he’d come to Las Vegas. Or maybe I could go to New York. I could find out just how expensive it would be to live there.
He was quiet for a moment. "No. I can fly out. It will have to be right before Christmas. Or if you're busy, I can wait."
"I’m available before Christmas." It was ridiculous how excited I was by the idea of seeing him sooner rather than later.
"I can fly out on the twenty-third. I'll have to fly back on Christmas Eve because my family is expecting me for Christmas. Looks like my brother is going to be spending it with Kate in California, which will be the first Christmas we aren’t all together. It’s important to my mom that I be home."
"So, things worked out for him?"
"It sounds like it. He plans to propose on Christmas Eve or Christmas."
I pictured a man who looked like Max down on his knee. "Wow. That's fast. But very romantic."
"He seems certain, so I'm going to have to trust that he knows what he's doing. He’s been in love with her for a long time, so I'm hopeful that things will work out."
“I hope so too.” There was a lull in the conversation. This was the time I should tell him about the baby, but the words didn’t leave my mouth. I’d wait until I saw him the following week. It would be better to tell him in person anyway, right?
“I’ll let you go. It was nice talking to you, Amelia.”
He was hanging up? No innuendo? No phone sex? Tears rushed to my eyes, making me feel stupid.
I was jealous that Max's brother and his girlfriend were finding their happily ever after. Fairytales were for silly schoolgirls, but who didn't want to find a pure and passionate, everlasting love? Ever since meeting Max, my desire for true love had grown exponentially. Despite my best attempts to keep emotions out of it, I’d fallen hard for him. How ironic that I was married to him and having his baby, but none of it was real.
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
Max
The line went dead, and inwardly, I kicked myself for bringing up the annulment. The minute I had, the atmosphere of the call changed. Dammit.
Hearing her voice had been like a balm on my weary soul. The worry and stress from dealing with law enforcement and a drug dealer working out of the club took its toll. I was tired and frustrated and more than a little concerned for Allison. Sitting in the enclosed porch of the Hampton house and having a few drinks only did so much to reduce the strain and tension of the situation. I needed a respite. I needed Amelia.
I called her under the guise of the annulment papers, so I shouldn't have been so annoyed with myself for bringing it up. Ending our marriage had become the excuse to be able to talk to her, to see her.
I loved hearing the excitement in her voice at getting the vineyard client. I was proud of her, although I didn't say that because really I had no reason to be proud. At best, Amelia and I were friends with benefits. Sure, I'd fallen for her, but she and I could never be more than what we were now.
I thought about Sam and Kate and how it appeared they were finally going to have the life they had planned together five years ago. I was happy for him. Maybe even a little jealous. It was the envy and the unrelenting yearning for Amelia that were the worst. In fact, it pissed me off. I didn't want to be in love. I didn't want my heart to be susceptible to a woman who could break it.
I remembered how I continued to push Sam to pursue Kate when she was so resistant and he’d wanted to give up. Life came easily to Sam. Technically, it had come easily for me too, except for the dyslexia that made reading difficult and resulted in ridicule from other students as I was growing up. But Sam breezed through life and had never had to work hard, really hard, to achieve his goal. Every time he gave up on Kate, I'd encouraged him to continue on. Mostly, it was because I knew how much he loved her and how his happiness was wrapped up in her. But I suppose a part of me wanted him to have to truly earn something. Perhaps that was my envy at work as well.