busy with Connor Dean.” Josh said Connor’s name in a singsong voice, and Savannah immediately reacted by swatting him on the arms.
Max couldn’t help but smile at the ribbing. No wonder Treat enjoyed his family so much. She already felt like one of them. This can’t be good .
The afternoon meal was comfortable and, Max had to admit, more fun than anything she’d done in a very long time. She kept picturing what it might be like to be there with Treat. How much ribbing would he dole out? What kind of teasing would they thrust upon him? How would he act around her? Would he be openly affectionate, as Blake was with his wife, Danica? Or would he be more reserved in public, like Chaz was toward Kaylie?
What am I doing? I’m not even his girlfriend . Why aren’t any of them married? She tried to ignore the red flag that waved like a beacon in her mind.
As she walked to her car with the family in tow— Did they do everything together? —she thought about when Treat had said goodbye the night before. Now that she was really thinking about it, something about the way he said it seemed... final . The lingering touch of her cheek, the sadness in his eyes that she’d attributed to her hasty retreat. Goodbye, Max . Did he know he was being called away today? What exactly did that mean, He’s been called away?
Hal embraced her and held her longer than most friends might. He held her like a father might hold his daughter. When he released her, he put his large hands on her shoulders and said, “Treat’s out of town. I’m not sure what went on between the two of you, but he was in a hurry.”
His eyes searched hers, and she was too numb to speak.
He was in a hurry? Goodbye, Max. He left on purpose. He wasn’t called away. He was saying goodbye for good .
Hal continued. “I might suggest that you give him some time.”
“Oh, Dad.” Savannah moved her father’s arm from Max’s shoulder, and then pulled Max into a hug. “Don’t listen to him. If Treat left because something happened between you two, fix it.”
“She’s giving relationship advice again,” Dane said loudly. “Max, Savannah’s not exactly the queen of dating. Don’t listen to a word she says.”
“Look who’s talking,” Josh joked.
“Boys.” Hal put a stop to their taunts.
The four men said goodbye to Max, and as she climbed into her car, she was more confused than ever.
Savannah stuck her head into the car’s window and said, “Call him. Fix it.”
“I don’t have his number,” Max admitted as Dane dragged Savannah away.
“Leave the girl alone,” he said.
Max waited, hoping, praying someone would give her his number, but they were so wrapped up in bickering that she knew she’d get that number only on a hope and a prayer.
As she drove away, watching them in the rearview mirror, she wondered where Treat had gone and why he would have run away without so much as a goodbye. He did say goodbye. I just didn’t know it. She had to talk to him. She felt his absence like the permanent loss of a loved one, complete with a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach and a lump in her throat.
She pulled her car over on the side of the road and dialed Treat’s assistant’s number. Scarlet had been so helpful in planning Chaz’s wedding; surely she wouldn’t mind tracking him down .
Chapter Fifteen
THE SWEEPING VIEW of Wellfleet Harbor always took Treat’s breath away, but tonight, as the cool air blew through the upper deck of the Pearl restaurant and the moon sparkled on the ripples of the bay, thoughts of Max kept him from enjoying its beauty. He was second-guessing his actions with an insurmountable list of what ifs: What if the next morning she reconsidered? What if she did read the notes? What if he’d stayed while she read them? What did she think of them? Did she think they were childish, or romantic and meaningful, as he’d meant for them to be? What if he had tried harder? He could have tried to woo her for
Max couldn’t help but smile at the ribbing. No wonder Treat enjoyed his family so much. She already felt like one of them. This can’t be good .
The afternoon meal was comfortable and, Max had to admit, more fun than anything she’d done in a very long time. She kept picturing what it might be like to be there with Treat. How much ribbing would he dole out? What kind of teasing would they thrust upon him? How would he act around her? Would he be openly affectionate, as Blake was with his wife, Danica? Or would he be more reserved in public, like Chaz was toward Kaylie?
What am I doing? I’m not even his girlfriend . Why aren’t any of them married? She tried to ignore the red flag that waved like a beacon in her mind.
As she walked to her car with the family in tow— Did they do everything together? —she thought about when Treat had said goodbye the night before. Now that she was really thinking about it, something about the way he said it seemed... final . The lingering touch of her cheek, the sadness in his eyes that she’d attributed to her hasty retreat. Goodbye, Max . Did he know he was being called away today? What exactly did that mean, He’s been called away?
Hal embraced her and held her longer than most friends might. He held her like a father might hold his daughter. When he released her, he put his large hands on her shoulders and said, “Treat’s out of town. I’m not sure what went on between the two of you, but he was in a hurry.”
His eyes searched hers, and she was too numb to speak.
He was in a hurry? Goodbye, Max. He left on purpose. He wasn’t called away. He was saying goodbye for good .
Hal continued. “I might suggest that you give him some time.”
“Oh, Dad.” Savannah moved her father’s arm from Max’s shoulder, and then pulled Max into a hug. “Don’t listen to him. If Treat left because something happened between you two, fix it.”
“She’s giving relationship advice again,” Dane said loudly. “Max, Savannah’s not exactly the queen of dating. Don’t listen to a word she says.”
“Look who’s talking,” Josh joked.
“Boys.” Hal put a stop to their taunts.
The four men said goodbye to Max, and as she climbed into her car, she was more confused than ever.
Savannah stuck her head into the car’s window and said, “Call him. Fix it.”
“I don’t have his number,” Max admitted as Dane dragged Savannah away.
“Leave the girl alone,” he said.
Max waited, hoping, praying someone would give her his number, but they were so wrapped up in bickering that she knew she’d get that number only on a hope and a prayer.
As she drove away, watching them in the rearview mirror, she wondered where Treat had gone and why he would have run away without so much as a goodbye. He did say goodbye. I just didn’t know it. She had to talk to him. She felt his absence like the permanent loss of a loved one, complete with a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach and a lump in her throat.
She pulled her car over on the side of the road and dialed Treat’s assistant’s number. Scarlet had been so helpful in planning Chaz’s wedding; surely she wouldn’t mind tracking him down .
Chapter Fifteen
THE SWEEPING VIEW of Wellfleet Harbor always took Treat’s breath away, but tonight, as the cool air blew through the upper deck of the Pearl restaurant and the moon sparkled on the ripples of the bay, thoughts of Max kept him from enjoying its beauty. He was second-guessing his actions with an insurmountable list of what ifs: What if the next morning she reconsidered? What if she did read the notes? What if he’d stayed while she read them? What did she think of them? Did she think they were childish, or romantic and meaningful, as he’d meant for them to be? What if he had tried harder? He could have tried to woo her for
Similar Books
