Page 39 of Dr. Bad Boy

“Right? I’m from Toronto, and we’ve got a couple of spots of good history, but our business district is all skyscrapers. I love working on Spark Street.”

“Oh, do you?” She grins at Gavin. “She’s so close!” She turns back to me. “I work at U of O.”

She tells me this like I don’t know that, like the entire country doesn’t know everything about her. And suddenly I’m hit with a wave of empathy. I’m nervous about the RCMP and the prime minister knowing everything about me…but she’s got that times thirty million people.

“We should have coffee sometime.” She curls her knees up and sips her wine. “Talk about these guys.” She winks, and I don’t care if she’s just being polite. It’s lovely and kind.

“I’d like that.”

Gavin clears his throat. “So am I going to get a chance to ask Violet anything?”

Ellie shrugs. “Depends what it is.”

"I don't know, Sprite. This is the first time I've ever met someone that Max has brought home."

"You're not his father," she teases with a wink.

"I'm aware." He grumbles under his breath and Max laughs. "Actually, what I really want to know is when Violet's going to come out to a hockey game?"

"Uh…" I glance at Max.

"She's a bit swamped at work right now," he says smoothly. "But she's welcome any time, of course."

"Is it awful if I admit that I don't know much about hockey?" I add. I mean, I know enough to participate in the required Sens versus Leafs trash talk, but that's the extent of it.

Gavin makes a wounded sound and grabs his chest, then grins at me. "But I bet you know a fair bit about the new bill we're introducing about fair use of music in the digital marketplace, don’t you?"

I sit up a little straighter. "I do."

"I'd love to hear your thoughts."

I glance at Max, who shrugs.

Ellie leans forward. "He means it. And I think with that, we'll leave you two to talk about that for a minute. Max, can you help me put a tray of munchies together?"

He gets up and leads the way out of the room.

Gavin lifts his drink in my direction. "Well? What do you think of my bill?"

My fingers tremble as I smooth my hands down my thighs. "Well, sir…"

He laughs. "Ellie's the only one who gets to call me that. Any friend of Max's can call me Gavin."

I blush. "Right."

"Seriously, Violet. You make him smile. I've been waiting twenty years to see that. You can tell me my bill is a pile of shit if you want and I'll still like you."

My belly twists with the awful realization that this is more than drinks with friends. Max has brought me to meet his family. "Oh. Well, I'm not going to do that."

"Good." His face draws into a serious look. "Now, I'd really like to hear your opinion…"

We talk for about ten minutes before Ellie and Max return.

The conversation flows back to hockey, then the cold snap we're having.

Half an hour later I sip the last of my wine. Ellie reaches for the bottle. “More?” she asks. I shake my head. “No, thank you.” I’ve had a surprisingly good time, but I’m ready to call it a night.

Thankfully Max reads my mind. He tips the beer bottle to his lips and finishes his drink. “It’s been a lovely evening, you two,” he says as he stands up, “but I think it’s time Violet and I head out.”

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