Page 165 of Puck Me Secretly

“Rory, you look exhausted. Why don’t you go home and take a hot bath?”

I realized that Mom was incapable of dealing with anything but Dad. The shit storm would hit and we’d deal with it when it happened.

“What about you?”

“I will head back to the hotel in a few minutes.”

“Why don’t I leave the car for you.”

The hotel was only across the street, but I hated that she’d need to walk across the street in the dark. “That’d be nice.”

I kissed her forehead. “I’ll be by tomorrow.”

In the cab ride home,I dialed a number I had hoped I’d never had to call.

“Ronny here.”

“It’s Rory.”

A long pause. “I was expecting your call.”

The sound of his warm voice made me want to burst into tears. “Things are shitty here.”

“I’ve seen the news.”

“I can’t find Max. He’s not taking my calls.”

“I know.”

“Have you talked to him?”

“I talked to him this morning.”

Tears blurred my voice. “How’s he doing?”

“He’s been better.”

“I’m trying to help him, but he won’t talk to me.”

“It’s not you, darlin’. Max’s demons are raising their ugly heads.”

“I’m so worried about him.”

“Give him time. He’ll come around.”

“Do you know where he is?”

“He's tucked away at some hotel.”

“In Vancouver?”

“Yup.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. At least he was still in the city. “I have a team of people working to help him.”

“I know.”

“I’m going to do everything to get his life back.”

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