Page 102 of Party Favors

And I had done the same thing to Max. It had been unintentional, but my intent didn’t change what I’d done.

I sat down in my chair and thought of the biggest piece of ammunition that Vella had launched at me.

That I was in love with Max.

I had wanted to deny it but hadn’t been able to.

Because I knew it was true. The butterflies with six-foot wingspans currently flapping in my stomach confirmed that I did love him. I didn’t know when it had happened exactly, and I might have lived in denial about it for a long time if my best friend hadn’t so forcefully pointed it out.

I’d never been in love before, but that was how I knew this was it. It was completely different than anything I’d previously experienced. There was an emotional connection between Max and me that I didn’t quite understand, but I knew it was there.

I definitely lusted after him, but what I felt for him was so much more than that. He was, as Vella had pointed out, my dream man. Kind, affectionate, funny, smart, loyal, selfless, a total gentleman.

That he came in such a shiny package with such a delicious accent was just icing on the cake.

I drew in a shaky breath. Now what did I do? Max had lied to get off the phone with me.

If he had feelings for me, that must have hurt him.

But he’d never said anything to indicate that he wanted to be with me. And as Vella kept pointing out, neither had I. Yes, we’d kissed and it had been mind-bendingly fantastic. But it was possible to be attracted to someone and not actually want to date them.

I thought about what he would look like waking up in the morning, his dark hair ruffled, his face sleepy and soft. The rough stubble on his jaw, his bright blue eyes slowly blinking at me as he would say, “Hey,” and pull me down next to him. He would hold me close while he nuzzled my hair, my cheek, and then finally capture my lips in a sweet but fiery kiss. His skin would be warm from sleep and I would melt into him.

Despite how messed up my brain currently was, even I knew that I probably shouldn’t be imagining cuddling with one man while planning to go on a date with another.

I was again frozen by indecision, not sure what I should do, and so the end result was that I did nothing. I didn’t reach out to Max to try to see where he was at, if there was a future for us.

To be fair, Max didn’t contact me, either.

Part of me thought I should cancel my date with Adrian, but he was still my boss and I didn’t know if there would be consequences for not showing up. This was why people didn’t date their bosses. He had power over me that made me feel like I shouldn’t refuse.

I didn’t think he’d retaliate or make me uncomfortable if I rejected him—Adrian was a nice guy, just spoiled. I recognized that I’d put myself in an awkward position.

No position with you could ever be awkward.

Great. I was hearing Max flirting with me in my head while I knocked on Adrian’s door.

Adrian answered and smiled at me. “Hey. Come on in.”

I walked into his front room and was flooded with memories of Max. Where he’d sat on the couch. The spot in the kitchen where he’d slipped and fallen. The hallway where I’d smacked into him. The bathroom door where we’d brushed past each other.

How we’d spent the rest of that day together.

Why was I such a bonehead and here with Adrian instead of calling Max?

“Dinner is ready,” Adrian said, and I resented him interfering with me thinking about Max.

We walked over to his table and I knew the restaurant he’d ordered it from. I was surprised he hadn’t had me order it for him.

I felt chastened over my unkind thought. He had gone to a bit of trouble for me and I should appreciate that at least. We both sat down and I realized that I hadn’t said anything yet.

“It looks delicious.”

“It does. Dig in.”

This was weird. There was a strange vibe here that made it impossible for me to relax. I’d always felt comfortable at Adrian’s place, if a bit in awe of it, but now it was like I’d discovered that I was a triangle peg that no longer fit into the square holes here.

“Hey doll, can you pass me the salt?”

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