Page 54 of Party Favors

We were surrounded by a throng of noisy people and it smelled disgusting, but all I could see, hear, and sense was Max.

The subway arrived and we got on, standing close together again. We didn’t speak. His eyes searched mine and a smile played at the end of his lips, as if he liked what he saw.

No man had ever looked at me like that.

Again I worried over the possibility that I was creating a mountain out of a molehill. Making up and/or hallucinating things that weren’t there. Misreading the actions of a nice person.

When we got to my stop, we pushed our way through the crowd, up the stairs, and onto the busy street.

I didn’t have to tell him which way to go—he remembered.

“In case I didn’t mention it earlier, you look nice today,” he said.

I couldn’t help my pleased grin.

“Your dress looks familiar,” he added.

Despite my resolution to keep my insanity tucked in, I said, “It’s a copy of the one Queen Katerina wore on her official visit to India.” I regretted the words as soon as I’d said them.

But all of my regret immediately dissipated when he said, “You remind me a lot of the queen.”

Swoon, swoon, swoon. I was going to pass out.

It was the most romantic thing a man had ever said to me.

I floated the rest of the way, his words echoing in my mind. He was talking about some trip he’d recently taken and I wasn’t even paying attention.

I reminded him of Kat? I didn’t think there was a bigger compliment.

His words made me want to spin in a circle with my arms out. Not because I was trying to get some Wonder Woman confidence, but because I was so elated it was the only thing I could think to do.

We arrived at my building and Max walked me into the library, where he greeted Casimir like a long-lost friend. We got to the elevators and I just stood there, waiting. Oh, right. Button. I needed to push the button. Silly me. I leaned over and pushed it while grinning at him to show him that I could still function like a regular person.

Not like someone who was living in her own personal fantasy world where Max and I were some alternate version of Nico and Kat.

“Should I have Sunny call you?” he asked.

It took a second for my hazy mind to make sense of his words. “Yes. Or tell her to come to my office Monday morning. And it would help if you could send links to her social media so that I can get a better sense of who she is and what she likes. That way I’ll have something to show her when she comes in to meet me.”

“Done,” he said. He put both of his hands in his pockets and started walking backward, still facing me. “Thanks for everything.”

“You’re welcome.” I didn’t want the evening to end and I was sad that it was.

“Maybe we can get together soon and you can make me one of those grilled cheese sandwiches that you’re so good at.”

“If you play your cards right, I’ll even use Colby cheese on it.”

He grinned at me and I felt it in my knees. “I’ll keep that in mind. I’ll be in touch soon.”

Then he started to leave for real, walking a few feet away. He stopped and turned back to face me.

“Everly?”

“Yeah?” I couldn’t help the way my spirits lifted with hope.

“I’m glad we’re friends.”

And even though I’d told him that was what I wanted, it was like a dagger to the heart.

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