Page 49 of Can We Skip to the Good Part?

Instead, she stroked in a steady, coaxing rhythm, up and down, just enough to let Max grind into the motion.

The friction built quickly, the slick heat of it coating Ella’s fingers.

She loved Max this way. The sound of her soft gasps, the way her fingers gripped the edge of the dresser, the subtle whimper that told Ella exactly where she was in her climb.

The louder one that said she was closing in.

That was her cue.

Ella adjusted her hand and slid two fingers inside, pumping steadily and slowly.

With her other hand, she reached around and circled Max’s clit with the pad of her thumb—once, twice, then a few purposeful strokes.

Max cried out, her body jerking as the orgasm broke over her.

She kept moving, hips rocking against Ella’s hand, drawing out the aftershocks of pleasure.

Ella leaned in and kissed the back of Max’s shoulder, her lips catching a slight tremble. Wet hair clung to her cheek, and she smiled at the scent, clean and sweet, like fresh peaches. She closed her eyes and let herself breathe it in, anchoring the moment before either of them said a word.

“Good day at work?” Ella asked finally, which prompted laughter from both of them.

Max turned in Ella’s arms, her chest flushed from the orgasm, water droplets still beaded on her breasts.

“God, I love being fucked by you,” Max said, just before claiming Ella’s lips in an open-mouthed kiss that rocketed heat from Ella’s head to her toes.

Her center began to ache with anticipation.

Her body knew Max now and prepared itself for her.

Their chemistry was as automatic as the sun rising on the horizon each morning.

Max pulled back and met Ella’s eyes. “But as for my day, I still have a little work ahead of me.” She walked Ella toward the bed.

“Luckily, it’s my absolute favorite kind.

” She glanced down. “Now let’s get you out of these clothes. ”

“Sonya, are you free?”

“For about three minutes. I’m working on getting the financial affidavits submitted for the Dawsons. They were slow in getting everything to me, and now they want me to jump through hoops.”

“Well, you do it better than anyone I’ve ever met.”

“After that, I need to start translating the Morales mediation into the formal settlement agreement, and then I’m going to smoke a cigarette and put my feet up on my desk.”

“You don’t smoke.”

“Well, sweet cakes, I’m starting today.” Sonya arrived in the doorway of Max’s office and paused. “Why don’t you look stressed? I feel like I’m ready to pull my hair out using a spork and no anesthesia while you’re fresh as a daisy.” Her dry delivery was, as always, spot-on.

Max grinned. “First of all, stand down. Don’t do that because you’re having a killer hair day. Second of all, I don’t know what it is, but I have more energy lately.” She shrugged. “Not as many things bother me.”

Sonya nodded. “You have a girlfriend you like.”

“I’ve had that before.”

“No. You’ve had girlfriends you’re into .

This is different. You actually want to talk to her on the phone.

In the middle of witching hour, which is so off-brand for you, it’s shocking.

” Around their office, all of the clients seemed to want something around 3:30 p.m. That’s when one spouse violates a custody agreement, or the other changes their mind about everything and wants to head to court, abandoning mediation.

It’s when all the fires had to be put out.

Max had always had Sonya hold all personal calls during witching hour, but she’d changed that rule for Ella.

“Yes, I do like her. I like everything about her.” She turned sideways in her chair and found herself drifting back to their quick breakfast on the go this morning in her kitchen.

Ella’d had that kid’s cereal she loved, and Max had toasted an everything bagel.

They’d eaten standing up and swapping details about their days ahead while Max packed her attaché.

Ella had walked her to the door, and they’d shared a lingering kiss in the hallway.

It had been so ridiculously domestic and mundane that Max couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Without realizing it had happened, Max was now imagining house shopping, figuring out who was covering dinner that night, and heading to their favorite restaurant on the weekend.

That could be their life. “I’m doing things I never thought I’d do, Sonya, and I can’t decide if I should be concerned or not.

I might need an intervention. Head and heart are not recognizing each other. ”

Sonya narrowed her gaze. “I admit that I like the more relaxed version. You smile for no particular reason. You eat yogurt. Love looks good on you.”

“There’s been no declarations.”

“But you’re thinking it.” Sonya held up a hand. “No need to respond. Just sit with it for a little bit. And you need to get back to your mother.”

Max sat up straight. She’d forgotten that she’d called during a session. “The Johnstones were so agreeable today, I was thrown off and my morning was weird.” Sonya stepped out, giving her privacy, and Max waited for her mom to pick up. But she didn’t.

“Heyo.”

She frowned. “Dad? You’re picking up Mom’s phone.”

“Yeah. She’s here in the hospital, so I took the call.”

“Why are you at the hospital?”

“They admitted her this morning. We’re at Crescent Hill in the back. She has a nice room. What’s that? Oh, she said to tell you why we’re here. She fainted, and they had trouble getting her blood pressure to stabilize.”

“It’s standard procedure to admit,” her mother called. “We do it all the time.”

Panic flared anyway. “Dad. Why didn’t you call me?”

“Your mother called you. We were waiting for you to call back.”

She pinched the bridge of her nose. Her father hadn’t seen the gravity of the situation, as always, and her mother was still in everything-will-be-fine-even-if-I-die mode. Neither was helpful.

“I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

Sonya shot around the doorjamb, eyes raised. Max hung up, explained the situation as she grabbed what she needed from the office. At the very least, she could get some work done from there. “This does mean you’ll have to reschedule my Zoom with the Normans. I can stay late on Monday if necessary.”

“Don’t give it another thought,” Sonya said with a wave of her hand. “I have everything under control here.”

“Don’t know what I would do without you, Sone.”

Max hurried to her car, put one AirPod in her ear, and called Ella as she pulled out of the parking lot.

As always, they were planning to spend the evening at Max’s place.

Ella had stayed with her fairly consistently for a couple of weeks now.

Not every night, but close enough. Rachel had joked that it was her romantic headquarters, which wasn’t off-base.

“Hi. I know you’re working, but I wanted to let you know that I won’t be around tonight.”

“Oh, that’s okay,” Ella said. “I’m guessing you need to work late. I can stay at Rachel’s.”

Max appreciated the understanding tone. “Actually, I just found out my mother was admitted to the hospital. I’m heading there now.”

“Oh, God. Max. That’s not good news at all.”

“I know,” she flipped her signal for a right-hand turn, “and I’m guilt-ridden because I should have kept a better eye on her.”

“Hey, slow down. You do a lot for your parents.”

Max shook her head because it didn’t feel like enough. “My mom casually mentioned feeling tired, but as a physician, she downplays her symptoms. Doctors aren’t the best patients.”

“So the stereotype is accurate.”

“Incredibly.” She sighed, the sound of Ella’s voice making her yearn for more time. “How was your day? I hate not seeing you.”

“You will. Soon.” A pause. “And maybe I can come up to the hospital tomorrow and keep you all company, maybe put together a little gift basket of some essentials.”

Max squinted at the road, imagining her mom’s reaction. “Yeah. Maybe so,” she said, knowing that it might not be the best idea for Ella to make an appearance. “I’d better say goodbye. Traffic ahead.”

“Hey, be safe, okay? And make sure you eat something. Are your clothes warm enough?”

Max smiled, touched at the way Ella cared for her. She was a thoughtful and nurturing human. “Thank you. I have my suit jacket.”

“Even better,” Ella said in her playfully sexy voice. She did love Max in her work clothes. “Keep me updated, okay? I’ll be thinking about you all. Oh, and call if you need anything, and I can drive it over.”

“You’re awesome, you know that?”

“No. Say it daily.”

Max laughed and opened her mouth to say more. It was the moment in a call when two people might say I love you before saying goodbye. The truly startling part was how natural it would have felt for Max to take that risk.

She could almost hear herself saying it. No panic, no rehearsal. Just the truth.

And that was the part that caught her off guard.

Not the feeling itself, but how easy it suddenly seemed.

How right. It was shocking to realize she was here, reaching for something that she’d just months ago sworn she didn’t want or believe in.

She honestly didn’t think it was possible.

Not after everything. Not after the way things had unraveled before.

And yet, here she was. Wanting to say it. Knowing she could.

She needed a minute. A little more time to get used to the idea that she could want this. That she did .

So instead, she steadied her voice. “I will,” she said. “Thank you.”

A breath.

“Goodnight, Ella.”

“Goodnight, Max.”

She ended the call and left the AirPod in her ear, the urge to speak still humming through her like static. She hadn’t said it. Not yet.

But the words were there now, waiting. And so was she.