Page 51 of Can We Skip to the Good Part?

Perched on the bar stool that sat up against the tall portion of her counter, Max kept Ella company while she moved through the kitchen like it was a dance she’d choreographed in her sleep.

She had bacon sizzling and cooling on a paper towel-lined plate.

She’d warmed the tortillas one by one on the skillet.

And Ella was now whisking eggs in Max’s chipped green bowl with impressive focus.

“So,” Ella said, not looking up as she poured the eggs into the pan, “want to know exactly what you missed at book club?”

Max placed her palms flat on the cool, granite surface. “Tell me. What did I miss?”

“Not much. I promise. We mainly just all agreed that the book was meh and talked about our lives a bunch.”

Max relaxed. “I’m still sort of jealous.”

Ella nursed the eggs into a fluffy scramble and began to plate the tacos, adding a healthy amount of shredded cheddar. “This is the best part,” she told Max with serious eyes. “You don’t skimp on the cheese.”

Max nodded. “I’m learning so much about you tonight. I’m gonna be the best who chef in Everly Springs.” She accepted the plate with the amazing-smelling taco. “How’s Rachel?”

Ella covered her mouth after the bite she’d just taken. “Amazing, now that she has a job. She’s been floating around the house for 48 hours now. I saw her doing ballet in the living room, which has always been a sign she’s happy.”

“Good for her. Get that ballet on. Where was she hired?”

“Get this. Carrington’s.” Ella’s blue eyes went wide while she waited for Max to react.

Max paused, taco halfway to her mouth. “She hates Carrington’s. They’re the enemy. According to her, they’re everything that’s wrong with department stores.”

“They were until Montclair’s laid her off and Leighton Morrow, executive at Carrington’s, came to town and wowed Rachel with her ideology at some event. They’ve exchanged cards and have been in contact. And now it’s led to a job.”

“Well, well. That’s honestly good news. I can’t believe I’m genuinely happy for her, but here I am. I’m apparently a maturing adult.”

“And the universe applauded.”

Max basked in the imaginary ovation. “Tell her I said that’s awesome.”

“You two are gonna be thick as thieves one day.”

It didn’t sound half bad to be close with the people who mattered to Ella, and maybe reimagine her relationship with Rachel.

Max took a bite and sank into the savory wonder that was the breakfast taco, slamming her hand onto the counter to emphasize her immense feelings.

Was there a better late-night dinner in existence?

She challenged the notion. “You are a witch sent to win favor through bacon.”

Ella placed a hand on her hip. “I’ve been called many things, but that’s a new one.”

“Can’t hear you.” Max drew a circle near the side of her head. “The hum of happiness is too loud in my ears.”

Ella laughed. “You were hungry. I’ve never seen you eat so fast in my life.”

“Well.” Max raised a cheeky eyebrow and waited.

Ella’s eyes widened, and her cheeks slowly glowed pink. “You’re in a mood tonight. It’s fun.”

Max set down the last two bites of her taco. “Honestly, it’s because this was such a wonderful surprise.” She held eye contact with Ella so she understood she was speaking from the heart, her voice laced with sincerity. “Every moment with you is.”

Ella offered a wobbly smile. Was she misting up? A lump arrived in Max’s throat, uncomfortable and stubborn. “Don’t get emotional or I will, too. And I’m not a sap.”

“Well, stop saying nice things,” she squeaked. Uh-oh. Ella’s eyes welled.

Max’s traitorous tears arrived right on cue. “Dammit.” She slid her plate away and slumped back in her chair, letting out a laugh that turned into a sigh halfway through. “Why does everything carry so much weight when you’re tired?”

“I think that’s called losing your filter.” Ella smiled over her last bite, watching her with a warmth that didn’t need words. “You’re just a little raw, and that’s okay.

“Truth. I think I almost cried because the tortilla was warm.”

“You did cry,” Ella said gently. “A little.”

Max let out another short laugh, embarrassed and too tired to care. “Right. Cool. Love that for me.”

Ella stood and held out her hand. “Come to bed, Maxine Wyler.”

She didn’t argue. The exhaustion had reached that bone-deep, not-funny-anymore stage. She followed Ella down the hallway, flicking off lights as they went. By the time she slipped into bed, the sheets cool and familiar, she was already halfway gone.

Ella slid in behind her, and Max instinctively curled in close. The contact was nothing more than shared quiet, but Max felt her whole body begin to exhale.

“You okay?” Ella whispered, easing closer. Her arm circled Max and rested lightly on her stomach.

Max didn’t answer right away. She let her eyes close and let the quiet settle.

“Yeah,” she murmured. “Now I am.”

She hadn’t realized how much she’d needed this, Ella’s presence, steady and sure. Not to fix anything. Just to be here. Just to make the night feel less heavy.

Her breathing slowed, tension seeping out of her one heartbeat at a time.

And for the first time in what had been days but felt like weeks, Max fell asleep right away.