Page 65 of Can We Skip to the Good Part?

Max smiled through her recovery. Amanda. Their workout times apparently still coincided, even though Max had been missing hers lately. She straightened, giving Amanda a chance to see her face.

The smile fell away. “Oh, fuck. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Max said. “Always. Why?”

“You are not. Don’t bullshit me. I’ve known you since Jesus was in junior high school.” She placed a hand on her hip, her trim and spray-tanned midsection on display as always. In a new twist, Max barely noticed, and she certainly didn’t check her out the way she might have in the past, which meant she really wasn’t herself. Or was it a reach to think that she was simply a new version of herself? There was before Ella and after, a phenomenon she was still getting used to.

“Fine. I had a crap week and it’s likely to continue.”

“What happened?”

Max began to unwrap her hands. “Oh, we’re doing a deep dive today?” Their relationship was built on flirting, teasing, and an occasional actual conversation.

“Yes,” Amanda said without budging an inch. “What you don’t seem to get about me is that I give the best advice in the history of the fucking gym.”

Max looked up, arched a brow, and surveyed the gym for those she’d beaten out. “You think highly of your ability.”

“Listen to me carefully,” Amanda said, taking a seat along the wall and pulling a knee to her chest. “I don’t think. I know.”

Amanda, as always, was a force. And maybe Max could benefit from the insight of someone on the outside looking in. Perspective was a valuable commodity, and perhaps she’d lost hers.

“My mom is sick. It’s cancer.”

“Fuck. I’m so sorry.”

“And my personal life is crumbling like a condemned building. That’s probably where I could use a little wisdom.”

“Perfect. Tell me more.”

“There’s this woman who’s moved to town, and I’ve developed this,” she searched for the words that fit, “crush.”

“Mhmm. I’m waiting for more, because crush sounds so incredibly innocuous, and what I just witnessed cross your face was anything but.”

“Fine. She’s different. I feel differently than I have in the past, but I didn’t get the chance even to figure out what that might mean because she’s best friends with my ex.”

Amanda’s mouth fell open. “She’s best friends with Rachel?”

“I forgot that you know her.”

“Everyone in this community knows everyone. I bought her a martini once because she’s pretty.”

“She’s definitely that.”

Amanda paused. “This isn’t going to go well, Max.”

“Now you’re with me.”

Amanda ruminated on the information and took a swig from her water bottle. “Rachel knows?”

“As of yesterday. She saw us kissing.”

“Oh, fuck. This is a sophisticated sapphic soap opera in the making.” She stood. “Here’s what you’re going to do.”

“Listening. What am I gonna do?”

“Very little. Be responsive if she reaches out, but give the two of them their space to work through the friendship. It’s not about you right now. It’s about them. She’ll get to you in time.”

“And if she doesn’t? If I never hear from her again?”