Page 35 of Love or Leave (Mapleton #4)

thirty

A ntonio paused and sucked in a deep breath before reaching for the door handle to Keller's and pulling it open. It had been five days since he last saw Max.

Five days since Max said he didn't want to see him again. He hoped that was enough time for his temper to cool.

He'd been too busy to come around before then, anyway. He'd moved all his shit out of the studio apartment, buttoned up the last details of his divorce, sent off the signed papers, removed Fran as an emergency contact from everywhere and everything, and dealt with his family.

The only thing left to do was put his social life back together.

He wanted to tell Cara he was through with Fran for good, but he knew he had to start with Max.

Cara didn't trust him because Max didn't trust him. That was the root of the problem. Also, he'd been such a shitty friend. He needed to apologize and let Max know it was never his intention to use Cara or just sleep with her.

He walked through the door, and the hostess gave him a big, welcoming smile.

Phew.

"Hi, Antonio," she said. "Do you want a table, or are you just here for a visit?"

Thank God.

He'd fully expected Max to have hung his photo on the wall with a “do not serve” notice on it.

"Just a visit," he said.

She smiled. "Max is in his office. You can go back there."

"Okay," he said, throwing up a prayer as he walked. What were the odds Max would grab him by the collar and drag him out of the doors he just walked in?

Max left his door slightly ajar. He probably hadn't expected Antonio to show up.

He hesitated at the door. A week ago, he would have tapped a knock as he pushed open the door and walked right in, but things were much different now, so he lifted his fist and knocked.

"Come in," Max said.

Antonio pushed the door open and stepped inside, but as soon as Max looked up from his computer screen, his face soured and he looked back down at the computer screen.

"No," he said.

Antonio winced and walked the rest of the way in, closing the door behind him.

"I'm just gonna…" he trailed off. Max wasn’t even looking at him. Undeterred, Antonio pulled out the chair across from Max and sat down, paranoia creeping in as his eyes swept the room.

Did he keep weapons in here?

Antonio shook off the thought and cleared his throat. "I'm sorry."

Max didn't look up from his screen. "Hasn't anyone ever told you not to do things you need to apologize for?"

Antonio nodded. "I shouldn't have—"

"Shouldn't have what?" Max said, finally looking up. He stabbed him with a glare.

"Lied, snuck around, not signed the papers sooner—all of it."

Max narrowed his eyes. "She was in your room with you."

Antonio cringed, then deflated with a nod.

"We went for coffee together," Max said, sounding more hurt than angry. "We talked for an hour. And you just sat there, shooting the shit while my sister was in your room?"

"Yeah." Antonio remembered the frantic morning, how happy he'd been with her. He'd fallen so hard and so fast, he didn't know what to do with it.

"It was a terrible choice," he said, not sure what to say. "I'm sorry."

Max shook his head. "I asked you to stay away from her because I knew you would do this. You're in love with Fran—you always have been."

Antonio shook his head. "I was," he said, not sure whether to try to sugarcoat things. "I thought my marriage was worth saving, but I was wrong. Things change. Things have changed."

"What things?"

"Well, for one, I signed the papers and sent them off. I'm as good as divorced," he said, still feeling lighter than air about it. It had been such a huge weight off his shoulders.

"And you're happy about that?" Max asked.

Antonio nodded. "I'm in a good place now. It was over a long time ago. I just didn't know how to move on. Now I do."

"With my sister?" he said, voice laced with anger.

Antonio stared at Max for a moment. "I love her."

Max shook his head. His deep scowl deepened even further. "She deserves—"

"I know."

"And you're too old for her."

Antonio nodded. "Still… I love her."

Max stared him down long enough for Anotnio's mind to wander. What had she told him? Was she willing to give them another shot?

He hoped so.

"Does she hate me?" he asked, his heart lodge in his throat.

Max shrugged. "She was upset for a few hours, but then she talked about it and kinda seemed over it. Nothing like when she broke up with Cooper."

Antonio's stomach dropped.

"No crying. No ice cream. No belting out bad power ballads," Max continued.

Antonio looked away, forcing his emotions down before Max started giving him that pitiful look he despised.

"She's even getting out this week. Tomorrow, I think," he said.

"What, like on a date?" Antonio asked, his heart cracking.

Max shook his head. "No, she's going to a poker tournament. At the racetrack. Tomorrow night. Eight o'clock."

"Poker?" Antonio's eyebrows shot up.

"Mmm hmm… Right up your alley."

Antonio smirked, remembering all the hands he'd beat Max at in the past. He had a feeling Cara would be a more formidable opponent.

"That's very detailed information. It's almost as if you want me to see her."

Max rolled his eyes, then fixed him with a glare sharp enough to burn. He looked like Zeus with a lightning bolt, itching to strike. "Fuck this up again and I'll kill you."

Antonio smiled. "Deal."