Page 104 of That Fake Feeling

Roseremains silent and stiff, and doesn’t even turn to look at him.

“ShouldIbe saying congratulations?” he says, like he’s asking a two-year-old if they want more applesauce.

Ilean forward with my elbows on my knees and rest my head in my hands. “Oh, fuck off,Max.Itwas an accident.”

“Butwhat a happy accident,”Sterlingpipes up from my phone. “Therecould be nothing better forBigBrainToysthan a lovelyChristmaswedding.”

“Actually,Sterling”—Walkerbutts in from behind me—“Ijust got a text fromEmily.Sheneeds your help.Urgently.Somethingto do with a keg exploding all over someone.Itdoesn’t look good.Couldyou please give her a call?”

“Absolutely.I’llget right to her once we’re done here.”

Walkerstrolls around to the table, picks up my phone, and liftsSterlingto eye level. “Sheneeds you right now.We’llbe fine here.Thanks.Bye.”

Asqueak of protest leaks out asWalkerhangs up.

“Thankyou,”Isay, lifting my head from my hands. “Iwas not in the mood for him.”

“There’sno exploding keg,”Walkersays as he andMaxsit on the sofa opposite us. “Ijust couldn’t listen to him anymore either.”Herelaxes back, an ankle resting on his knee.

Maxdoes the exact opposite and leans forward, elbows on thighs, hands cupped together.

Theyhave different ways of doing business.

“Obviously, you’re not getting married,”Walkersays.

“Oh, thankChristfor that.”Rosefalls back, arms flopping at her sides, and looks up at the ceiling.

“Again,”Itell her, “thanks for being clear you find that idea so horrifying.”

Beforeshe can respond,Maxbutts in. “Momtold us you’re actually together, though.Like, for real.”

Rosecloses her eyes, face still to the ceiling, and shrugs.

“Didshe mishear?” he asks. “Ormisunderstand?Imean she must have made some kind of a mistake.”

It’slike he’s clutching at any straw he can find in the hope it isn’t true.

“Nope.”Ishake my head. “Sheunderstood perfectly.”

Thoughfrom the look onRose’sface, it could very well no longer be the case.

“So.”Maxturns his palms skyward. “Didyou lie to her,Con?”

Herewe go again, assuming the worst of me. “No.OfcourseIdidn’t lie to her.Iwould never do that.WhywouldIlie to her?”

“Maybebecause you’re trying to rehabilitate your image with her too?ButIhave no idea.”Maxrubs his forehead. “ButthenIdon’t have much of an idea why you do a lot of things.”

Iturn toRosefor backup, but she’s now engrossed in picking at her fingers and looks like she’d rather be anywhere but in this conversation.

“Tobe fair toConnor,”Walkersays, “he has gotten himself together a lot sinceRosehas been around.”

Rose’shead shoots up, and she looks atWalkeras if she can’t quite believe what he just said.

“Hehas,” he assures her. “It’salmost like we have the oldConnorback.”

Hergaze shifts to me, and her eyes are softer with the hint of a smile.Butshe says nothing.

“Yes, well,”Maxsays, “now that you’ve got yourself together, you can be more focused than ever on your career.Youdon’t need any distractions.Notnow you have this new clarity and the business is back on the up.”