“How mad is she?”
“Madder than I would like. But at least it will encourage her to stay away from here until I can get this shit sorted. My biggest fear was that she would just show back up, but I think she’s pissed enough to stay away until I can come get her. Although she didn’t mean to, Ashley just may have done me a favor.”
“Do you think you should try to smooth things over before you go? I mean, she was going to move to Chicago at one point, man. I’m just saying,” Max pointed out.
“I would rather have her in Chicago and alive than here, with me, and in danger.” I shook my head, crazy ass thoughts flying through my mind, making me feel sick. “I can’t have anything happen to her, Max. This is a risk I have to take.” I paused. “I love her.”
Max raised his eyebrows, a grin sneaking across his face. “Tell me something I don’t already know.”
“Yeah. Well …”
“I know you have your plate full right now, but don’t forget about the delivery in the morning for AH. I’ve asked Howard to go over there and coordinate the subcontractors until he hears from me, but you or I have to sign the delivery ticket tomorrow.”
“Thanks. I give you shit all the time, but I appreciate your help. You’re the only person in this world I can count on.” I clapped him on the shoulder.
“Yeah, I know.” He smirked. “But honestly, keep your head up, Alexander. I have Jada taken care of, but you take care of you. There’d be a few people that would miss you if something happened to you. And I’d be pissed as hell to have to finish these projects myself.”
I chuckled, shaking my head at my best friend. “Fuck you, Max.”
He nodded. “Fuck you, too.”
JADA
My luggage made a thumping sound as it hit each stair on the way down. I probably could have picked the bag up and carried it, but it seemed like more effort than it was worth.
“What are you doing?” Max grabbed the bag from me and threw it over his shoulder. “This is going to be a long trip if you don’t start acting like you got some sense.”
I rolled my eyes. “You are taking me to the airport. It’s a thirty minute trip. You will survive.”
“I’m ready!” Kari’s voice called out from behind me at the top of the stairs. “Come get this thing, Max! It’s heavy!”
Confused, I turned around. “What’s going on? Where are you going?”
Kari flashed me a huge grin. “We, my dear sister, are going to Chicago!”
I glared at Max. “Care to explain?” I asked, crossing my arms in front of me.
“Simmer down. I owed her a vacation anyway, so why not Chicago?”
“Yeah! Don’t try to talk him out of this!” Kari pouted from behind me.
I blew a piece of my hair out of my face. “This is ridiculous, Max. Utterly ridiculous.”
He leaned in close, winking. “This is ridiculous, I agree. Cane should have killed Simon the night he grabbed you and this would have been over. But, alas, he didn’t and here we are.” He leaned back again and gave me a look. “The tickets are bought and we are going. You may as well suck it up and smile.”
I glared harder.
Max shrugged. “Or not.”
He took the stairs two at a time, grabbed Kari’s bags, and passed me on his way back down. “Let’s get it, girls.”
“Now, Max,” my father said, shaking his hand. “You do understand you have my entire world in your care. I should warn you that while I may appear to be an old man, I can still come after you.”
Max laughed. “Mr. Stanley, I promise you I will keep them safe. That’s why I am going … no matter how much Jada objects.”
Dad looked at me and then back at Max. “I think I like you.”
“We really need to board,” Kari said and I elbowed her in the side, flashing a look to silence her.
“This is kind of sweet. Let them have their moment!”
“Kari,” Dad said, nodding his head back and forth. “Behave.”
“I will, as always.” She kissed him on the cheek and joined Max in line. “Goodbye, Papa.”
“My Jada,” Dad said, eyeing me curiously. “I know something’s going on with you. But I won’t push. Just be safe and check in every now and then. And although you haven’t worked long enough to ensure I have to hire you back when you return, the odds are in your favor.”
I watched him and he winced, placing his hand on his chest.
“Daddy? Are you okay?”
“Of course,” he said, looking a little uncomfortable. “My breakfast just isn’t settling the right way. And I hate seeing you go.”
I hugged him once more before joining Kari and Max in the boarding line. I hated leaving him, but hopefully it would just be for a few days.
We boarded quickly and I got comfortable in my seat. As I watched Max and Kari across the aisle, I smiled.
“You okay, Jada?” Kari asked across the aisle.
“Yeah, I’m good.”