Chapter Twenty
Max wore the blue sweater on Sunday. While he’d always known it suited him, because his sister-in-law had told him so when she gave it to him for Christmas a few years before, there was something about the way Tori looked at him when he was wearing it that made him wish he could wear it every day.
Unlike their first trip into the city for dinner, there were no awkward silences, even with the radio turned down low. They’d had some applicants for the cooking position at the diner, and Tori shared Paige’s stories about some of the least qualified. It wasn’t looking good for filling Gavin’s shoes anytime soon, but at least they were all being entertained in the meantime.
They were almost halfway to the restaurant when Tori’s cell phone rang. She pulled it out of her bag and he could tell by the sigh it was probably one of her parents. After the third ring, she hit the button to answer it.
“Hi, Dad.” She was quiet then, and he could hear the faint rumble of a man’s voice, though not the words. “I haven’t looked for your fishing rod yet because I haven’t been to Mom’s house. I’m really busy and I don’t know when I’ll get a chance.”
While her dad responded to that, Max reached over and put his hand on her thigh, trying to offer comfort. Or maybe strength. What he’d like to do was take her cell phone and throw it out the window, but that wouldn’t do any good. She’d just get another one.
“Dad, I’m going to interrupt you because I’m actually on my way out to dinner. I live three hours away from you and Mom. If you want your fishing pole, you need to call your ex-wife and ask her for permission to look in the garage. Call your lawyer if you have to, or buy a new fishing pole, but this is not my problem.”
Max squeezed her leg and she slid her free hand over his, her fingers curling around to squeeze back.
“I’m sorry, Dad, but I don’t have your fishing pole, so those are your options. I have to go now, but I love you and I’ll talk to you soon.”
Once she’d hung up, she shook her head, as if trying to clear it. “Sorry. I should have sent him to voice mail instead of letting him into our date, but then I would have wondered about it. Now it’s done.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I guess.” She didn’t sound sure, but then she nodded. “Yes, I’m okay. I didn’t tell him to take a flying leap or anything. I just told him getting his fishing pole is his responsibility and not mine. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“No, there isn’t.” He squeezed her hand, knowing that, no matter what she said, it had been a big step for her. And she’d used the word date, which was quite the mood booster. “So you were telling me about the woman who asked Paige if she wanted a grilled cheese sandwich on toasted or plain bread...”
Tori laughed and fell back into the stories from the diner, though she didn’t let go of Max’s hand until he pulled into the restaurant’s parking lot. He went around to make sure she didn’t ding his door and to help her out, getting a kiss for the effort. This was definitely better than the mock date.
“You smell...nice.” He kissed her again. “The good nice.”
“Thank you. Did I tell you how nice you look tonight? Definitely the good nice.”
“You didn’t have to.” He took her hand and started toward the door.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“I see the way you look at me in this sweater.” He stopped walking. “Maybe I should leave it in the car. This is a family restaurant.”
She slapped his arm and nudged him forward. “I’ve created a monster.”
“So, did Gavin settle into Kennebunkport okay?” he asked her once they’d ordered drinks and their meals.
“Yes, he did. He left yesterday morning and moved into the apartment they helped him find. I guess it’s very small and on the third floor of some grand old mansion, but he can see the ocean and walk to the restaurant.”
“Which is probably good, considering the condition of his truck.”
When Tori laughed, Max was proud to notice more than one male head turned in her direction. “Aunt Jilly’s driving the truck right now. She let him take her car until he saves enough to buy one of his own. So then she took my car to do her monthly grocery run because the truck burns too much gas. I really hope Gavin makes good money at that restaurant because we’ll be playing hot potato with his truck until he gets rid of it.”
She talked more about him and her work, but he lost his focus on her words. She was happy tonight, despite the call from her dad. Her eyes sparkled and she was quick with the smile that crinkled the corners of them. She could have been reciting weather forecasts and he would be mesmerized.
She tilted her head, narrowing her eyes. “Are you listening to me?”
“Of course.” Kind of.
“What did I say?”
“You were telling me how amazing I look in this sweater.”