her work that you do.” He reached his hand across his desk. “Congratulations, Dr. Sheffington. It is well deserved.”
Max had been so stunned that he’d almost missed Alanna walking in to O’Malley’s office as he was walking out.
“But, hey, I want to hear about your trip,” he said. “How did things go?”
“Horrible, to start,” Carly said. “Victor was a no-show on Wednesday.”
“No way,” Max said. “What happened?”
“He read his social media feed again and freaked out. But I trotted out some of the motivational things my high school cross-country coach used to say, and you know what? It worked like a boss. Better than it ever worked on me! Victor showed up on Thursday, and somehow he pulled a show together, and all things considered, it was actually pretty damn good.”
Max grinned. “I’m not surprised. You seemed pretty determined to make it happen. But I have to know, did you wear one of his designs to the show? Please tell me you did and describe it in detail.”
She playfully punched his arm. “You loved those sleeves, admit it. However, I did not wear them. Victor ended up showing the red and white pieces. Remember those?”
“Like I could ever forget?”
She laughed. “See? You will never forget the name Victor Allen. But since he’d cut up so many, he needed every extra piece and I had to wear regular clothes and Max? I love regular clothes.” She laughed and laced her fingers through his. “Something else happened.”
Her eyes were shining. She was happy. “What?” he asked.
“You know how I wanted a job in New York? In fashion publicity, or at least in publicity?”
He nodded.
“Well . . . I was offered one. One that I’d applied for, the one I really wanted. At one of the biggest fashion magazines in the country.”
Max’s breath hitched in his chest. “What’s the job?”
“Working in the publicity department and scouting new talent. Oh my God,” she said with a squeeze of his hand. “It’s my dream job, Max!”
He tried, he really did try, to be ecstatic for her. “And it’s in New York?” Dumb question, but he needed to hear her say it.
Her smile dimmed. “Well . . . yes.”
“But what about . . .”
She knew the question he couldn’t quite voice. What about us?
“It’s what I’ve wanted to do for so long,” she said. “I’ve worked really hard to get this opportunity.”
“I know.” Max didn’t know if he was angry or resigned or what. He felt suddenly empty. Of course he knew that was her goal, but he hadn’t expected this, not after the kind of luck she’d been having. He damn sure wasn’t ready for this.
“And . . . it’s the only solution I have to my job situation. I mean, I can live with Mom and your dad, but I don’t have work, especially now. And I—”
“You don’t have to explain it, Carly,” he said, interrupting her before she twisted herself into an explanation she did not need to give. “I understand.”
“But wait, Max, wait,” she said and caught his hand between both of hers. “What if you came to New York, too?”
He gave a quiet laugh.
“I’m serious! If you’re not getting tenure here, can’t you get a job there? NYU, maybe?”
“Well, that’s my news—I’m being put forward for tenure.”
Her mouth fell open.
“Yep,” he said with a sorrowful smile. “It’s me. They picked me.”
“Max,” she whispered.
“I know, right?”
She suddenly threw her arms around his neck and squeezed him, then cupped his face. “I am so proud of you.”
“And I am so proud of you,” he said.
Her hands slid away from his face. “Oh my God, we are so snakebitten.”
He stroked her hair. “We’re definitely something. We are—shit, I have to take Jamie to get his dog,” he said, noticing the clock on the mantel behind her. “Can I call you later?”
“Sure,” she said.
He stood up and took a jacket from the back of the couch. “When do you start your new job?”
Her face flushed. “In a week.”
He dropped his arm. His heart began to crumble. “A week?”
“I don’t have income,” she said quietly. “I need to start work. So I’m going back Monday to look for a place to live.”
“Jesus,” he said helplessly. “So soon? What about Baxter?”
“I’m going to ask Mia to keep him until Mom and your dad have settled—”
“No,” Max said, and pulled on his jacket before holding out a hand to pull her to her feet. “I’ll keep him.”
“I can’t ask you to do that, Max.”
“You’re not asking—I’m demanding. I