Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
MAX
By the time I’m back in the city a little over twenty-four hours later, all I can think about is Cari. She looked so happy, and all I wanted to do was spend more time with her.
I hadn’t expected her apology, but I also hadn’t expected her to explain her mental health crisis either. I sort of wish Aspen had given me a heads-up, but I know why she didn’t. It wasn’t my business and it was a good reminder of how she keeps my secrets in the vault too.
“So I heard you ran into Cari,” Aspen says, walking into my apartment with iced coffee and a bag of donuts.
“This friend group is a little too close for my liking,” I groan as I take the iced coffee from her. It’s got a hint of caramel, which is a bit sweeter than I like, but it’s not like it’s going to stop me from drinking it.
“That’s all you’re going to say?” Aspen raises an eyebrow as she collapses on one of the couches.
“What more is there to say? It seems like you know everything,” I counter.
“Okay. Well, does this mean you’re coming to Isla’s surprise party now?” she asks.
“I completely forgot about that,” I admit. Then I pause. I guess there is no harm now that Cari and I are getting along. “Sure, yeah. I’ll be there.” I nod.
I’d only met Isla a handful of times, but she worked with River at RARE’s tattoos. The first three times I met her, I reintroduced myself, thinking she was someone new because of how often she changes her hair. I’ve seen it in rainbow, bleach blonde, and a deep maroon.
She is kind, and part of the usual gang that’s invited to anything at River and Aspen’s house.
The last few months I’d been skipping get-togethers because of Cari.
I didn’t want there to be any drama, and I didn’t know things could be as chill as they were at the photoshoot.
So I was glad to be invited to Isla’s surprise party and actually be able to say yes.
Isla’s girlfriend and co-owner of RARE’s, Rae, was throwing it, but I doubted it was an actual surprise.
I mean, how could she really keep it a secret?
Those two were usually attached at the hip.
“Nice, it’s been weird not having you at things. And it’s not like Cari was going, you both have just been missing everything,” Aspen says.
“Well, that I wish I knew.” I frown. I had thought that, at least all this time, things didn’t have to change for her.
“River and I did our best not to talk about you guys to each other. Which isn’t exactly easy, but we were trying to respect what you were going through,” Aspen explains.
I join her on the other couch, propping my feet up on the coffee table and I sip my coffee. “I know, and I appreciate you guys not making it more complicated for us.”
“I’m just glad everyone is getting along. You all seem to be doing well, and that’s what matters,” Aspen says.
“Did you know about Cari’s mental health crisis?” I ask.
“Yes,” she says flatly.
“That’s it?” I balk.
“What do you want me to say? That I didn’t know?
Of course, I knew. I was there when it happened.
But it’s not my business to share. I’m glad she told you, because I do think you two should’ve communicated more, but it was never my secret to tell.
Especially when you didn’t want to hear about her,” Aspen explains.
“I just wish I knew.” I sigh.
“Why? So, you could’ve fixed it? Isn’t it better that you weren’t there? She fixed it on her own and was able to do what was needed to get better.”
I sigh, knowing Aspen’s right. Me knowing Cari wasn’t okay would’ve made me feel like crap, and I would’ve called or texted trying to help her. And we’d be back where we started all over again. Instead, we were both able to heal from our own trauma, in our own time.
Three weeks later, I get a present and show up at the allotted time as to not ruin the surprise for Isla.
The party is at River and Aspen’s house to throw Isla off, but everyone agreed she probably already knows.
Especially since it’s Rae’s job to get her here.
She’s a bit pussy whipped when it comes to Isla.
“Hey, stranger.” I smile at Cari as she crouches down behind the couch near me to hide.
“Hey,” she whispers, her lips shiny with lipgloss, begging to be kissed.
“I think I should’ve picked a better hiding place. Pretty sure my ass is sticking out,” I whisper.
“My knees aren’t built for this,” she teases.
“SURPRISE!” Everyone shouts, and three seconds later, Cari and I jump up, shouting too.
Isla gasps, covering her mouth in a very dramatic, early-2000s horror-movie way.
Her purple ponytail makes her look like Rumi from K-Pop Demon Hunters.
Everyone runs over to hug her asking if she was really surprised.
She might be able to lie, but I can tell by the look on her girlfriend’s face that she definitely gave it up.
“Oh, she definitely knew,” Cari whispers to me.
I chuckle, “You think?”
“Oh, come on. It’s a good thing she’s a lesbian because if she had to fake an orgasm with a man, I don’t think even he’d believe it,” Cari says, sipping her drink.
“I thought the same thing. She and Rae can’t keep secrets. It’s kind of cute when you think about it though.” I shrug.
Cari turns, raising an eyebrow at me. “What is this? Max, have you become a secret romantic?” she teases.
“What? No.” I blush. “I’m just saying, isn’t that what we all want? Someone we don’t have to lie to?”
Cari studies my face for a moment before nodding quietly. Her cheeks turn a bright pink, matching her lips, shiny with her infamous lip gloss. I used to tease her, joking that it bugged me when she kissed me and the lipgloss got everywhere, but secretly I loved it.
A small reminder of her on my skin for hours.
Plus, it usually tasted like cherries. She catches me staring at her lips, so I take a long chug of my drink and wince.
Aspen had made them a bit too strong tonight.
She was a surprisingly good bartender for a sober person, but every once in a while she would over pour since she wasn’t drinking them herself.
“So, how did you end up working for Ellie?” I ask Cari, hoping to change the subject.
“Oh, well, I was in need of a job, and Gus knew a model that Ellie works with a bunch. They got me an interview, and it just worked out for the best. I really love working for her,” she says proudly.
“That’s cool, she must trust you a lot. I don’t see too many assistants running photo shoots,” I admit.
“She knows I have a background in social media curation, and her account wasn’t hitting the right people. So she hired me to take over completely, and that included the photo shoot. We’ve been teasing the photos for weeks now, and the account just jumped twenty thousand followers.” Cari smiles.
“Holy shit.” That was impressive.
“It’s on track to hit a million by the end of the year. But we’ll see.” She shrugs, but I can see behind her nonchalance is pride.
“I’m sure you’ll do it.”
“How’s it going for you? Any brands you’ve been excited to work with?” she asks.
“Nah, not recently. I’m hoping once the spring starts, I’ll be outside more and traveling to more things,” I admit.
“Maybe Ellie will want to use you again, she was so happy with how the photos came out for the ad campaign. I’ll mention it to her.”
“You want to work together again?” I raise an eyebrow.
“Come on, it’s not like we can be strangers. Our best friends are married, plus it would be stupid to ignore how talented you are.”
“Well, thanks.”
This version of Cari is so different from the one I saw the last time we were in this house.
She’s calm and happy, the same as when I saw her in DC.
It wasn’t a one-time facade she was putting on to keep her cool at work.
She is actually just like this all the time now.
I thought it would pass, but talking to her is like seeing her in a new light.
I sip my drink, making a mental note to switch to soda after this.
Cari excuses herself to help River with the food.
Rae ordered sushi and needed help setting it up.
I watch her from the kitchen, laughing with River, her lips shiny and pink.
Her body is covered in a green silk dress that looks similar to the one she was wearing in DC. Maybe something from Ellie’s brand?
“Here, I stole you some salmon skin rolls. They only sent three, and I brought you two, so eat them quickly,” Cari whispers, handing me a napkin covering the hidden sushi.
I take them, turning around and shoving them both in my mouth.
Which is a terrible idea because I almost choke trying to eat them both.
I try to chase it with my drink, which is even worse because then I almost choke again on the warm liquor mixing with the crispy salmon.
Cari is laughing the whole time, the light sound the only thing making it worth it.
At least I got to make her laugh again. God, I forgot how bad I missed doing that.
“I said be cool, not make a scene,” Cari teases as she hands me a cup of water.
I take a huge gulp and finally choke down the last of everything. “I don’t know why I did that.”
“At least you kept them down. For a moment there, I thought they were coming back upstream,” Cari teases.
“I’m no quitter, I’ll choke and die before I let them win,” I joke.
“What a way to go, choking on sushi and rum.” She laughs.
“Eh, it would be worth it.” I bite my bottom lip, looking at her. God, has she always been this beautiful? I know the answer is yes, but there is something about her tonight.
I try not to make a fool of myself for the rest of the night.
Somehow, Cari and I find ourselves together all night.
Eventually, Cari is one of the first to go, needing to get up in the morning for work, so she excuses herself with a round of goodbyes.
After an awkward exchange and landing on a friendly hug, I’m stuck staying behind, smelling like her cherry lipgloss.
It makes me wonder if I’ll ever get to taste it again.
I step into the foyer of River and Aspen’s apartment, closing the door behind me so no one can hear me.
I take my phone out of my back pocket and dial Cari’s number.
She had left with her phone in her hand, so I’m hoping she’ll pick up.
Unless she’s already on the subway. Shit, what if I have to leave a voicemail?
I don’t know how to leave those. It’s not 1992 after all.
“Hey?” Cari sounds confused, which, truthfully, I don’t blame her.
“Hey,” I say before going quiet. Shit, I should’ve thought out what to say.
“Did you mean to call me?” Cari asks hesitantly.
“Yes. I had a really good time talking to you tonight. I was wondering if you would want to hang out sometime this week,” I ask.
“Uh,” Cari pauses, and I realize how it sounded.
“Let me rephrase. Would you like to go out on a date with me? In public, clothing on the entire time,” I specify. Cari laughs, and I know that’s what she was worried about, that I was asking to fall back into old habits and hook up with her.
“Really?” I can hear her smiling.
“Scouts honor.”
“Okay, sure. Text me the details?” Cari asks.
“Sounds perfect.”
We hang up, and I think about where I want to take her. Wanting to give it a little more thought, I text her, telling her I’ll pick her up from her place on Thursday at six. If I am going to do this with Cari, the past be damned, then I am going to do it right.