One corner of his mouth crooked up—not really a smile, more an expression of solidarity, of understanding. That damn burning behind her eyes started up again.
“I spoke to Bia. She thought you might be able to use a friend. But if you don’t want me here, I can go. Just say the word, Josie.”
His eyes sought hers with such tenderness that she had to press her lips together to stop her bottom lip from trembling. And in that moment, despite the fact that she’d told him she never wanted to see him again, despite the fact that he shouldn’t be the one person she wanted to see right now, somehow he was. So when he stepped toward her, a little tentatively, and rested a hand on her arm, she gave in and leaned against him, breathing in the smell of him and allowing his arms to come around her in comfort.
Josie sat curled on the sofa while Max made the tea, brought a mug over to her. She cupped her hands around it, craving the heat—it was toasty warm in the cottage, thanks to her grandparents’ generous heating, but she still felt cold to her core. Max sat down next to her as she took a sip of milky tea.
“How are you doing?”
Josie sipped her tea again. “I don’t really know, in all honesty.” She glanced at him. “Bia told you what happened?” It seemed so like Bia to have told him that she didn’t even question it.
“She said your grandmother had a heart attack, yeah. I’m guessing she’s still in hospital?”
“Yeah. My aunt Helen and my grandad are with her. I just got back from the hospital and she seems OK, she was up and talking like normal, but I’m not sure if she was putting it on. The doctors have apparently just said that she needs to be there for observation, and they’re doing some scans or something today, but I don’t know what’s normal—how long is it usually after a heart attack, before you know if someone’s going to be OK?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never known anyone who’s had one before.”
Josie shifted position so she was resting her head on his shoulder, feeling almost guilty that it felt so easy to do so. “How are you here, Max?”
“Well, I got a train, then a taxi, being as how I can’t drive at the moment, and—”
Josie shook her head. “You know what I mean,” she said quietly.
He shrugged slightly, keeping the movement gentle so as not to dislodge her head from his shoulder. “I told you—I spoke to Bia and—”
Josie sat up, stared at the side of his face until he met her gaze.
He sighed. “I just wanted to be here for you, Josie.” He reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.
Josie sat very rigid. “And Erin?”
He shook his head. “I’m not with Erin. We were always just friends, really. I’m sorry for letting you think otherwise—I should have made that clearer.” Even as something in Josie loosened, ever so slightly, he took a breath. “I’m really sorry, for how things have been with us—for all the mistakes I keep seeming to make. And if you want me to leave, I will. But it’s your choice.” His lip quirked into half a smile. “It’ll be on your terms this time.”
She stared at him for a moment, and he didn’t balk from her gaze. “Stay,” she said with a little sigh, giving in and resting her head back on his shoulder. In that moment, she decided she didn’t really care if she was being weak, allowing him back in her life. The fact that she so easily slipped back into wanting him there told her that it was no use anyway—he had a place in her heart whether she liked it or not. And right now, she was too damn tired to process this on her own, so if he wanted to be here then she’d let him. Later, once her grandmother was out of the woods and she had the energy for it, they’d have a proper conversation.
Max rubbed his hand along her arm soothingly. “How was your show?” he asked, and Josie half shrugged.
“Good,” she mumbled. She hesitated, then, because she would keep wondering if she didn’t, said, “I got flowers.”
The hand stroking her arm stopped briefly before continuing again. “I hope you don’t mind?”
She sighed. “No. I don’t mind.”
They were quiet for a moment, drinking their tea, then Max looked outside the window. “It’s actually a really pretty day.” Josie grunted a little. It didn’t matter to her that it was blue, frosty, and bright outside—why should it? Gently, he took her tea from her, set it down on the table to his right. “Come on, I think we should go for a walk.”