Page 41 of For You I'd Mend
“It’s a lot of baklava, so feel free to share,” she said, smiling at Aries again. “I know you don’t like to eat sweets.”
“Man, I’m a total sugar addict,” Aries said, giving her a look that made me grip the boxes so hard they dented. “I can’t get enough.”
Among other things. Thankfully, I kept that part to myself. Pretty sure Max would have tossed me out by my gauges if I hadn’t.
Max’s client grunted in pain, and the pink drained from Poppy’s cheeks. “Well, it was nice to meet you, Aries. See you in class, Theo.”
She turned and Aries started walking out with her. “So, I’m new in town,” I heard him say as the bell on the door rang.The rest of their conversation was muffled, even after I walked to the waiting room to put the pastry boxes on the counter. I watched him pull out his phone and hand it to her. Poppy typed something in it and smiled at him before she climbed into her hearse and drove away.
“Damn,” Aries said, pushing through the door. “That’s one badass bitch. And she drives a hearse. She ever get freaky in the back?” he asked me.
The needle stopped and before I could round the counter and beat the ever-loving shit out of Aries, Max gripped my shoulder, tight. I swear the man had wings in addition to the hearing and reflexes of an ex-con.
“Theo, I’m taking Aries outside to show him where Karma is, so he can get us some coffee to go with that dessert. Grab a twenty from the register and write down your order. Ask George if he wants anything.”
I did as he said and watched while he instructed Aries far longer than necessary to point the guy in the direction of the one and only coffee shop on Main Street. Max stepped inside to grab the twenty and the order I’d scribbled down, which included his usual flat white and George’s cinnamon toast latte. Max let out a disappointed sigh and added a double espresso to the list before he took it outside to Aries.
“Go ahead and grab a smoke, George,” Max shouted to the back while we stared each other down.
George lumbered past us to the door. “Back in five.”
“Take your time. We both need a break.”
George nodded and headed to the sidewalk, already pulling his cigarettes and lighter from his jeans.
“You hate when people smoke out front,” I said.
“I hate it more when someone doesn’t give a person a chance,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’d think you would too.”
I rubbed my forehead. “Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize to me. And so we’re clear, I don’t expect you to apologize to Aries either. Just stop being a dick to the kid.”
“You heard what he said about Poppy.”
“I did, and he and I had a little chat about how we treat women in this town, whether they’re within earshot or not. But you were being a dick before Poppy got here.”
“There’s something about him I don’t like.”
“Look, Theo,” Max said, gripping my shoulder. “I get that change is hard for you. But you have the opportunity to be a great role model for Aries, if you’re willing to look past his rough edges. The guy’s had a hard life from the start. Yours only went to hell when you were eighteen. And even then, you’ve had friends in your corner every step of the way.”
I blew out a breath. “And I’ve never had to fight addiction.”
Max nodded. “If we want to help Aries become a better man, we have to meet him where he is now. Having said that, if he disrespects your girl again, I’ll look the other way while you kick his ass.”
“She’s not my girl.”
Max laughed. The kind of laugh that had him bending at the knees and wheezing.
“I’m serious.”
“I know you are,” Max said, straightening. He gripped my shoulder again and all the humor left his face. “That’s been your problem for a while now, son. It’s long past time you started enjoying your life again.”
“You done, Dr. Phil?”
Max smiled at me. “Not yet, but soon, I hope.”
Chapter thirteen
