Page 121 of Yours, Forever

"I wish it had been different." Max's voice came soft, this time. "It could have been different."

With no other words, Carlos left with the other two men. When they were gone from view, the whole group released their breath at once.

I slumped in relief.

"What the fuck?" Ale exclaimed.

Max turned to me and held my face again. "Are you okay?"

"Areyouokay?" I asked.

"Are we all okay?" Ale approached us, followed by everyone else

"I came in for coffee and saw him arguing with you," Eduardo said. "The door was locked so I called Ale, who called Daniel. When Daniel didn't answer, she called Janet. I watched the whole thing through the window, including when you parked and blocked the street— did you know the car is still idling?" he added in Max's direction.

"I did not." Max smirked. "Thank you, Eduardo."

"Ridiculous car." Daniel shook his head, but a small smile slanted his lips.

"Everyone is going to be talking about this tomorrow." Janet snorted. "At some point you have to stop giving us so much exciting material, you guys."

"It'll settle down now, won't it?" Ale took Daniel's hand. "It sounded like things are over with whatever was happening with Max's dad?"

"It's over now." Max's nod confirmed his words.

"See you tomorrow then?" Eduardo asked. "This was enough excitement for the night. I won't be needing caffeine, after all."

"I would have helped you regardless." Janet smiled at my husband. "We take care of our own in these parts… but I'll waitfor my flowers, okay? I still want to show them off to every visitor at town hall."

With befuddled goodbyes all around, everyone left.

Max and I didn't move from the place near the sofa where everything had happened.

With a sigh from deep in his lungs, he cradled my head and dropped a soft kiss on my lips. "Hi there. I've been looking for you."

He rested his forehead on mine and closed his eyes.

"You said,there you are, I've been looking for you, when you first came to remind me we're married."

He smiled. "I'm glad to hear it left an impression."

"Max… you always leave an impression."

"Did you miss me?"

Instead of a response, I kissed him.

He hummed. "Let's go home, then. You can tell me what my dad said on the drive."

"It'll take me a bit more than three minutes to recount everything."

He took my hand and helped me collect my things from the backroom. "We'll have time, you'll see."

Chapter 34

Eva

He drove us tothe Errázuriz Medina house, which was twelve minutes away by car, not three. It gave us enough time for me to tell him about the questions his father had asked, and the millions he had offered. He listened with complete focus, and tsked every time his father upped the offer.