Page 98 of Maxwell

“I hear what you’re saying, but...” Maxwell shook his head.

“You’re not being selfish by trying to return to your spot in her life. Walking away and calling it respecting her wishes—that’s the selfish move. You’re protecting yourself from the pain of failure and dressing it up as being noble. Right now, Jasmine is too hurt and emotional to make good decisions. You’ll have to think straight for the two of you, and you have to decide if you’re going to let the two of you go through life without each other. She’s the woman who’s supposed to make you happy. You’re the man who’s supposed to make her happy. Giving up robs her of the one thing she needs and deserves—your love—and leaves you both worse off.”

Maxwell said nothing as he ruminated on Ethan’s words, turning the whiskey glass around and around in his hand.

“Let’s cut to the chase.”

Maxwell looked up.

Ethan leaned forward, elbows to knees. “I have three questions for you. Do you love her?”

“Yes, of course.”

“You’re not just interested because she’s someone you can’t have?”

“No! I love her. I really love her.” Maxwell’s voice vibrated with emotion.

“You didn’t cheat on her?”

“I swear to you, I didn’t.”

Ethan sat back with a nod, as if satisfied with what he had seen and heard.

“Then go get your woman.”

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Jasmine returned from an extended lunch with her father, renewed energy making her practically bounce through the doors. They had gone to The Catfish Cabin for lunch and mapped out a recruitment plan for a new pediatrician. The first item on the task list was to prepare the advertisement and, at the same time, reach out to their medical network with the qualifications they were looking for.

As she and her father walked through the door, she greeted the patients in the waiting area with a head nod and smile.

Her father went down the one hallway, and Jasmine headed toward the other.

“I placed a delivery on your desk,” Keisha said as Jasmine passed the reception area.

Jasmine paused. “For me?”

“Yep.” Keisha shoved her glasses higher on her nose and then returned to typing.

She couldn’t remember ordering anything. Of course, she hadn’t been in the best headspace lately.

When she arrived in the doorway, she immediately saw the delivery. Twelve roses, six red and six blush-colored. Not overdone. A simple bouquet.

She swallowed and walked toward them with trepidation. Carefully, she removed the envelope, and the words inside made her breath catch.

I’m not giving up on us. Maxwell

Chapter Forty

“Ihate exercising,” Myra moaned.

“Quit your whining. It’s good for us to be outside,” Jasmine said.

They had barely been walking for fifteen minutes when Myra started complaining. She had spent the night at Jasmine’s, with the understanding that they would go for a walk at Piedmont Park and then have a delicious, high-calorie brunch.

“Hey, isn’t that...?”

Jasmine followed Myra’s gaze, and her traitorous pulse quickened when her eyes landed on Maxwell. He was coming along the path in the opposite direction, earbuds in his ears.