“This is an Opel GT,” Max said. “And it’s yours.”
“Oh, my God, are you serious?” Squinting at the car, I could easily imagine how cool it would be, years later.
“You told me what you wanted. Now I just have to make it happen.”
I threw my arms around Max’s neck. “It’s amazing, thank you.”
He leaned down to kiss me, I thought, but instead he rubbed our noses together. The sweetness of it curled my toes. “You didn’t give me any parameters, but when this showed up, I could totally see you driving it.”
“Me, too. You’re incredible.” It was past time to make this move. “Okay, so...I’ve met your family. You want to come home with me for Christmas?”
He stared for a few seconds. “Are you sure? I mean, I’m...me. You come from a good family and everything.”
By which he meant they had some money. But big deal. The Kaufman family honor had never prompted me to change my mind about anything, ever.
So I nodded. “Absolutely. They need to know I have somebody special. Let’s not do things halfway.”
Max rested his chin on top of my head. “How bad can it be, right?”
But in all honesty, neither one of us had any idea.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
The next day, I called my mom as soon as I woke up. “Hey, it’s me.”
“What’s wrong?” she demanded.
“Nothing. How’s everyone doing?”
There was a long pause. “Are you sick?”
“How does that question even make sense?”
She thought for a few seconds, then asked, “Do you need money?”
“Wow. I’m a terrible daughter, huh?”
“No...but when you deviate from the pattern, there’s usually a reason.”
Okay, the woman knew me pretty well. “You’re not completely wrong. The reason I’m calling is, I want to know if it’s all right for me to bring someone home during the break.”
“...Someone?” She sounded cautious.
“My boyfriend.”
I caught a relieved puff of breath before she responded. Yeah, she was glad I didn’t say girlfriend. Stifling a sigh, I waited to hear her verdict.
“Are you coming for all of Hanukkah?” Excitement percolated in her tone, and I felt bad about disappointing her, though it wasn’t really a major holiday.
“Sorry. We have exams until the nineteenth. I was thinking we’d leave on Saturday afterward.”
“How long do you want to stay? Before you get touchy, understand that I’m only asking so I can buy groceries.”
I’d talked to Max already, and he’d managed to get some time off from work. Since he’d never asked for any vacation time, regardless of the holiday, his boss didn’t mind. So he had a full seven days from the start of winter break. We’d head back on the twenty-sixth, and he’d probably end up working on New Year’s. As for me, rehearsals were canceled until school started back in January.
“A week?” I suggested.
“Understood. Does he have any special food requirements?”
God, she was easy to read. At this point she was hoping I’d say he was kosher, but I pretended not to get it. “He’s not allergic to anything, if that’s what you’re asking.”
Mom forced a cheerful tone. “Ah, well, that’s good. I’ll tell Daddy you’ve got a plus one this year. And I’m really looking forward to meeting him.”
A little shiver went through me, imagining the interrogation that would ensue and what answers Max might give. But it was too late to back out. It’ll be fine. I chatted with her a little more before hanging up and catching a ride to campus with Angus. My professors were all distracted by the twinkle lights or something, so my classes for the next few weeks were mostly review sessions led by the TAs.
The days melted away in a rush of cramming for exams, band rehearsal and stolen moments with Max. He was spending more time at school, finishing up a project, and when he wasn’t in the engineering department, he was holed up at the garage. I suspected he might be working on my car, but I didn’t want to ask. It seemed...presumptuous.
The second week in December, I played a dorm party with Racing Sorrow, and afterward, we went out drinking. Max still wasn’t home when I got in, so I texted Miss you. And went to bed.
Finally I stumbled through my tests and emerged like a zombie on the other side. I doubted I’d be graduating with honors, but I’d done enough to stay on track for graduation. So weird, only one semester left. On Friday, I did my laundry and started packing. Since we were going on Max’s bike, I had to travel light.
Around ten that night, he propped himself against the door frame in my room and watched me trying to decide what to bring with me. I had some clothes at home, but most of what I’d left behind had been purchased by my mother...and consequently, my closet was full of dresses I wouldn’t wear even if I lost a bet—Young Miss stuff mostly, with pleats and ruffles.
“All set?” he asked.
I narrowed my eyes, cocking my head. “Huh. You look a little like my boyfriend. He disappeared like, three, weeks ago. But he wasn’t so thin and hollow-eyed.”
“Did you report him missing?” Max ambled into my room, flopping onto my bed with a quiet groan.
“Thought about it. But his occasional texts kept me from fearing the worst.”
“You’re heartless,” he complained. “Do you have any idea what I’ve suffered for you?”
“Not unless you tell me.”
As it turned out, he’d been putting in overtime, taking shifts for the guys who would be covering his week off. So, not working on your car. Dumbass. It never occurred to me that he’d have to work extra to make up for going home with me. I put down my backpack and went over to the bed; Max shifted over so I could sit beside him, and he sighed in pleasure when I brushed the hair away from his eyes.
“That feels good.”
“I’m sorry, I had no idea it would be such a huge deal. I’ve never had a job.” I felt like such a princess saying that.
He smiled wearily. “It’s okay, it was worth it. I’ve repaid all the guys now, and I’m free to take off in the morning.”
“You look like you’ve done nothing but work and study for weeks.”
“Feels like it. Come here.” Max drew me into his arms and I could actually feel the difference in him.
He’d always been lean, but now his ribs dug into my side and his shoulder bone poked me when I rested my head. I sat up, staring at him with what had to be a very worried look. “You know I want to make you, like, a gallon of mashed potatoes, right?”