Simon eyed me for a second before handing me a menu. “Do you want to grab a bite to eat?”
I didn’t say anything, looking blankly at the options in front of me, trying to process whatever my subconscious was trying to tell me.
I’m just worked up from the day and overreacting. Relax and have a meal. It’s probably low blood sugar.
He turned his head to the window, his face scrunching. “Uh, do you know the girl trying to get in your car?” he asked, pointing out the window.
I looked out the glass and laughed. “Yeah, that’s my sister.”
Kari and Max made their way into the restaurant, Max’s arm around her shoulder. They spotted me right away and I dug my keys out of my purse.
“Hey!” Kari smiled, leaning her head against Max’s side.
“Hi, Kari. Hi, Max.” I felt my smile quickly fade. Max gave me a curt nod, not his usual friendly greeting.
“This is my sister, Kari, and her … friend, Max. Guys, this is Simon Powers.”
Kari said hello to Simon and he sat smugly, his eyes on Max, nodding. Max’s eyes were cold as he bent down and whispered something in Kari’s ear, causing her eyes to narrow.
“We need to get going. Can you run out and let us in your car?”
I started to hand her the keys, but Kari made no attempt to take them. I asked Simon to excuse me for a second and followed them outside.
“Simon Powers, huh?” Max asked as soon as we hit the doorway.
“Yeah. He looked at Cane’s property a few days ago. The one you called me about. He has another in Gila Bend he wants to check out.”
“Gila Bend? Right on I-10. Makes perfect sense,” Max said, looking straight ahead. “Does Cane know you’re here with him?”
I huffed. “No. Why in the world would he know? And why does I-10 make any difference?”
Max turned and looked at me, his eyes unsmiling. “You shouldn’t be here with him.”
“Simon is a business associate, Max. For that matter, so is Cane.” I sighed, hating both that I had admitted that out loud and that I had, in turn, admitted that I wished he was something more. “And it’s none of your damn business who I’m with.”
Max narrowed his eyes and I rolled mine in response, sick of the interrogation.
“I wish y’all would act like you have some sense.” Max shook his head.
“I have sense, Max. I have sense enough to know that Cane couldn’t care less where I am or who I am with.”
I retrieved the sneakers from my Jeep and locked it back up. Kari took them with one hand and wiped her face with the end of her shirt with the other.
“I can’t believe you are going to hike in this. You’re going to die of heat stroke. You’re a nurse. Don’t they teach you this stuff?”
“We changed our minds and are going back home,” Kari said. “When will you be there?”
“I was just going to order a sandwich, so maybe an hour?” I glanced at the restaurant and saw Simon watching us. He looked away quickly.
Max followed my eyes to the window, his jaw tensing. “Why don’t you come home now?”
“Because I’m hungry.” I let out a sigh, having had enough of stupid men for one day. “I’ll be there soon.”
“Jada,” Max said, running his hand over his chin, “I would really prefer it if you would follow us back.”
“Yeah, well, thanks for the misplaced concern. But I’m a big girl, Max.”
“I never said you weren’t. But even big girls need someone to look after them.”
“I have no idea what’s going on. But after the day I’ve had, I don’t have the energy to even try to figure it out. I am going to go back inside and have a bite to eat and I will be home when I feel like it. See you guys later.”
I turned to go, but the force of Max’s voice stopped me in my tracks. “Jada …”
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before turning around to face him. “What?”
“Cane’s going to ask me if I have seen you today. I guarantee you that.”
“No. He won’t. Because he doesn’t care.”
Max grinned. “He will. He asks about you every day.”
My heart stilled in my chest and I had to make a concerted effort to find my anger again. I shook my head. “He doesn’t really care, Max. Trust me. I’m just another notch to put on his headboard.”
“Apparently he’s pissed you off today. I know the feeling—he’s pissed me off every motherfucking day since I met him.” Max’s face softened, a grin touching his handsome face. “So if you don’t want to go home because of him—don’t. But I’d like to think you and I are friends, so do it as a favor to me.”