Tricks(51)

“I shouldn’t have let my relationship with Max suffer. I spent all that time avoiding being close to him, afraid that I might be killed on my next deployment, that it would only hurt him worse…”

“And then he died,” I whispered.

“Yeah, and now I have a gut full of regret as well as a hole in my heart.”

“If it makes a difference. Max never seemed angry at you. He never seemed like he felt betrayed.”

“Thought he never talked about me.”

“He didn’t. Not really. But I would have known if your distant relationship hurt him.”

“Thanks,” he said lightly, expelling a breath.

I don’t know if my words brought him any comfort, but I sincerely hoped they did. He’d been through a lot and it seemed that he didn’t need anything else to think about in the dark of the night.

A man wearing a pristine white coat approached the table, and Tucker stiffened. I looked up and smiled. “Cavalli!” I said so Tucker would know who it was we were talking with.

Cavalli’s face broke out into a wide smile. “Max! Charlotte!” he said, stopping beside the table. Tucker offered his hand and the two men shook before Cavalli leaned over and kissed my cheek.

“I have to say I am surprised to see you here. It’s so early in the day. I thought you two workaholics didn’t leave the office until at least seven.”

“Well, both our calendars were clear this afternoon so we decided to be spontaneous,” I replied.

Cavalli smiled. “Well, when the server told me we had guests not eating, I was alarmed! I thought there was something wrong with the food!”

“The food is perfect. We were just talking.”

Cavalli glanced over at Tucker and I held my breath, wondering if he was going to realize it wasn’t really Max. “Long time no see, Max! How’s the corporate world treating you?”

Tucker smiled. “Busy as ever, Cavalli. The restaurant looks great. Looks more successful than the last time I was here.”

I watched Cavalli for signs he thought something was off. He didn’t appear to notice anything. I breathed a sigh of relief.

Cavalli smiled. “I got out of the corporate world so I wouldn’t have to work so much, but here I am working just as much as ever. Who knew running a restaurant was hard?”

Tucker grinned. “When you’re doing what you love, it isn’t work.”

“Ah, you speak the truth, my friend.” Cavalli agreed.

Something inside me twisted at Tucker’s words. I shied away from the feeling because it made me uncomfortable.

“I need to ask you something,” Tucker said, his tone turning more serious.

“Of course,” Cavalli replied, pulling over a chair from a nearby table and sitting down with us.

“It probably won’t make sense, and I’m sorry, but I can’t explain right now. I will when I’m able. But it’s important.”

“You know I will help you if I can.”

I stared at Tucker. In that moment, he didn’t just look like Max, but he sounded like him. Max was always so earnest when he spoke. He was always so straightforward. I admired that because I always knew what to expect.

Before Tucker continued his conversation, he gave me a small look, obviously noticing I was staring. I cleared my throat and took a sip of my water.

“Have I recently given you anything for safekeeping? A flash drive?”

To his credit, Cavalli didn’t act as if the question was loony. He seemed to take it in stride and my heart began to pound in excitement. He must’ve known what we were asking about!

Justice is coming, Max.

Cavalli sat back in the chair and regarded Tucker for a long moment. “What’s this about? Are you in trouble, Max?”

“I wish I could explain,” Tucker said, sitting forward.

“No,” he answered. “You haven’t given me anything for safekeeping. I haven’t seen you in weeks. Don’t you remember?”

Tucker smiled. “Of course. I just need confirmation.”

Cavalli sat forward. “Max, you know if you need help, I will be there.”

Something shifted behind Tucker’s eyes. Sorrow perhaps. And then it was gone. “You’ve been a great friend to… to me. Good friends are hard to come by these days and you’ve been one. Thank you.”

He was thanking this man for being so good to his brother. For being there for him even when he wasn’t. I felt the sting of tears behind my eyes and I pushed them back.

Tucker carried a lot of guilt inside him. For the men who died that he couldn’t save. For his brother who he pushed away and now would never get to tell he was sorry…

I wondered what other pieces made up the man that Tucker was. I wanted to know them. I wanted to know everything I could about him. I realized I wasn’t just wildly attracted to him. He didn’t just make my pulse race… I liked him.