The words rang like an annoying mantra through Max’s mind as he tapped a finger against the crystal water goblet. Sitting at the Regal Hotel’s fine dining restaurant, he glanced around. The place was full for a Thursday night. He’d spotted Nick, the owner, at the bar, looking his way every so often. Probably wondering what the hell Max was doing there by himself. His date was an hour late. He didn’t want to admit it—the truth hurt, yet it gave him the most overwhelming relief. He’d been stood up, but he’d never been so glad in his life for a date not to show. Date number one had been with a schoolteacher who refused to look at anything but the table, while talking about her kids in her classroom. His mind had zoned off, thinking about Lia the whole time, wondering what she was doing at that moment, until he’d heard marriage and babies in the same sentence. He couldn’t get out of there fast enough. Date number two had been even worse.
