Tip the Scales (Road Trip Romance Book 1)

by A. K. Evans

  His head snapped in my direction. On one hand I was grateful to finally have his eyes on me, but on the other, he wasn’t giving me an adoring look.

  “Now?” he asked incredulously. “You think we should talk about this now?”

  My eyes darted back and forth. I thought now was as good a time as any. In fact, I thought it was best to talk about it now when it was still fresh in our minds. He could get out whatever he was feeling, and I’d hopefully feel some relief that he wasn’t completely put off by my success.

  “Um, yeah. I was kind of hoping you could tell me what’s going through your mind,” I explained.

  “I already told you that it’s been a long day,” he began. “Right now, I’ve got entirely too much going through my mind. I’m really not up for talking about it all right now.”

  “We don’t have to talk about all of it,” I assured him. “I just want to know—”

  “Look,” he cut me off as he sat up in the bed. “I don’t want to talk about any of it right now. Hell, I don’t even want to think about any of it right now. But I am. Because all I keep thinking about is the fact that my niece was kidnapped today. Claire was kidnapped and I found out my woman lied to me.”

  I gasped.

  Fuck.

  My throat was tight when I rasped, “I didn’t lie to you, Max.”

  “You hid something from me that was pretty fucking important,” he shot back.

  “I never meant to—”

  Max cut me off again. “I need some time to process all of this. I’m not trying to be an ungrateful prick because I really do appreciate how you stepped up today for Claire. Thank you. I hope you know I genuinely mean that. But at the same time, I’ve got a lot messing with my head that I’m trying to come to terms with right now.”

  “Max, I…” I trailed off. I didn’t know if I’d found the right words, and I definitely didn’t know if this was the right time to share them, but after what happened today and what I believed was happening between us now, I didn’t like the idea of waiting. So, I clarified, “I did what I did for Claire today, but really, I did it for you. I love you, Max. And if I had to do it again for you, I wouldn’t hesitate.”

  Something I couldn’t read washed over him. The look terrified me. But what he did next scared me more. Without any acknowledgment of those three little words I’d just shared, Max stood and walked to the bathroom. He was in there for quite a long time. And when he came back, he simply got in the bed next to me and said, “Try to get some sleep.”

  There was no way that was going to happen with all of this unresolved business between us.

  But Max was clearly done talking.

  Just before he reached over to the nightstand to turn out the light, he held my eyes briefly, shook his head, and whispered, “Goodnight.”

  I didn’t respond.

  Seconds after he turned out the light, he added, “Eleanor Page.”

  After that, I didn’t think I’d ever manage to find sleep. But somehow, I must have. Because when I woke early the next morning, well before the sun rose, Max was gone and there was a note on his pillow.

  Couldn’t sleep. Needed some time alone to think, so I went home. -Max

  Once I read that, I knew.

  Max was done with me. It was only a matter of time before he completely distanced himself from me and broke my heart for good.

  Eleanor

  “Good morning, Max. It’s me, Ella. You probably already know that from my number, though. Anyway, I just wanted to check in and make sure you’re doing alright. Give me a call when you can.”

  It had been fourteen hours and thirty-six minutes since Max called me Eleanor Page and pretended to fall asleep beside me. No kiss goodnight. No peck on the cheek. No darling. Nothing. Just a thank you, goodnight, a shake of his head, and my full name. And, of course, a note.

  I tried holding out this morning, hoping he’d call or stop by. But eventually I couldn’t stand it any longer and gave into my urge to check on him. I was worried about him, and I was worried about us. So, I called him and got his voicemail. It concerned me, but I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt. I told myself that he was probably exercising or taking a shower. I figured if I didn’t hear from him by lunchtime, I’d try again.

  For the next three hours, I kept myself busy around the house. Even though there really wasn’t a mess in my home, I started the task of reorganizing. I started in my kitchen. I went through and got rid of items I purchased back when I moved in that hadn’t been used and already expired. I cleaned out the entire refrigerator. I reorganized my drawers and cabinets. I even mopped the floor that had just been mopped two days ago.

  Just after lunchtime, when I could no longer stop myself, I called Max again.

  “You’ve got Max. Leave me a message.”

  I took in a deep breath and said, “It’s me again. I hope you’re okay. Please call me. I just want to know that you’re alright.”

  Disappointed, I disconnected and walked upstairs to my bedroom. It was time to reorganize my closet. I pulled every item I hadn’t worn in the last year and evaluated it. Ninety percent of those items were boxed up and set aside. I’d do some research and find a local woman’s shelter where I could donate them. The remaining ten percent were pieces that I truly loved. I was going to give myself another year to have a place to wear them. If I didn’t, I’d reevaluate. Once I’d finished with the clothes, I moved on to my shoes. My entire closet project took me hours. In fact, I hadn’t completely finished when dinnertime rolled around. I wasn’t hungry, but I needed a change of scenery. Leaving my unfinished closet, I decided I couldn’t wait around for Max’s call.

  I grabbed my keys, locked up, and went to Max’s place. For five long agonizing minutes, I stood outside his house in the bitter cold. I rang the bell. I knocked on the door. He never answered.

  Feeling downtrodden, I went back home. Then, I tackled my office. My home was generally spotless, so there wasn’t much of a mess to pick up. It was merely reorganization and purging. Two hours later, I gave into the feelings I tried to avoid feeling all day and plopped myself down in my big, comfortable office chair. I sat, staring out the window, at Max’s house.

  Why was he avoiding me? I asked myself the question but was afraid I already knew the answer.

  Ten minutes after I sat down, I watched as Max drove his truck up his driveway. His garage door went up, and he pulled in. I felt the slightest bit of relief that he hadn’t been in the house simply ignoring me when I went over there to check on him.

  A second vehicle came up the driveway, pulling up right behind where Max had parked. I saw him standing at the back of his truck, waiting.

  Then, my stomach twisted in knots as I watched a woman in a tight skirt and heels get out of the car. Max waited for her to round the front of her car toward him. He slid an arm around her and gave her a hug before allowing her to walk ahead of him into the house.

  Minutes later, the light in his bedroom went on.

  I sat in my chair, tears rolling down my cheeks, for the next hour and a half, which was when the woman finally left.

  I should have listened. My mom and my friends both urged me to tell him right upfront. I didn’t. I was so stupid.

  Stupid.

  Stupid.

  Stupid.

  For allowing myself to get involved this deep with a man before I shared who I was with him. Before I knew whether his pride would allow him to be with someone who might have made more money than him but would love him the same even if she weren’t successful.

  After the woman drove off, I continued to sit in my office as tears rolled down my cheeks. I did that for the next twenty minutes. Finally, when Max’s bedroom light went off without him bothering to return my calls, I took myself upstairs, climbed in my bed, and cried myself to sleep.

  “You were right,” I admitted into the phone, the anguish in my voice unable to be disguised.

  It was the morning after Max had officially broken my hea
rt and crushed it to pieces. I was on the phone with Maggie.

  “What? Ella, what’s wrong?” she asked.

  “I fell in love with him, Mags. I fell in love with a man who didn’t know who I was. And once he found out, he scraped me off.”

  I just barely heard her swear under her breath. “What happened?” she pressed for more information.

  There was no time like the present. I launched in and told Maggie what happened. I gave her everything that I’d shared with Steph only a few days earlier, but I also added the whole situation with Claire. I did not tell her about the woman from last night. It was hard enough to admit to myself. Sharing it with someone else would have been an impossible task.

  When I finished telling my friend all the awful details of the horrible situation I’d put myself in, she lamented, “Oh, babe. I’m so sorry. Do you think maybe he just needs some time to process everything? I mean, his niece was kidnapped for ransom. And it sounds like if you hadn’t been willing or able to step up to the plate for them, that little girl might not have made it home. Surely, that’s got to be weighing heavily on his mind.”

  That made sense, and I completely understood where she was coming from. That didn’t negate the fact that not only did he not even have the decency to return one of my calls yesterday, but he also had a woman at his house not even twenty-four hours after he’d left mine. If this was about Claire and needing time to cope with what happened, I would have thought he’d at least call. A text message would have sufficed. Or, at least, it would have until I saw what I saw last night.

  I didn’t share any of this with Maggie. Instead, I lied, “Yeah, I guess that’s possible.”

  “It wasn’t just that, though, Ella,” she went on.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, think about it,” she began. “Not only does all of this happen to the little girl that you said he adores, but amidst everything going on with that, he learns that the woman he’s with is a billionaire. There were guys who weren’t dealing with everything Max was, and they couldn’t handle it. Maybe it was too much all at once and he just needs a little time.”

  “Or maybe he’s just like the rest of them,” I suggested.

  There was a moment of hesitation before she advised, “If that were true, you wouldn’t be this heartbroken.”

  I wanted to believe that. Max had seemed so different than any other man. I truly never believed he would have just written me off like he did. And because Maggie didn’t know about the woman who spent an hour and a half in Max’s bedroom last night, she was doing her best to be supportive of me and give Max the benefit of the doubt. At least, of course, until I had confirmation from Max that it was over between us. Then, and only then, would she and Steph both be there to dry my tears and tell me how I was better off without him.

  That’s what bothered me the most about all of it, though. Max didn’t even give me the courtesy of a proper breakup. Sure, we hadn’t been together all that long, but there had been something between us. Something that, at least for me, had been special. Didn’t I deserve to have the man who was sleeping with me to at least tell me that it wasn’t going to work out between us?

  “I don’t know, Mags. I guess I’ve got to just pick myself up and move on.”

  “Don’t give up hope, Ella,” she pleaded. “Even if it’s not Max, your guy is out there somewhere. I promise.”

  Not wanting to worry her more than I already knew she was, I assured her, “I won’t.”

  Maggie and I talked for a little bit longer before we disconnected. Then, I spent the rest of my morning and early afternoon curled up on the couch watching sappy movies and crying. It certainly felt like I was a glutton for punishment.

  It was around two o’clock that afternoon when there was a knock at my door. I peeled myself off the couch and went to it. Pulling it open, I found Max standing on the other side. He didn’t seem to be nearly as torn up over us. The minute he saw my face, which I was certain had to be red, blotchy, and puffy-eyed, he stated, “You’ve been crying.”

  “Movies,” I mumbled, offering him an explanation I wasn’t convinced he deserved.

  He shook his head in disbelief. “It’s more than that,” he asserted.

  Of course it was, but that didn’t mean I was prepared to tell him about it. “That’s not really your concern anymore, though, is it?”

  Max’s chin jerked back. “Excuse me? What’s with the attitude?”

  “Is there something I can help you with?” I asked, trying to come across as irritated as possible.

  He managed to get past my foul mood and explained, “Well, I was stopping over to let you know that I just got a call from Courtney about five minutes ago. She and Jim were on their way over with the kids, and they wanted to see you. My sister, in particular. But I’m thinking that maybe now isn’t a good time.”

  Damn. I liked Courtney. And Jim. Of course, I’d done some bonding with Julian, and Claire was the absolute cutest.

  “No, it’s fine. Great, actually,” I returned. “You can send them over when they arrive. I’d be happy to see them and was curious how they were all doing since everything happened. Of course, I didn’t have any way to contact them myself, and I didn’t want to just show up on their doorstep.”

  There was no lack of attitude in my response to Max. And he didn’t miss it. Unfortunately for him, he took too long to reply, so I asked, “Is there something else you needed other than to inform me of the impending visit from your family?”

  “You’re pissed at me,” he stated the obvious.

  I let out a laugh. “I wish. I wish so much that I could be pissed at you right now. Because we both know that I should be,” I responded, my voice getting quieter with each word that passed my lips.

  Before Max had the chance to respond, we saw his sister’s family pull into the driveway in their SUV. Max’s eyes came back to mine. “We have to talk,” he insisted.

  I shook my head. No way. I had nothing to say. “There’s nothing to talk about. You wrote me off and replaced me like that,” I accused him with a snap of my fingers.

  He had the audacity to appear confused. I watched as that look washed over him, but before he could say anything, Claire came running down the walkway shouting for her uncle.

  “Uncle Max!” she cried out in excitement carrying a piece of paper in her hand.

  Seeing that little girl running, happy, and blissfully unaware of what had happened to her not even a full two days ago helped to brighten my mood. It felt good knowing that I was able to do something to help save her from what could have been an impossibly horrific situation.

  Max quickly shook off whatever was on his mind and squatted to catch Claire in his arms. The second she collided with him, he gave her a kiss on the cheek and returned, “Hey, Claire-bear.”

  “Look what I did!” she squealed holding up her paper. “I made a picture. It has the whole family on it. There’s Mommy and Daddy. That’s me. I drew a purple dress on me because it’s my favorite color. That’s Julian. His eyes are closed because he always sleeps so much. That’s you. And that’s Auntie Nora.”

  I struggled and failed to stop the noise that came from the back of my throat.

  My heart.

  I wanted to cry.

  Max’s niece called me Auntie Nora. I didn’t even know how she knew to call me that, but I loved hearing it. I also hated knowing that, after today, I’d never hear it again.

  Max looked up at me, and I knew he saw the tears in my eyes. There was so much concern and even a little bit of regret written all over his face. Sadly, no matter how much he might have regretted sleeping with someone else before officially breaking things off with me, I knew I was the kind of girl who wouldn’t be able to ever get over that.

  I looked away from Max, took in a deep breath, and somehow managed to pull myself together.

  Just then, Jim and Courtney made it to the door with Julian in tow. “Hi,” Courtney greeted me. “I’m so sorry for the last-
minute notice. We wanted to see you yesterday, but Jim’s parents arrived in town. We had hoped you would have come over with Max, but since you didn’t, we figured we’d just come to you.”

  Well, that answered part of the question of where Max went yesterday. Of course, the visit to his family’s house was probably long before he stopped and picked up a woman somewhere.

  I did my best to put on a happy face and beamed, “Oh, that’s alright. Come on in. It’s so good to see all of you.”

  Everyone filed inside, and I put in an abundance of effort to keep my eyes from going to Max. As much as it hurt having him there, knowing what he’d done last night, I wasn’t going to kick him out and yell at him in front of a four-year-old girl and a ten-month-old baby boy. I could be an adult.

  “Let me take your coats,” I urged, doing anything to keep myself occupied and focused on something other than Max.

  Courtney gave me hers before Jim handed his over. Claire had taken hers off and dropped it on the floor at her feet. Max picked it up and followed me to the closet after I’d ushered everyone into the family room.

  Then, I made quick work of hanging the coats. Max’s presence at my back was hard to ignore, but I powered through.

  Just as I closed the door, Max’s fingers curled around my wrist. “Ella,” he started, but I quickly pulled my arm back.

  Using his surprise at my reaction to his touch in my favor, I exclaimed, “Drinks!”

  With that, I spun on my heels and took off in the opposite direction toward his sister and her family. “Can I get you some drinks?” I asked when I entered the room. “I’ve got water, soda, orange juice, sweet tea, and wine. I even have some beer here. I don’t drink it, but my father likes to have a beer or two every day. So, I have some left from when my parents were here at Christmastime.”

  “Sweet tea, please,” Courtney replied.

  “A beer is good,” Jim put in.

  “Perfect,” I declared before jerking my head to Claire. “Is orange juice okay for her? Or just water?”

  “I’ve got a cup of water with a lid for her, so she’s good for now,” Courtney confirmed.