by Len Webster
“I guess …” she said, unsure.
He rolled his eyes at her. “No guessing. You are important to me. Two, they are not my friends. You are my friend. Three …” He paused, reached up, and pulled on her left arm to untangle it from its fold and grasp her hand. “You don’t have to be sorry if you need to be somewhere important. Okay?”
Oh, dear heart.
That beating organ of hers tightened at his words.
Goddammit, Maxwell Sheridan, you asshole!
When she first met Max, she had no idea how sweet he could be. She knew bits of his life from Clara and Stevie—how he had slept with the woman who had torn apart Noel and Clara—but Josie knew deep down he was keeping other secrets. Darker ones that hadn’t met the light. Ones he was ashamed of. Maybe that was what she felt connected to. His desire to keep his secrets. Just like her desire to keep hers at bay. She was sure his fears were the truth. Her fears were that the reality of her mother’s health would be known. That Josie would lose her sooner rather than later.
That this time, her mother wouldn’t be able to fight.
She didn’t want to accept the fact that the only person who loved her unconditionally was dying.
“Okay,” she finally said in a small voice and attempted a smile.
He appeared satisfied with her response as his eyes softened. “Do you have another business card?” he asked, his hand leaving hers.
She felt the emptiness his touch had created with its departure.
Josie’s brows furrowed. “Ah, sure.” She ducked down and opened the cupboard underneath the register and opened a small box of her business cards sitting next to a few of Clara’s that remained. Josie removed one of hers and then stood, handing Max the card.
He took it from her and reached into his jacket pocket to produce a pen. Max set the card on the counter and began to write on it. When he finished, his hand went into his inside jacket pocket and took out his wallet. Josie watched as he flipped it open, pulled out a card, turned it over, and scribbled something on it.
Once he appeared happy with what he wrote, he returned the pen and wallet to his pocket. Max picked up the cards and held them out to her. “I’ve gotta run. I’m sorry I wasn’t at the office when you stopped by. It was good to see you last night and today. I hope everything is okay. If you want to talk, I’m here.”
Josie took the cards from him, her eyes never leaving his. The air around her seemed thick and unbreathable. It was a struggle she didn’t want him to see.
“Thanks.”
“I’ll see you around, Josephine.”
She nodded at the large, almost hopeful smile he directed her way. “Thank you for stopping by, Max. You didn’t have to.”
He leant closer to her and whispered, “I had to,” before he left her staring after him as he exited the bakery.
When he had vanished from her line of sight, Josie glanced down at the two cards in her hands. She flipped over her business card and read what he wrote.
I’m sorry about today.
Didn’t mean to miss you.
- Max.
She smiled at the sweetness of his note. It caused her heart to flutter in a way it hadn’t before. The flutters were heavy and warm as if so much pressure weighed it down, but her heart was fighting against it to break free.
Didn’t mean to miss you.
Josie knew he meant that he had just left when she had arrived at the firm. But she couldn’t help but love the thought that maybe he couldn’t help but miss her. She shook her head at the ridiculous thought.
Max miss me?
Completely stupid.
We’re friends.
She set down her business card and took in the other one, realising it was his. Effortlessly embossed underneath the Gordon Sheridan logo were his name and details.
Maxwell Sheridan
Corporate lawyer.
03 9605 2800
[email protected]
Flipping the card over, she felt her heart swell at what he had written. And at that moment, Josie knew he had ruined the concept of friendship for her.
I feel compelled to ask you, but are you okay?
Call me: 0428 673 388
- Max.
He received Josie’s text message on Tuesday. Max was at Stevie and Julian’s apartment on his lunch break to water Julian’s orchid plant. Max had been given specific instructions to keep the pink flower alive. It was an exercise Stevie had given her fiancé. If he could keep the plant alive, then she’d consider a dog. Julian Moors was all kinds of whipped, and Max had been stupid enough to let Julian coerce him into making sure his best friend achieved his dream of a pet.
Max set the small watering can on the glass table and unlocked his phone.
Unknown: You felt compelled? Stop stealing my lines. I’m fine, Max. –Josie.
His chest warmed at the sight of her damn name. He had no idea why or how he had such strange feelings for someone he considered his friend. That was what they were. Josie was far too sweet and smart to want anything other than friendship with him. Max’s thumb pressed on her number to save it under her name.
Max: It’s quite the line, Josie. Hard not to use.
Josie: I guess I have a way with words.
Max: You do. Don’t you have class or something?
Josie: Yeah. Sitting in my contracts lecture. It’s hell. And it is very confusing.
Max: You do know I’m a corporate lawyer, right? I deal with contracts every day. I can help you.
She hadn’t replied straight away, and that had worried him. Maybe he had overstepped, but he was sure offering his help was a friendly thing to do. He had limited friendships with the opposite sex. Most times, he either slept with them, or they were married or engaged to one of his best friends.
Josie was neither.
As Max checked on Julian’s orchid one last time, he quickly took a picture to send later and then left the apartment. By the time Max had driven back to the firm, rode the elevator to the fifteenth floor, and sat at his desk, his phone beeped in his jacket pocket. When he pulled out his phone, Josie’s message flashed on his screen. It had been over twenty minutes since he’d last texted her.
Josie: Sorry for the late reply. Lecture ended, and I had to run to my next tutorial. You really want to help me? You’ll need a lot of patience. Family law, I know. Contracts and torts? That’s another story. You’ll see just what a terrible lawyer I’ll be.
Max chuckled. He knew she was teasing and had every confidence she would make a terrific lawyer. One that had every right to work for a firm like his father’s. She had mentioned she had no placement for next year. Max would look into finding her a traineeship at Gordon Sheridan. His father’s law firm was one of the best in the state, so it would be an amazing addition to her resume.
Max: Josie, I wouldn’t be offering if I didn’t want to help. Is that what’s been troubling you? Law school and placement?
His heart thumped as his palms sweat. Soon he would know the extent of their friendship. If it were one where they shared their fears and troubles. Or if it were one where they would eventually tell each other their sins and guilty secrets.
Josie: No.
Josie: I mean, yes.
Josie: Honestly, Max, I don’t know. My life is a little full on at the moment.
Just as Max was about to reply, Julian messaged him. He opened it to find a picture of a pear.
Julian: I was always afraid of gardening. Then I decided to grow a PEAR!
“What an idiot,” Max muttered as he shook his head.
His phone beeped once again.
Julian: Puns aside, how’s my orchid? Better not have killed it. I will hurt you when I come home if anything happened.
Max: Relax. Your damn orchid is fine. I’ll send you a picture later. I’m just at work.
Julian: Fine. I’ll be home in a couple of days. Don’t forget that picture of Orchid.
Max: I won’t forget that picture of Orchid th
e orchid.
He then exited his text message conversation with Julian and returned to Josie’s.
Max: Just for you, I’ll waive my service fee.
Josie: You really are a pal, aren’t you? Talk more later?
Max: So that’s a yes to tutoring you?
Josie: You’re going to regret it, but sure. I’ll message you after this class. My tutor’s talking about my upcoming assignment for taxation.
Max: Taxation is the worst. Enjoy class.
Enjoy class.
“Out of all the things you could possibly say to her,” he mumbled as he set his phone on his desk.
Max shook his head and picked up the contract he had been drafting for his client, Bill, a country dairy farmer. It wasn’t the most exciting job on the planet, but someone had to create the contracts businesses signed. But knowing the distributor, Bill and Max had a long negotiation battle ahead of them. To prevent this, and to minimise the cost of what Bill would have to pay for his services, Max had to make sure this contract suited not only the distributor but also helped the dairy business.
The chime from his phone had stopped Max from typing the clauses section of the draft contract. He peeked down to see Josie’s name on the screen. It had been almost two hours since he’d last spoken to her. Unable to help the smile on his face, Max reached over and picked up his iPhone. He unlocked it and read the message she had sent him.
Josie: Are you okay for me to stop by your office?
Max: Why wouldn’t I be okay with that?
Josie: The receptionist seems to have forgotten me since the last time I was here. Claims you don’t know who I am.
Max: What? I’m coming downstairs.
Josie: You don’t have to. You’re probably busy. I was on my way home from uni and thought I’d drop by. I can go.
Max: Seriously, Josie. Stay there. Give me a couple of minutes.
He didn’t wait for her to reply. Instead, Max pressed save on the Bill Erickson contract and stood from his leather chair. He shoved his phone into his pants pocket and then left his office for the elevator. As he waited for it to reach his floor, Sully called out Max’s name and made his way towards him.
“Max, we’re going out for drinks tonight. Earl from recruitment, it’s his birthday. You in?” Sully asked as the elevator doors opened.
Max stepped inside, spun around, and pressed the lobby button. Just before the doors shut, he replied, “Can’t. Got plans.”
“Since when do you have plans? You’re always the last to leave this place.” The elevator doors began to close on Sully.
“Since your wife left you,” Max teased with a smirk.
“Fuckin’ bastard!”
Max chuckled as the elevator descended, bopping his head along with the typical jazz that played. It took several minutes to make it to the ground floor. The elevator had opened and closed on several different floors as employees hopped on and off. Finally, he breathed out when the doors opened, and he entered the lobby.
It hadn’t taken him long to find Josie staring up at the large chandelier on the ceiling. Max noticed she was wearing a blue Deakin University hoodie, black skinny jeans, and a messenger bag. She had her long brown hair pulled into a high ponytail with some shorter straight strands loose by the side of her face. He watched as she lowered her chin and those bright blue eyes found him. Her smile developed instantly, and Max’s chest tightened. She was beautiful in all her naturalness and comfort.
Damn.
He should not be thinking his friend was beautiful.
Hell, he had thought she was the moment he met her and then at the wedding.
He was too far gone.
Max closed the distance and smiled at her. She was shorter than Sarah and Andrea were, but it was adorable. Not even thinking it through, Max wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a tight hug. Josie tensed in his hold, but after several seconds, she relaxed and hugged him back.
“Sorry. Was that … umm … over the line?” he asked after he broke their embrace and nervously rubbed the back of his neck.
She laughed. “No. Has anyone ever told you that you’re actually a good hugger?” Josie stepped forward and squinted at him. “Are you …?”
His brows met. “Am I what?”
This time, she let out a sweet giggle. “Are you blushing?”
Max groaned at her. “Jos—”
“Maxwell,” he heard his father, Gordon, say.
His father had impeccable timing, and Max groaned as he noticed the hesitation on Josie’s face. Gordon Sheridan was a feared man in Melbourne. Undeniably the best defence lawyer money could buy with the best win ratio. He had not lost a case yet. Max had never wanted to eclipse that legacy, so instead, he became a corporate lawyer and specialised in contracts.
He gave Josie a reassuring smile as his father made his way to them. Gordon nodded at Ruby and then stood next to Josie.
“And who is this?” His father’s eyes roamed Josie—from her beautiful, slender face to her body—and a smile hinted on his lips. His father was one who hardly smiled. Last year, working for him had caused Max to go back to Sarah. Client after client was at Max’s door. His father cited it as a growing exercise. To see if he could someday run the firm or become a partner.
“Dad, this is Josie, a friend of mine. Josie, this is my father, Gordon Sheridan,” Max introduced.
Josie shifted and held her hand out towards his father. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr Sheridan.”
She sounded sweet and kind as if it really was a pleasure to meet him. If only she knew how forceful and brutal he really was. His father glanced over at Max and eyed him. It was that ‘How did this happen?’ look he gave when he was building a defence for his clients.
“It’s lovely to meet you, Josie.” His eyes darted to her hoodie. “Deakin, huh? Good law department. What are you studying?”
It surprised Max how nice and tame his father was being. Though, he was sure his father was wondering how Max even knew someone like Josie. His father had only ever seen him with women like Sarah. In fact, for a long time, Gordon Sheridan had only ever seen him with Sarah Collins.
“Law, sir,” Josie said. She sounded shy as if she felt guilty about it.
Gordon chuckled. “Dear, ain’t nothing to be shy about. Exuberate confidence. That’s how you’re going to be a successful lawyer.”
She nodded as if his father had given her the secret of how to win at life. “Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind.”
His father looked at Max and then at Josie. “How did you meet my son, Josie?”
“Our best friends got married. I saw him around previously, but not until Noel and Clara’s wedding day did we actually speak.”
Gordon nodded along. “Had I not had an important case, I would have been there. Always adored that Clara Parker. So you saw Max before the wedding?”
“Yes, Mr Sheridan—”
“Please, call me Gordon,” his father interrupted.
Gordon.
Not once had his father ever wanted someone, let alone a complete stranger, call him by his first name. Not unless they were lifelong friends.
Max didn’t miss her fluttering eyelids. She was just as surprised as he was. She smiled and then continued. “Max has been to the bakery a few times. Never noticed me until we got partnered up at the wedding.”
Never noticed her?
If only she knew how wrong she was.
Gordon pursed his lips and then made a humming sound. “Typical of my son to miss such a good thing. Maxwell, you must have Josie over for dinner with your mother and me.”
“Umm.” Josie looked at him and gave him a tight and unsure smile.
“Dad—”
“I need to get to a meeting in the conference room. Maxwell, make sure to set up a dinner with Josie soon.” Then his father turned and smiled at her. “It was lovely meeting you, Josie. I’ll see you again soon.”
“And it was an honour to meet you, Gordon.”
> Max watched the smile on his father’s face deepen and his eyes glimmer. His father liked Josie, liked she was studying law, and no doubt loved the look of her. If only Gordon Sheridan knew just how sweet she really was to Max. His father nodded, walked past Max, and headed for the elevators.
Josie blinked several times in disbelief. “I just met your father,” she said in awe. “I just met Gordon Sheridan. The Gordon Sheridan. His cases are taught in my lectures and tutorials. How did I go from meeting your father to him urging that I attend a dinner with you, him, and your mother? How does that even happen?”
“Honestly, I have no idea. My father has never warmed to someone as quickly as he has with you,” Max revealed. Then something she had said had him curious. “You told him that I never noticed you before.”
“Yeah. The first time we met was at the bakery. I had black hair and was kind of pretentious. Now, I have brown hair, struggle with contracts, and am about to ask you to tutor me,” she said.
Max took in her chestnut coloured locks. “Brunette suits you much better than the black. And Josephine …”
“Yes, Maxwell?”
He took a step closer to her, so his body was almost touching her body. Max reached up and tucked her loose hair behind her ear and said softly, “I definitely noticed you.”
Her breathing hitched.
He hadn’t missed it, though he wished he had. It would make being around her more bearable and give him a little room to breathe a little easier.
Friends.
You’re both friends.
Max dropped his hand and cleared his throat. “You still gonna ask me to be your tutor?”
