Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 111732 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 559(@200wpm)___ 447(@250wpm)___ 372(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111732 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 559(@200wpm)___ 447(@250wpm)___ 372(@300wpm)
“On your marks, get set, go!” a staffer yells. And off the racers go. Immediately, after literally one step, our team topples over into a pile of rubble, causing Max to jump up and down like a lunatic on the sideline, cheering them on.
“Almost everyone else fell, too!” Max shouts at the girls. “You’ve still got this! Get up and keep going!” When the girls finally get up, we all cheer them on like crazy. And with each staggered step they manage to take as a unit, our cheering only intensifies until it’s reached a fever pitch.
“That’s it, sweetie!” Max shouts at Ripley. “You’ve got this, peanut! Go, Ripley, go!”
“Oh my goodness,” Gigi whispers. She looks at me and it’s like a lightbulb has gone off inside her head. “Marnie,” she says, her eyes wide. “What on earth?”
Blushing, I turn away just as the girls reach the finish line towards the back of the pack. We race over to them, along with the other girl’s parents, untie their legs, and celebrate. And through it all, I can feel Gigi’s eyes on me.
Max puts Ripley on his shoulders and off they go to collect her plastic trophy. And when she has it in hand, Max runs around with Ripley on his shoulders, alongside the other little girl and her father, with each girl holding up her plastic trophy in triumph.
“It’s wonderful to see Max having so much fun with Ripley,” Gigi says. “I haven’t seen Max’s goofy side in way too long.”
“He’s got a whole goofy side?” I joke. “And here I thought he had a goofy streak, at most.”
“Oh, no. As a kid, Max was my silly, affectionate little goofball. But it’s been a long time since he’s let down his walls and shown that side of himself the way he’s doing now.”
“Are you referring to what happened with his father when he was fifteen?” I ask.
Gigi nods. “He also suffered a terrible heartbreak in college that changed him. I thought he’d bounce back after a while. But he never did. Not fully, anyway.”
My heart is racing. “What kind of heartbreak?”
Gigi presses her lips together. “Max would have to tell you about that.” She looks at me pointedly. “Ask him if he’s ever been in love, Marnie. See what he says to that.”
I sigh. “What would be the point in doing that? He’ll be moving to California when we get back. There’s no future for us, so there’s no need to push him into having a heart-to-heart with me about his romantic past.”
“Maybe a heart-to-heart is the exact thing that would make a future possible.”
“That’s a pipe dream, Gigi.”
She looks at me intently. “I haven’t seen Max this happy in a long time. He’s lit up around you and Ripley. Calling her cutie pie and honey and sweetie and peanut and gazing at you like you walk on water. He’s a new man.” When I shake my head, Gigi grabs my hand. “Don’t let him fool you into thinking he doesn’t want you, Marnie. I’d bet my life he does. Max has had his walls up for a very long time. So long, I don’t think he knows how to take them down without a little help and encouragement from someone he trusts and loves. Someone who loves him back.” She tilts her head. “Do I have that right? I can tell Max loves you. Do you love him back?”
I glance at Max across the lawn, where he’s now talking with Dad, Ripley, the other little girl, and her parents. “Yes, I love him,” I admit, even though it pains me to say it out loud. “But it doesn’t matter because you’re wrong about him. He doesn’t love me back, Gigi.”
She shakes her head. “His walls are up, that’s all.”
“If you think I’m the right person to show him how to take them down, then you’re wrong about that. I’ve got my own walls up. I’m the one who needs help taking my walls down.”
Gigi sighs. “One of you is going to have to be vulnerable first. I know it’s scary, but since when do you back away from something that scares you?”
“Always. I always do that. At least, when it comes to being vulnerable with my feelings.”
“Oh.” She considers that. “Okay, well, you’re turning over a new leaf, starting today.”
I laugh. “I love you, Gigi.”
“I love you, too. Maybe I’m being selfish, but I’ve loved watching Max’s face light up around you and Ripley this week. I’ve loved watching him fall head over heels in love. I don’t want that to end.”
The comment slays me. But before I’ve replied, Dad appears with funnel cakes for Gigi and me, and we sit on a blanket and eat them while watching the next two three-legged races—both featuring kids older than Ripley.
“And now, it’s time for an adult race!” the announcer says. “Adult teams of two report to the starting line!”