No strings attached (yeah, right.)

It had been a week.

A long, infuriating, gut-wrenching week.

Caroline had gone on at least three more dates with Andrew, and every time Max saw her getting dressed up, her stomach twisted like she’d swallowed a live snake. Not that she cared. Nope. She was just mildly annoyed that Caroline was throwing herself at another rich dude. Again. And okay, maybe she was taking it out on every living object in her general vicinity.

“Max, pick up the damn order,” Han snapped from behind the counter. “The tables are waiting.”

Max turned, arms crossed. “I’d love to, Han, but the problem is—” she leaned down dramatically, “—I physically can’t reach anything that low.”

Han sighed. “One day, I will fire you.”

“One day, you will grow an inch.” Max grabbed the plates and stalked off, but not before hearing Oleg chuckle from the pass window.

“You miss your girl,” Oleg said, smirking.

Max froze mid-step.

She turned very slowly, narrowing her eyes at him. “Shut. Up.”

Oleg just wiggled his eyebrows.

Earl, who had been stirring his coffee like he was mixing a potion, chuckled from his stool. “Mmm-hmm. That’s what I thought.”

Max ignored them and slammed the plates onto the table so hard that the customers jumped.

Caroline had the nerve to look concerned. “Max, are you okay?”

“Oh, peachy,” Max replied, plastering on the fakest smile known to man.

Caroline tilted her head. “Are you crazy?”

Max blinked, then grinned. “Crazy? I was crazy once.."

"Stop quoting that!"

Max just walked off.

That night, after their shift, Max snuck outside for a smoke. The moment the cold air hit her, she exhaled sharply, pulling the pack from its hiding spot. She needed this. It wasn’t about addiction, it was about sanity.

She lit up, inhaling deeply, letting the familiar burn ground her. Her thoughts were spiraling—Caroline’s laugh, Caroline’s smile, Caroline’s stupid, perfect hair bouncing as she walked out the door to meet him.

She scowled. Ugh. Stupid rich guys. Stupid feelings.

She was halfway through her cigarette when she heard the creak of the back door.

Her soul left her body.

She barely had time to shove the cigarette behind her back before Caroline’s voice rang out.

“Max?”

Max coughed—violently. “What? Who? No one’s here. Go back inside.”

Caroline frowned, stepping closer. “Are you—were you smoking?”

“Nope,” Max said, smiling way too wide. “I was just standing here. Being healthy. Breathing the fresh, crisp Williamsburg air. Mmm. Nature.”

Caroline squinted at her. “Why do you smell like a gas station?”

Max narrowed her eyes. “Why do you smell like desperation?”

Caroline gasped. “Excuse me?”

Max cleared her throat. “I mean—perfume. Fancy, expensive perfume. From all your fancy, expensive dates.”

Caroline sighed, crossing her arms. “You’re mad at me.”

“Mad? Pfft. Please.” Max leaned against the wall, doing her best to look unbothered. “Why would I be mad that you’re spending all your time with some human version of a trust fund?”

Caroline exhaled sharply. “Max—”

“Oh, would you look at the time!” Max interrupted, pretending to check a watch she definitely wasn’t wearing. “Gotta get back inside before Han starts crying about me not doing my job. Wouldn’t want him to drown in his own tears.”

She breezed past Caroline, slipping inside before she could say another word.

Because if Caroline kept looking at her like that—like she cared—Max might just slip up and say something she’d regret.

And that wasn’t happening.

Not tonight.

Not ever.

_______

The dessert bar had finally closed for the night, and Max was done.

Not just physically done, but mentally, emotionally, and possibly spiritually done.

She slumped against the counter, watching as Caroline meticulously wiped everything down like they were about to get inspected by the Queen of England.

"Come on, princess," Max groaned. "The health department isn’t hiding in the sugar bin waiting to catch you slippin’. Let’s go before I die standing up."

Caroline huffed but put the rag down. "You’re so dramatic."

"Says the woman who cried actual tears over a broken nail last week."

"That was a serious break, Max! It hurt!"

Max rolled her eyes and grabbed her coat. "Yeah, yeah. Tragic. We should’ve held a vigil."

Caroline flipped her hair and ignored her, locking up as they stepped outside into the cold.

---

The walk home was peaceful.

For exactly thirty seconds.

Because Max, as always, could not let peace exist.

She shoved her hands in her pockets, kicking at a loose rock as they walked. "Soooo. When’s your next date with Richie Rich? Or are you finally giving your wallet a break?"

Caroline sighed, already tired. "Max—"

"I mean, I’m assuming he pays, right? Because if not, girl, you’re down bad."

Caroline groaned. "Why do you care?"

Max scoffed. "I don’t! I just—" she stopped walking and threw her arms up, "can’t believe you’ve been selling your soul to some dude for free breadsticks."

Caroline turned to face her, exasperated. "Max, he’s nice! I like spending time with him!"

Max’s stomach did that annoying clenching thing again, and she scowled. "Yeah, well, so did every woman who dated a serial killer before they found out."

Caroline gasped. "Max!"

"WHAT?" Max threw her arms up. "It’s true! Do your research! Ted Bundy? Jeffrey Dahmer? Probably charming as hell before things got weird."

Caroline looked so done. "Andrew is not a serial killer!"

Max shrugged. "That’s exactly what someone dating a serial killer would say."

Caroline groaned and started walking faster.

Max jogged to catch up. "Okay, fine, maybe he’s not a murderer, but I still don’t see the appeal."

Caroline shot her a look. "Oh, really? You don’t see the appeal of a nice, successful man who treats me well?"

Max snorted. "Successful? Caroline, his only personality trait is owning a suit."

Caroline shook her head, muttering, "I swear you have issues."

Max grinned. "Oh, honey, you just figured that out?"

Caroline rolled her eyes and kept walking. Max's chest still felt tight.

Because no matter how much she joked, she knew exactly why she cared so much.

And it had nothing to do with serial killers.