Is He Or Isn't He? (17 page)

“Why does everything always have to come back to Camille?” Paige demanded.

“Because it's true, isn't it?”

“Yes!” Paige shouted. “Yes, it's true that I don't want to be anything like my mother, alright? All her life my mother has used her looks to get ahead. It's all she's ever had. It's how she got off that potato farm in Idaho where she grew up and her real name was Irma Sue Baxter.”

Anthony gasped in delight. “Camille's real name is Irma Sue? How very
Yields of Passion
!”

“When she was young my mother used her looks to get work as a model in New York. Then she used her looks to become an actress and then she used her looks to marry rich men. Her looks have gotten her to where she is today, but what's going to happen once her looks are gone?”

“Paige, that's Camille's problem, not yours. And I think you're underestimating your mother. Camille will always
land on her feet. She's a survivor. My God, she escaped life on a potato farm and the name Irma Sue! But you're not your mother. Give yourself a little credit. Yes, you're beautiful, but you're also smart. Smart enough to know that it takes more than a pretty face to get to where you want to go. So I want you to make me a promise.”

“What kind of promise?”

“I want you to promise that you're going to start letting the world see how beautiful you really are.”

Paige pointed to her nose. “I think that may take awhile.”

“I'm willing to wait.”

Paige sighed. Why was it that Anthony was always the one to make her do what she didn't want to do? Even though she
knew
without a doubt that he was right? She
had
been hiding her looks for a very long time. But maybe it was time to stop hiding.

“I may have to take baby steps.”

“I'll be right by your side.”

“And I'm not used to being the center of attention.”

“You're planning to become the center of attention?”

“Of course! But I'm not going to do any of this until you tell me which guys at school think I'm gorgeous.”

“I'll tell you
after
you give Max one more chance. Deal?”

Paige hesitated before answering. Did she want to get her hopes up again only to have them dashed? Despite telling Anthony she wanted to give up, she still had feelings for Max. And they were only going to get stronger as more time passed. She liked him so much! He was smart, kind and thoughtful. Well, except when it came to Monopoly. And she really didn't want to throw in the towel. Not yet. Not if it
meant she still had a chance with him.

Wasn't love worth fighting for? Sometimes you had to go after what you wanted. And she wanted Max.

“Deal,” she said. “One more chance. But then that's it! I can't spend the rest of my life chasing after Max!”

“Great!” Anthony exclaimed happily, clapping his hands. “Now turn on the TV. It's time for
The Yields of Passion
!”

 

An hour later the doorbell rang.

Paige aimed the remote control at the TV, turning it off. “I wonder who that can be.”

“Is it Justine coming back from the supermarket?”

Justine was the Cranes' live-in housekeeper from Jamaica. She'd been working for Paige's father since before he had married Camille and was considered part of the family. Paige adored her.

“She went home to visit her family last week,” Paige said, walking out into the hallway. “She won't be back until the end of next month.”

Paige opened the front door, surprised to see who was there. “Max! What are you doing here?”

Max held up a shopping bag. “I come bearing gifts.”

Paige accepted the bag. “Mmmm. Something smells chocolatey.”

“I just wanted to check up on you. See how you were doing. I still feel bad about what happened.”

“Don't feel bad. It was all my fault. And I'm doing okay. It was sweet of you to come by.”

“How's the nose?”

“It looks bad but it feels fine. The doctor says the swelling
should be gone by the end of the week.” Paige peeked into the bag. “What did you bring me that smells so yummy?”

“Desserts. My dad was trying out some new recipes in our kitchen.”

“I never say no to sweets! Why don't you come with me into the kitchen and we'll sample them? Anthony's in the living room.”

“I wish I could, but I can't.”

Paige tried not to feel disappointed. After all, Max had surprised her with his visit.

“Maybe another time?” he asked.

Paige's spirits instantly lifted. “Sure.”

“How about Friday night?”

“Huh?” She couldn't have heard him correctly.

“Friday night,” Max repeated. “Are you doing anything on Friday night?”

Paige's breath caught in her throat.

Friday night. Friday night was date night. Was Max getting ready to ask her out on a date?

“No plans. Why?”

“My dad's network is throwing a party and he gave me some extra invites. You're more than welcome to come. It's not going to be people just from the Cooking Channel. There are supposed to be a ton of celebrities.”

So much for being alone with Max. Still, he had invited her. That had to count for something.

“It sounds like fun. I'd love to go.”

“Great. Mention it to Anthony as well.”

“Anthony?” Paige felt like a storm cloud had just descended on her sunny day.

Max nodded. “And Colleen. And Bianca and Rachel. I already invited Felix.”

The storm clouds kept gathering, but Paige kept a smile pasted on her face.
Great, the whole gang's going to be there!

“I better get going,” Max said. “See you at school tomorrow?”

“I'll be back.”

“Okay.” Max gave Paige a quick hug, catching her off guard. Before she could hug him back, he let her go. “Bye!”

“Bye.”

A hug. Okay, a hug was nice, but why not a kiss?

Paige closed the door and headed back into the living room, where Anthony was lying on the couch, flipping through a magazine.

“Who was at the door?”

“Max.”

Anthony jumped off the couch. “Max was at the door and you didn't tell me? How could you? If I didn't know you better, I'd think you were trying to keep him for yourself.”

Paige rolled her eyes. “Calm down. This isn't an episode of
The Yields of Passion.
Don't have a meltdown. He wanted to see how I was doing and he brought me some desserts made by his father.”

“A guy bearing gifts is always a good sign,” Anthony grudgingly admitted as he snatched the bag from Paige and began pawing through it. “And this puts you one gift ahead of me, you know. Maybe I can get him to bop me with a basketball later this week in gym class. Or better yet! Maybe I can smash my face into his elbow while we're playing basketball. That might be easier to do.”

“Anthony!”

“Sorry! Obviously I'm freaking out because you now have the competitive edge.”

“Do I?”

“Don't you?”

“Well, he did ask me if I was doing anything on Friday night.”

Anthony gasped. “You mean he asked you out on a date?”

“I guess you could call it that.”

“No! He didn't!”

“He did, but he also invited you.”

Paige told Anthony all the details.

“Don't you
ever
scare me that way again!” Anthony scolded Paige, clutching his heart. “What are you trying to do? Kill me? Shame on you! Making me think my Maxie could be straight.”

“He could be,” Paige reminded. “He did invite Colleen, Bianca and Rachel.”

“But he also invited Felix.”

“Which means we still don't know if he's gay or straight!”

“But we will. Eventually we will. And since we're going to have competition on Friday night, we're going to have to make sure we dress to kill!”

The doorbell rang again and Paige looked at Anthony in surprise. “Do you think that's Max again?”

“If it is, we're not letting him leave.”

Paige went to the front door and was surprised to find Paolo waiting in the hallway.

“What happened to you?” Paolo exclaimed. “You look like you slammed your face into a wall.”

“More like Max's head.”

“What?!” Paolo held up a hand. “I don't want to hear it. I sense another one of my brother's crazy schemes.” Paolo shook his head sadly. “I thought you were the sensible one, Paige.”

“What's that supposed to mean?” She had a feeling she'd just been insulted.

“Who's at the door, Paige?” Anthony walked out in the hallway. “Pow? What are you doing here?”

Paolo pointed to his watch. “You were supposed to meet me downstairs fifteen minutes ago. We're picking up Mom and Dad at the airport. Come on! Move it! I'm double parked.”

“Why didn't you just call me on my cell phone?”

“Because I don't have a cell phone.”

“Why not?” Paige asked.

“I need to be walking around with a phone glued to my ear? Sometimes I like walking around listening to my own thoughts. I don't need to be talking to someone else.”

“He's lying,” Anthony whispered into Paige's ear. “He's just too cheap to spring for one.”

“I'll meet you downstairs,” Paolo said.

“Wait a minute,” Paige said, grabbing Paolo's arm. “Not so fast. What did you mean when you said I was sensible? The way you said it, it didn't sound very nice.”

“You should be smart enough to know that all this plotting and scheming when it comes to Max isn't going to lead to anything. You can't force someone to fall in love with you. Love just happens. Isn't that what you told me the first night you met him? But when it comes to Max, the two of you don't seem to realize that.”

“Love doesn't
just
happen,” Paige said. “Sometimes it
needs to be nurtured and grown.”

Paolo laughed. “And the two of you are nurturing Max's love?”

“We're nurturing our friendship with him,” Paige said. “A lot of people start out as friends first before falling in love.”

Paolo shook his head in exasperation. “Why is it that high schoolers don't get it? There's more to life than just love and romance!”

“When did you become so socially aware?” Anthony asked, staring at Paolo like he was a crazy man.

“And why are you so down on love?” Paige asked. “Was your heart broken that much by your last girlfriend?”

“Paolo's usually the heartbreaker,” Anthony informed Paige.

“What would life be without love?” she continued. “It's why we do the things we do. If you don't see that, if you don't understand that, then I feel sorry for you.”

Paolo pointed a finger at Anthony. “If you're not downstairs in five minutes, I'm leaving.” He then pointed a finger at Paige. “Ever think of writing an advice column for the lovelorn? All that crap you just told me? They'd eat it up.”

With those final words, Paolo left.

“I think you pissed off my big brother,” Anthony said, ducking into the hall closet and grabbing his denim jacket.

“Argh!” Paige screamed. “He makes me
so
angry! Sometimes I don't even know how the two of you can even be brothers!”

“I
f I asked you to kiss me, would you?” Anthony asked Max.

Max shrugged. “I don't know. I've never kissed a guy before.”

“Never?”

“Never.”

“Have you ever wondered what it might be like?”

“No.”

“Not even a little?”

“Not even a little.”

Anthony laughed, a devilish glint in his eye. “I think you're lying. And I'm going to prove it.”

“How?”

“Like this.”

But before Anthony could close the distance between
himself and Max, giving him the kiss he'd been waiting weeks for, Max held up the script he was holding.

“And that's when Dominick kisses Michael for the first time, right?” Max asked.

Argh!!!

Foiled again!

Anthony bit back a sigh, keeping a smile on his face. Was he
ever
going to get a chance to lock lips with Max? They'd been rehearsing his screenplay for weeks and they still hadn't kissed. Either they rehearsed up to the kissing scene, or when they picked up where they left off, they ran lines after the kissing scene.

Patience
, Anthony reminded himself.
Patience. All good things come to those who wait.

“Right.” Anthony tossed his copy of the screenplay on his bed. “I think we've done enough for today.”

“We're making good progress,” Max said. “We've almost got the whole script memorized.”

Was it his imagination or did Max seem more relaxed now that the threat of a kiss was over?

But that didn't explain anything. Despite the lack of lip action, Max was sending out signals that indicated he
was
interested in Anthony. There was never a lack of body contact between the two of them. If they were walking down the school hallways or down the street, Max was always throwing an arm around Anthony's shoulders. If they were at the movies or watching TV together, Max would press his leg against Anthony's to get his attention. And Max was always willing to go over lines to his screenplay, even though they hadn't rehearsed the kissing scene yet.

What did it all mean?!

Was it all in his mind? Was Max just a friendly guy? Or was he trying to tell him something?

He didn't know!

Anthony didn't want to think about it anymore. It made his head hurt. Instead, he was going to think about something fun.

“Thanks again for the invite to your dad's party. I'm looking forward to it.”

“Even though it's a black tie event, it should be a blast.”

“Paige tells me you've been stopping by her apartment all week with yummy desserts. I wonder if she'll still be able to fit into the dress she bought for tonight.”

“I feel bad about what happened out in the Hamptons. Guilty conscience.”

“You didn't know she was going to be in your room.”

“Neither did she.”

“Do you really believe that?”

Max gave Anthony a puzzled look. “What do you mean?”

Anthony decided it was time to make things a little interesting. Toss out a little bait and see if Max nibbled on it.

“Maybe she didn't go into your room by accident.” Anthony gave Max a pointed look. “Maybe she knew
exactly
where she was going.”

“Why would she do that?”

“Because she likes you?”

“She likes me?”

Oookay, either we've underestimated Max's level of intelligence and he's just another pretty boy with nothing upstairs, or he really doesn't have a clue….

Anthony knew he'd better do some backtracking. Paige would kill him if he told Max that she liked him. Plus, he really wasn't sure if he wanted to know if Max was straight. And that he might like his best friend as much as she liked him. Was it selfish of him to want Max to be gay and like
him
instead?

“Ants, does Paige like me?” Max asked, breaking into Anthony's thoughts.

“I think so, but I'm not a hundred percent sure. She hasn't come out and told me that she likes you. But if you want, I could try and find out.”

“You could?”

“Uh-huh. Paige and I are best friends. We tell each other everything, although so far she hasn't told me anything about you. Paige is like that when it comes to guys; she's afraid if she shares her feelings, she'll jinx things. So, do you want me to find out?”

Max shook his head. “No.”

“No?” That hadn't been the answer Anthony was expecting. “Why not?” He tried not to sound shocked.
What was wrong with Paige? Any guy would be lucky to have her as his girlfriend. Was she not good enough for Max? Was that it? Because if it was, Max was going to get an earful from him!

“I like Paige. A lot. She's a good friend.”

But not good enough to be a girlfriend? Is that it? Because you're really looking for a
boy
friend? If that's the case, you don't have to look very far. The perfect boyfriend is standing right in front of you!

“I don't have time in my life right now for a relationship with anyone. There's too much other stuff going on.” Max
glanced at his watch. “I better get going. I still have to pick up my tux, shower and change. See you later.”

“Later,” Anthony said, watching Max leave his bedroom as the wheels in his head started churning.

Hmmm. He doesn't have time in his life for a relationship with anyone. Anyone could be a girl…or a guy…

 

When Paige arrived at Anthony's to pick him up for the party, she was expecting him to open his front door.

Instead, it was opened by Paolo.

Paige was taken by surprise. She hadn't seen him since their argument at her apartment earlier in the week and she didn't know what to say to him. Should she apologize? After all, he was entitled to his opinion. But that didn't mean he had to put down hers. Before she could decide what she was going to say, Paolo spoke first.

“Where are you going all dressed up? Wait. Don't tell me. Let me guess.” Paolo closed his eyes and started rubbing the sides of his forehead. “My ESP powers say this has something to do with Marvelous Max.”

“He invited us to a party that the Cooking Channel is throwing for his father,” Paige said, walking past Paolo into the living room. As usual, the TV was on and tuned to a sports event. Where was the remote control? Just once she'd like to see something other than sports on this TV!

“And of course the two of you instantly accepted,” Paolo said, following after her.

“Why wouldn't we?”

Paolo plopped himself down on the couch and picked up the remote control hidden between two cushions, switching
to another sports channel. “Ever hear of playing hard to get? The two of you are making it so easy for this guy!”

“What do you know about playing hard to get?”

“Guys are intrigued by girls who they can't get right away. They like the chase.”

“Did you chase after all your girlfriends?”

“Some of them. And some of them chased after me.”

Paige stared at Paolo. “Did you just say what I think you said?”

“Huh?” Paolo asked, his eyes glued to the TV. Paige walked over to it and shut it off.

“Hey!” Paolo shouted. “What are you doing?”

“Answer my question. You're saying some of your girlfriends chased after you?”

“Yes.”

“You are
such
a hypocrite!” Paige screamed. Oh, he was so infuriating! “How can you criticize Anthony and me for chasing after Max when you've been chased after?”

“Easy,” Paolo said smugly, aiming the remote control at the TV and turning it back on. “I was aware that I was being chased. Mysterious Max is clueless!”

“Where are your parents?” Paige asked, deciding she wasn't going to discuss Max anymore with Paolo. For some bizarre reason, Max bugged him. “I want to say hello to them.”

“They're in Rome. They were only here for two nights. They're going to be there until the spring.”

“Rome is supposed to be one of the most romantic places in the world,” Paige sighed. “I've always wanted to go there.”

Paolo made the sign of the cross with two fingers, as if warding off a vampire, and hissed. “Let's avoid all talk of
romance. You remember what happened last time.”

“How could I forget?” Paige began hotly just as Anthony stuck his head in the living room.

“Ready to go?”

“Ready,” she said, eager to leave Paolo behind.

“Hey, Paige,” Paolo called out as she left the living room.

She turned around. “Yes?” she asked coldly, expecting him to toss another zinger at her.

“The swelling in your nose went down. You look like your old self again. I'm glad.”

Paige touched her nose self-consciously, surprised that Paolo had noticed. “Thanks,” she said.

 

Once Paige and Anthony had stepped into the limousine they had rented for the night to take them to the Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center where the party was taking place, Anthony dropped his bombshell. He told Paige what he'd told Max.

“You told Max you thought I might like him? You didn't!” Paige screamed.

“I did!”

“How could you?!”

“How could I not? Remember how you were ready to throw in the towel?”

“That was just a temporary lapse,” Paige said. “A week's worth of Max's TLC has given me hope!”

“Well, now my hope is gone.” Anthony gazed out his limousine window. “I'm starting to feel the exact same way you did. If he's straight, then I want you to have him.”

“That's so noble of you.”

Anthony turned away from the window and looked at
Paige. “It is, isn't it?”

“What's the problem? Tell me.”

“We
still
haven't rehearsed the kissing scene in my screenplay.”

“But you
will
get to kiss him. Eventually.” Paige began rummaging through her Celine pink tote. “I don't see what you're complaining about.”

“Do you think it's going to be as good as I'm expecting it to be?”

“Probably not,” Paige said, taking a gold compact and tube of lipstick out of her purse.

“Thanks a lot.”

“You want me to lie? Anticipation is always the best part of something you've been waiting for. The rest is all downhill.”

“Not always. Someone as cute as Max can't be a bad kisser. Even if it's a fake kiss.”

Paige, who was applying a fresh coat of ruby red lipstick, glanced away from her open compact. “A fake kiss is better than no kiss.”

“Have I told you how nice you look?”

Paige was wearing a geranium silk dress with a plunging neckline that stopped at the waist with a sparkly brooch. She'd also used a flat iron on her hair so that it fell over one shoulder in a long sleek sheet.

“Thank you. You don't look so bad yourself.”

“You can't go wrong with a basic black tuxedo.”

“I wonder how many celebrities are going to be there.”

“Whoever's on the Cooking Channel, at least.”

“I wonder if there's going to be a red carpet for us to walk down,” Paige said, as their limo pulled in front of the NBC
building, where the Rainbow Room was located.

“I'm sure there will be. With our luck, Felix will be right on it, scribbling away like mad for his column.”

When they arrived at the party, the first thing they saw was the food. Everywhere they turned, there were buffets manned by waiters and waitresses ready to serve.

“Where should we start?” Anthony asked, grabbing a plate and silverware wrapped in a linen napkin.

“Appetizers first. Then we'll move on to the main course.”

After filling their plates with a variety of goodies, Anthony and Paige found themselves a corner table that would allow them to watch the entire ballroom.

“Do you see anyone we know?” Anthony asked.

“There are the twins,” Paige said, pointing them out at the open bar where they were both sipping Cokes.

Rachel was wearing a black Empire waist dress designed by Chanel. Both the bodice and the skirt were embroidered with white daisies. Bianca, as usual, was wearing an eye-catching color. She had on a Zac Posen scarlet red chiffon dress pleated on the diagonal with a halter neckline.

“They both look like they're posing,” Anthony said.

“Why wouldn't they? This is a golden opportunity for them. With all the network executives here, they're probably hoping someone will offer them a cooking show.”

“What's the premise going to be?” Anthony snickered. “How to order takeout?”

“Be nice,” Paige scolded. “You know how much being on TV means to them.”

“I'm only teasing!” Anthony said. “Have you seen Colleen?”

Paige gazed around the ballroom. “There she is. Over by
the stuffed lobsters.”

Anthony waved to Colleen, who saw him and headed in his direction.

“Don't we look nice,” Paige said as Colleen put her plate down and pulled out a seat.

“This old thing?” Colleen said, referring to her bejeweled emerald green Dolce & Gabbana chiffon baby doll dress.

“It looks fabulous on you,” Anthony said.

“Thanks. I wish Miranda had felt the same way.”

Miranda was Colleen's mother, and from the way Colleen had uttered her name, Anthony sensed trouble. Miranda O'Brian was one of Manhattan's top socialites. Blond, super thin and constantly having plastic surgery to keep her face youthful and wrinkle free, her name was one that was always in the New York City gossip columns. Which she loved. The one thing she
didn't
love was her daughter's weight and was constantly nagging Colleen about it, trying to get her to slim down.

“She didn't like the dress?” Anthony asked.