CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
“Leslie, I need you,” Max pleaded. “You said you’d help—”
“That was before.” She rocked. “If you care about me as much as you say, you’ll let me leave.”
He trapped his bottom lip between his teeth. “You can go.”
She batted her eyes as if she expected him to put up a bigger fight.
“You’d be nothing but a distraction, anyway.”
She threw her chin in the air. “Fine. I wish you the best and I hope you get out this mess.”
“Mm-hm.” He sat at the table.
“I mean it. You don’t deserve to be punished for a murder you didn’t commit and I’ll pray for you.”
“Pray for yourself.” He sipped juice. “Pray that you’ll one day be strong enough to live your life without worrying about what other people think. Isn’t that the biggest part of it, Leslie? You don’t wanna be with me bec
