Max let out the breath he hadn't realized he had been holding. He wasn't so stupid as to think Dani would brush off his betrayal and welcome him back as a bosom buddy simply because he admitted how much he missed her. No, he'd expected the worst because it's what he deserved; but Dani, being the good, honest, and wonderful person she was, said exactly what he wanted to hear. It wasn't going to be easy, winning back her friendship. He'd burned bridges and ran away but she wasn't writing him off like Pete had. She is giving him the chance to be what he used to be to her and Max didn't intend to squander the opportunity.
"Well...alright then," Max said, his nervousness easing away as a grin crept up to his mouth. "I'd like that. I'd like that a whole bunch."
Max ducked through the exit, made sure nothing hairy or bitey was outside waiting for them. Finding it clear, Max called to Dani, who came through the opening unscathed. When they reached a point somewhat equidistant between their two cars, Max knew they should say goodbye, say something...but didn't. It wasn't an awkward silence, heavy with things left unsaid and pregnant with pauses. They had already said what they needed to say, heard what needed to be heard, held each other and found comfort in the closeness. Max simply reached for Dani's hand, squeezed, and winked. They went back to their respective cars and Max watched from his parking spot as Dani turned the key in the ignition and drove away, leaving nothing more than a puff of exhaust in her wake. He waited a few moments and then pulled out his phone. Even though he knew the number by heart, Max went to his favorites, selected one, and put it on speaker. He turned the truck on and put it in drive as he heard the line ringing.
"So, I heard a joke the other day," Max said when Dani picked up the phone. "It's terrible." He's not sure if Dani meant for him to call so soon after she said it was okay to do so but he sort of couldn't help himself.
"What’s the best thing about Switzerland? I have no idea, but their flag is a big plus."
Too much time had been wasted with radio silence between them and Max wasn't going to lose any ground he'd gained with Dani. He'd almost lost her twice: once with his lies and once at the hands of a madman. If he was going to lose her again, he'd at least go out swinging, bad puns and all.