Vic & Dani: 12:15PM
It was a fair point, one that earned another casual shrug from Vic even if it opened up a few long-standing wounds. "Yeah. If we could get within the hospital without being shot up I would've been there. All of us traveled down from Dallas together, him and his ma too. She was a good woman and I was sad as fuck to hear she passed. "
“Yes, she was.” Dani paused long enough to draw in a breath, eyes never leaving Vic’s face, but even that brief moment was enough to regain a little perspective. Her next words were said at a less rapid-fire pace, as some of the intensity drained out of her speech. “I think we’re both aware of what held each of us back, though I will point out that I told Max months ago that I wanted to come out to your camp. Perhaps you should ask him why that trip never materialized.”
"Maybe I should. Seems to me like that would be just the kind of thing he'd want." And oddly enough, despite the kind of proprietary annoyance he'd felt just a few minutes ago, Vic found he actually wouldn't mind if she did visit. He was used to women like her. "I got a yard out back with a grill," he offered. "Come by whenever the hell you want. May even be able to talk the burger guy into cooking for us again."
“Thank you for the invitation.” Dani couldn’t say whether she would ever take Vic up on it and visit -- or whether any sincerity lay behind his offer -- but it was something, at least. A starting place.
A glance in the direction of the food truck confirmed that Fordham hadn't even reached the window yet. In looking back at Vic, her eyes caught on Max. Until that moment she hadn't known he was there, but of course he was. After a moment, her expression softened. “More than what Max has said about you, I've witnessed how much he loves you. In all honesty, I haven't always believed you were worthy of that kind of devotion, but then… Well, when you get right down to it, that's not my call. And I trust his judgment. So perhaps I will show up for burgers one of these days. We’ll see what Max thinks. If he's been afraid to bring us together, maybe the fact that we've already met will be a relief, somehow.”
"Yeah. Guess we'll see how he feels about it once that happens." In all honesty, Vic couldn't blame her for her opinion, considering everything. It was like that saying -- how they'd made their bed and had to lie in it now. Something along those lines; Vic wasn't very sure. But he liked her honesty, and similarly, he knew Dani was important to Max. The two of them didn't have to get along, but Vic would at least make an effort.
And if she ever did decide to make good on it, Vic was pretty sure she'd find he wouldn't take back the invitation.
"And hey. You've been a good friend to him even after him leaving," he added, knowing he ought to get back over to the rest of his crew but dawdling a little while anyway to return the favor. "So call the feeling mutual. You just let him know when you want to come round."