Despite the staff and customers of the cafe being caught up in the lunch rush, Max couldn't help but feel like all eyes were on him. After all, he was on what could be interpreted as a lunch date with a soon-to-be married woman.

Who just so happened to be his old girlfriend.

He frowned as he stirred around the ice in his tea. He was sure that the silence between them was sure to draw looks as well.

How were things this awkward between them? Yes, she was his girlfriend, (and yes, they hadn't spoken in years) but she was also his "girl friend", yet he couldn't bring himself to engage in conversation with her. Surely after years apart, they could find something to talk about.

"So, uh, what have you been up to?" Max finally said, breaking the ice.

"Not much." She raised her hand as if to find a lock of hair to twirl around her finger, but when she realized she had her hair pulled back into a ponytail (save for a few tendrils that framed her face), she quickly placed it back on the table. "Mostly just work."

"Yeah, same." His smile dropped as he looked back down at his tea.

"So what brings you back here?"

"A promotion." He answered. "I'm staying with my dad until I find a place in Ralington."

She smiled. "Congrats."

"Thanks." Not wanting the conversation to be diverted to her wedding (or even Collin for that matter), he quickly added, "It's just a temporary stop until I can get to New York."

"Oh, that's where Stacey is!"

"Seriously? So is Peej- I mean, Peter Jr."

"'Peter Jr.'?" Roxanne grinned.

"Yeah." Max rolled his eyes. "Getting a PhD in Literature tends to do that to a person."

She laughed. "So how's Bobby been doing?" She asked. "Is he still doing trash TV?"

"VTV's number one host?" Max smirked. "Yeah, I don't think he's going anywhere."

The two laughed again.

Time flew by as Max and Roxanne talked about their friends and their escapades over the years. He found out that Stacey was a lawyer (who could possibly pull some strings to get him into his dream job) and he announced that he recently became a godfather and proudly showed off a picture of his goddaughter, "Peter Jr.'s" daughter, Amarella.

After lunch, the two walked around the shopping plaza and Roxanne filled him in about what's been going on around Spoonerville over the past few years, mainly talking about what stores and restaurants were still around.

"So then she was like, 'Well, can't you just add the cookies to it and blend it up,' which makes sense to me because how are you going to advertise that you also serve vegan milkshakes but only have one flavor on the menu?"

Despite her rather passionate telling of a local ice cream shop and its offerings, Max's thoughts began to drift.

He was well-aware of his plan to get Roxanne back, but there was a part of him that wouldn't allow himself to spoil their afternoon. Despite a rocky start, things were finally going great now.

But she hasn't even brought up the wedding once, surely this must mean something.

She's just enjoying the moment. You two hadn't really talked in years, you know.

But...that dress. That perfume. No one goes all-out like this for a simple lunch date with a "friend".

Maybe she's doing something with Collin or her wedding party later.

"Well, I need to get going." Roxanne said, snapping Max out of his thoughts. "It was great seeing you again, Max."

"Roxanne, wait."

Her eyes narrowed. "I knew it."

"What? No. Roxanne, wait, I-" He tried to reach for her hand to stop her from walking off, but she snatched it away.

"No, Max!" She turned around and glared at him. "You can't just appear out of the blue like this after-"

"Where are you registered?"

She blinked. "Wait, what?"

"I know it's last-minute, but I want to get you and Collin a gift. For your wedding." He said. "But I didn't know where you guys were registered."

"Oh." Roxanne looked away from him as a bright red blush crept across her face. "We're at Bullseye and Darcy's."

"Okay." Max said. "Should I drop it off at your house or-"

"Yeah, that's fine." She said, running a hand through her hair. "If you bring it by around 8 tomorrow, we should still be there."

"Great."

"Yeah."

For the second time today, another awkward pause fell over the two of them as they avoided the other's gaze, and once again Max was the one to break it.

"Well, I've got to head out too." He said. "Gotta make sure my dad is staying out of trouble." She responded with a half-hearted giggle.

"Oh, and Max?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry." She said. "And thanks. For lunch and the gift, and-"

"Anytime." He smiled.

"And once again, congratulations."

"Yeah, same to you."