IN BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE

MAXWELL'S POV

It was early morning when I reported to the office and I picked up my phone and dialed Milan's number, the familiar sound of the ringing filling the quiet space around me. After a few rings, Milan's voice came through, a bit surprised but cheerful.

"Hey, Maxwell! What's up?"

"Hey Milan! I thought it might be cool to meet up later," I said, trying to sound casual. "I was thinking about hitting the mall out by the outskirts of Salt Lake City. It's pretty quiet there and we could use a change of scene."

"Sounds good to me," Milan replied. "What time were you thinking?"

"How about around four p.m.? Gives us enough time to hang out and catch up without feeling rushed."

"Perfect. I will see you there around then. Looking forward to it!"

"Great! See you soon, Milan."