“Liz? You okay?”
Liz snapped out of her thoughts and looked across the table a Kyle’s bright blue eyes. “Yeah, I’m fine.” He had taken her to quite an expensive Italian restaurant. She had claimed that it was all too much when he told her where they were going, but he had insisted.
“You zoned out for a second there,” he said with a chuckle.
She smiled as her cheeks burned in embarrassment. “Yeah, I just have a lot on my mind.”
“Want to talk about it?”
She waved it off. “I’m just stressed from school and work,” she answered. How was she going to tell him that she was thinking about his brother while she was out with him? She was still trying to figure out what Max meant when he told her that he wouldn’t be able to find someone to love him unconditionally. She wondered what made him say that.
“Liz,” Kyle hummed as he waved a hand in front of her face. “You sure you okay? I’m not boring you, am I?”
“Oh… no. I’m sorry, like I said, I’m just stressed. I’ll be a better date from now on,” she laughed. Truth was, she was having a great time with Kyle. He was funny, charming, sweet and he really seemed interested in her. She regretted not getting to know him while he was living in New York.
“So how’s everything going in Florida?” she asked him.
He eyes glowed. She could tell he really had a passion for what he did and she admired that. “It’s great being back home. We’re actually working on a new game. We’re just confirming with the animators which is why I’m here.”
“That’s great Kyle! I’m so happy for you,” she exclaimed with a bright smile.
“Thanks.” He smiled and glanced at his watch. “We should get going. The play is going to start in a little while.” He called for a check and soon they were on their way out of the restaurant.
“What are we going to see?” she queried in the cab on the way to the theater.
“Rent.” Liz beamed at him. She had been meaning to go and see that play ever since she’d been in New York.
“Having fun?” he asked her as she watched the play. She nodded, still giddy that she was finally seeing this play. Kyle reached over the armrest and grabbed her hand, twining his fingers with hers. Surprise turned into shock when her brought her hand to his lips and gently kissed her knuckles. Not knowing what to do or how she felt, she kept her eyes forward and focused on the play.
As the theater emptied out at the end of the play, Kyle placed his hand on the small of her back. Liz let herself relax with his touch and found herself leaning into him.
“I had a great time Kyle,” she told him once they made it back to the apartment. They stood awkwardly in front of the door, not knowing how to end the night.
“I’m glad. I had a great time too.” And before she could reply, he was leaning over and pressing his lips against hers. It took Liz by surprise and she didn’t respond right away. It wasn’t until he started to pull away that she reacted and she draped her arms around his neck to pull him closer. His lips caressed hers in a gentle dance before she pulled away. The kiss was nice, but it didn’t feel right.
“Goodnight Kyle,” she whispered.
He leaned in for one more peck. “Goodnight Liz.” He flashed a vivid smile before turning and heading towards the elevator. Liz waited until he turned the corner before she unlocked the door and went inside.
Liz stopped her journey to her room when she spotted Max sleeping on the couch. A few bottles of beer littered the coffee table and she wondered why he was out there and not with his date he’d brought home when she left. Liz kicked off her heels before she put her purse and keys on the table beside the door and kneeled at Max’s side.
She stared at his peaceful features, as she brushed back his hair. Smiling at how cute he looked, she grabbed the blanket that had fallen on the floor, and covered him with it. He stirred just as she leaned in to kiss his cheek. When she pulled away, his golden eyes were staring back at her.
“Hey Doll.”
She could smell alcohol on his breath and she saw the glazed look in his eyes. “You’re drunk,” she declared. He simply smiled at her. “What are you doing out here?”
“It’s a looong way from here to my room,” he said. “And right now, I can’t figure out if you’re sitting on the ceiling or the floor.”
Liz giggled as she brushed back his hair. “What happened to your date?”
“She got pissed cause I wouldn’t sleep with her so she left… that slut!”
She laughed as she shook her head. “You actually turned someone down?”
“It’s quite possible,” he slurred. “Can I crash with you tonight?”
Liz helped him up and they both hobbled down the hall to her room. Max collapsed onto her bed as Liz went to her dresser. She pulled out one of Max’s shirts that she “borrowed” from his closet. She changed and joined him in bed.
He pulled her into his arms and she laid her head on his chest. “Was Kyle a jackass to you?”
“No, he was a perfect gentlemen.”
“Figures,” he grumbled. “He’s not your type.”
Liz propped herself on his elbow. “You’ve been saying that a lot lately. Since you know so much, why don’t you tell me what my type is then.”
“Well, I’m thinking that your type is tall, dark hair, handsome. He should go to NYU and live in the same apartment as you.” He rolled over and pinned her beneath him. “Someone like me, for instance.”
She breathed out a shaky breath as his eyes trailed down her body and back up again. “S-Someone like… you?”
His smirk sent shivers down her spine and she hoped she made it through the night without attacking him.
“Mmhm. Someone like me.”
His eyes darkened from a light hazel to a chocolate brown as mouth hovered over hers. If he would only move down a few more centimeters; she wanted to taste him so bad. Just a breath away from his lips, she shivered in desire as she watched his tongue dart out to wet his lips before disappearing back into his mouth again.
She thought that maybe he was waitng for her to make the final move and she leaned up to close the small gap between them. She completely missed his lips when he rolled away suddenly. She missed his warmth immediately.
“But that’s just a thought.”
“Yeah. Just a thought.” Liz giggled weakly as she watched him pull the sheets up to his chin, before he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close.
He pressed his lips against her cheek before resting his forehead against hers. “Night Liz.”
Liz sighed in frustration as she cuddled into his warm embrace. “Night Max.”
***********
Liz finally decided to get out of bed around two thirty. Max lay asleep next to her and Liz quietly slid out of the circle of his arms and shuffled into the kitchen, passing her mirror on the way. She didn’t even have to look at it to know she looked a mess and she didn’t care. This was her weekend to be lazy.
After grabbing a bowl of cereal, Liz settled on the couch and basked in the moment’s peace she had to herself before Max woke up. Halfway through her cereal her peace was interrupted by a knock on the door.
“Kyle,” Liz screeched in horror when she opened the door. She quickly ran her hand through her disheveled hair, knowing she looked bad.
“Is this a bad time,” he asked, an amused smile slowly forming on his lips.
“Um…. Well I slept in late today and I’m just getting up,” she explained, her cheeks burning wildly as she stepped aside to let him in.
“Oh… Well I just dropped by to tell you I had a great time last night,” he said.
Liz crossed her arms in front of her chest, feeling self-conscious about her attire. She hoped that Kyle didn’t recognize that she was wearing Max’s clothes. “I had a good time too Kyle,” she said sincerely.
He stepped closer and reached out to brush his hand against her arm. “Good. Good, because I was thinking that we could go out again tonight.”
“Tonight? I thought you were leaving to go back to Florida tonight.”
“I was, but if I could get a second date with the most beautiful girl in New York, than I was going to wait and leave in the morning,” he expressed, rendering her speechless and blushing. “So, what do you say,” he urged as he stepped even closer, laying a hand on her waist.
“Um.” Her answer which would have been nothing more but a string of words haphazardly put together was cut off when her bedroom door opened and a barely awake Max stepped out, both eyes closed and his hand under his shirt, scratching his chest.
He stopped in the middle of the hallway and turned towards them, cracking open one eye. “Hey Kyle,” he mumbled groggily.
“Hey Max,” Kyle returned with a nod in greeting. Max’s gaze flickered to Liz before continuing to the bathroom. Liz waited until she heard the sound of the shower spray before she continued.
“Look, Kyle, I had a great time last night, but I don’t think that you and I… I don’t think…”
“It’s okay Liz,” he said with a soft smile. “I see it now.”
“No. Kyle wait,” she called when he turned to walk away. “It’s not what you’re thinking…”
“Liz, you’re right. You and I shouldn’t continue seeing each other. Especially since you and my little brother have a thing going on,” he said and to her surprise, he presented a slight smirk.
“T-There’s nothing going on between Max and me,” she denied though she could feel her cheeks heating up at the thought of what happened last night. “We’re just friends.”
“Liz, as much as I wish I were the one that you had your eye on, I’m not. And from what I can tell, Max has his eye on you too.”
“Max has his eye on lots of girls,” she grunted.
“Yeah, but you’re special and he knows it.”
Liz stopped her coming protest before it even left her lips and she perked up at Kyle’s statement. “You think so?”
He rolled his eyes and let out an exasperated sigh. “Yeah, it’s pretty obvious. I mean, all those girls he’s with, he doesn’t care about them. He just wants the sex, but you Liz… why do you think he’s never tried anything with you? I think he’s scared of you and what you might make him feel.” Liz frowned as what Kyle just said registered in her mind.
“Kyle, I never meant to lead you on. I really do like you but…”
“I got it Liz,” he said, affectively cutting off her apology. “Just make sure you don’t take any of his bullshit,” he informed her before he leaned down and kissed her cheek. “I’ll see you around Liz.”
“Bye Kyle,” she said as she watched him walk out the door. Blowing out a sigh, Liz returned to her seat on the couch.
Liz didn’t know what to make of what Kyle had just told her. She knew that Max liked her, especially after what almost transpired last night. But how did she know if he genuinely liked her or just wanted to sleep with her? And what did Kyle mean when he said that Max was afraid of what she might make him feel? Liz wasn’t even sure on her feelings for him. Yeah, she liked him. She really liked him. But did she trust him enough to actually be with him? Max said himself that he doesn’t commit to one woman, how could she trust him not to hurt her?
She heard the shower being shut off and Max came into the room shortly after, clad in only a pair of clean boxers and t-shirt. Liz quickly averted her eyes from his scrumptious looking chest, which was very visible though his damp shirt. He slumped in the chair across from her and she waited for him to say something to her, but when nothing came, she turned to find him staring at her.
“What?”
“So….”
“So… what?”
“So… what’s up,” he said with a shrug of his shoulders.
“Nothing,” she uttered nonchalantly.
“Okay so obviously, you’re not just going to throw the information that I want out in the open, so I’m just going to ask you. Do I have to shoot my brother or are you still single?”
“The latter,” she said, glancing at him out the corner of her eye. Liz didn’t like the look he had on his face, but she decided not to question him.
***********
“Liz, you are the pimpette of the year!” Maria exclaimed when Liz finished telling her about the night she had with Max. Maria stood and headed into the kitchen.
Liz followed her. “Maria this is not good. I mean, I told Kyle that we wouldn’t work out and he seemed to understand that. But do you know what he told me?”
“What?”
“He told me that Max likes me.” Maria stared at her like it was no big deal and Liz frowned in confusion. “Well….”
“So what? I think it’s pretty obvious the man has a thing for you.” At Liz’s baffled looked Maria took her by her shoulders. “I’ll even go as far as to say that he adores you. The fact that he told you that he thinks of himself as your type of guy should be the case solving clue Lizzie.”
“But he was drunk,” she countered.
Maria dropped her hands from her shoulder and turned to bury her face in the refrigerator. “Whatever you say. I’m just telling you how I see it.”
“Weren’t you the one telling me that this was going to happen and when it did I’d get hurt again?” Liz accused.
“Liz, that was before I saw how he treats you. He treats you like a freaking queen. He beat up a guy because he stood you up. When he’s with you, his attention is all on you. Besides I have the right to change my mind,” she said.
“Okay. So, let’s just say that Max does like me, then why does he continue to sleep with so many women?”
“I don’t know. Maybe whatever he’s feeling for you he’s never felt before and it scares him. It happens all the time."
"Kyle said the same thing," she mumbled.
"Now I’m not saying go and start a relationship with him, but Max has a crush on you and I think it’s sincere,” she declared. “I want to see you happy Liz and if Max would just open his eyes and see what he has right in front of him, I think he could be the one to do it. I think you can change him into a one woman man.”
It sounded too good to be true to Liz. But she couldn’t stop the smile forming on her lips.
That would be nice to be the one to make Max believe there is someone just for him to love him unconditionally. It would be nice to be the one to turn him into a one woman man. She could be the one to steal Max’s heart and he could steal hers.
That would be nice.
TBC……..
See you Sunday
So see you Sunday!
Okay, so I don't know how much longer this fic is going to be, but I'm pretty sure you guys will like this part. 
So I hope you enjoy and thanks for the fb! 
I hope you enjoy.
I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed wrting it. Until next time... Peace.