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Part 16 A
“So what do you want to do now?”
Max sat on his bed, his back resting against the headboard and his legs sprawled apart as Liz laid against his chest, his thighs bracketing her slim waist. Her head cradled in the crook of his neck, she found it hard to stay awake. His scent was addicting and she didn’t know how she had lived so long without it. Yet she knew what he was asking, and she knew she had to take this seriously.
Turning around to face him, she tightened her hold on his hand. “I… I think we should take it slow Max.” She stated shyly but noting the confusion in his eyes she knew she had to keep going. She wouldn’t take the risk of losing him again. “I want us to try to know one another… I mean- we have lived together, but we barely know anything about each other- I want to-.. Max, I want to go on a date with you, I want to go out with you, like a normal couple…” she finished slowly, biting her lips nervously.
She had no idea how he would react and she didn’t want to meet his eyes right now, too afraid to see pain and anger there. So instead, she lowered her gaze, staring down at his chest.
She let out a gasp when she felt his hands grabbing her hips and gently lifting her up so that she now sat on his laps, facing him, chest to chest, hips to hips. Pushing her chin up, he looked at her with an amused smile.
“I want that too Liz.”
Her eyes widened at the realization of his words. “You- … Max- ...” She shifted uncomfortably, feeling suddenly stupid he would want to jump her right now and then, without even trying to get to know her. He probably wanted to be careful, be sure of what he was putting his heart, his trust into.
“What happened last night was good Liz, and I’ll never regret it. But you’re right; we barely know one another, and-… Well, I think I want us to start again… -from the beginning.” He said, feeling slightly embarrassed under her scrutiny.
“Do you mean that?” He grinned at the uncertainty in her voice. They really needed to try to read through each other better. It always seemed like she couldn’t trust his words. Sure she trusted him, but she always sounded dubious.
Instead of answering her, he winked flirtingly. “Well, Miss Parker, what would you think of a movie… tonight? … I could pick you up at-… hmm, let’s say 7?” He finished with a pleased ton.
Liz pursed her lips, her eyes fixed to the ceiling and her index taping her chin in a mock reflective fashion. Her grin widened when she saw him rolling his eyes, giggling when he gave her side a tickling tug.
“Liz?” He warned amusedly.
“Max?” Her laugher erupted when he sighed resignedly before attacking her side with his wiggling fingers. “Max!”
Her laugh was contagious and soon his throaty laugher filled the room with hers. “Max! I give up! I give up!” she pulled and tugged at his hands helplessly and he swiftly turned over, so that he had her pinned to the mattress. “Do you really?”
Her gaze pierced through his eyes and she was speechless for a moment. How had she missed all the emotions she now saw in their amber pools? How had she missed the love that shimmered above the pain?
She felt his body trembling over her and she had to hold on a groan. Swallowing deeply, she felt his grip loosened as he freed her hands. How had the moment gone from playful to painfully awkward?
Rising from the bed, she tugged at her clothes self-consciously while he watched from where he sat in the center of the bed. “So … 7?”
“Yep ...”
She shuffled for a second, not really sure of what to do before finally turning around to leave; but he caught her wrist before she had a chance to flee, drawing her back between his legs.
“Don’t I at least get a kiss goodbye?” He asked, his voice shaking, unsure.
She smiled shyly; glad he was bold enough to ask. She didn’t take the time to answer, crushing her lips to his in a life-searing kiss. His hands cradled her face tenderly while her arms slid around his shoulder bringing him closer to her heated body.
Finally they parted and she leaned her forehead against his. “I’ll see you tonight ok.” He just nodded, his eyes still closed as he felt her moved away. He felt a shiver ran through his body at the lost of her warm body against his but chosed to ignore it.
He watched her leave, smiling at him one last time before she crossed the threshold.
**************
“So you’re saying Max was here this morning? In Liz’s room?” Michael’s ton was incredulous and he shook his head, rolling his eyes upward.
“I’m telling you Michael, Liz is at his house right now.”
“Are you kidding?” He bolted from his seat, staring at Maria’s back with wide eyes. She continued to peel her potatoes, not even bothering to turn around.
“Do I sound like I’m kidding Michael?” She finally answered, passing him by with a hand full of carrots freshly cut. She finally noticed the worried look he was sporting and stopped by the table, deposing the vegetables there before turning her attention back to him.
Taking his hands in hers, she rubbed his palm soothingly with the pad of her thumb. “Michael, you don’t have to worry. They are adults; they know what they are doing.”
“Maria, they may be adults, but last time they were supposed to act like adults, they both got hurt. I mean I understand what Liz was doing by leaving but how can they be so sure they are ready now? What if Liz gets scared again? What if she leaves again? She'd better not because I don’t want to be the one putting Max back together afterward!” He said warningly.
“You won’t have to.” Liz’s voice cut through the silence that followed Michael’s statement, and she walked into the room. “You won’t have to because I have no intention to break my heart… if I do, it’ll break mine too…
Michael got up, towering her as he crossed his arm over his chest. “It didn’t bother you 3 months ago, what’s different now?”
Liz shifted under his piercing gaze, but she didn’t falter. She knew it’d be hard, but she had every intention to prove them she was trustworthy. “I can’t tell you why, but this time is different. Plus, it’s Max’s decision and mine. If Max is willing to take the risk, then I’m too, and you should be too.”
“You’re asking me to put my friend’s well-being at stake.” He snapped harshly, gauging her reaction carefully.
“No, I’m asking you to trust me… trust us.” She stated firmly. “Maria was right earlier, Max and I are both adults and we know what’s good for us.”
Michael’s stance softened at her words. He had to admit she had a point. Even if he knew it’d be hard, he had to trust his two friends with their own hearts and desires. After all, he couldn't say he had not agreed to Liz's departure. He had understood at the time the reason of her leaving and there was no reason for him to change his mind now. As much as he feared for his friends, the risks they were to take were their own decision.
He looked away, biting his tongue to keep from saying anything. He didn’t want to lose his friends and knew if he couldn’t convince them of staying away from each other, he’d have to support them.
“It’s your choice I guess...” He finally agreed, meeting her eyes wearily, but the relieved smile on her face was contagious and he wrapped his arms around her, giving his acceptance silently.
*******************
“So when is Max picking you up?” Maria asked excitedly as they walk through Central Park, carrying several shopping bags in both their hands.
“He said 7, but I’d rather be prepared before that. I want to be sure everything is perfect you know.” Liz said, equally thrilled.
They stay silent for a while and her mind drifted back to him for a minute. What was he doing right now? Was he getting ready already? It was barely five; he was probably watching some TV, or maybe calling his mother. Or maybe he was calling a chic restaurant for reservation… No, he had called early saying to dress casually-
“So you didn’t tell me what really happened last night.” Maria’s inquiring voice cut through her pensive daze and she found herself blushing at the remembrance of yesterday; thoughts of Max flooded her mind and her body heated instantly.
“Maria…” she ducked her head shyly, hiding her flushing cheeks. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Oh c’mon, you know you want to tell me. Plus, I always share everything; it’s only fair you tell me.” Maria pushed her friend, trying to sound comforting all the same as she freed one arm to wrap it around her shoulders.
“There is nothing to tell really…” Liz shrugged it off coolly, looking away absently. “At first I didn’t remember much, but it came back quickly…”
“You mean when you saw Max lying naked beside you, under your sheets, in your room?” Maria teased slightly, loving the way her friend’s smile widened at the graphic she was giving.
“Mariaaa, noo. Plus he woke up before me; I didn’t get to see anything.” She answered, barely hiding her frustration.
“Is that disappointment I’m hearing?” Maria half joked. She knew her both of them had been drunk over their head and probably half the night was a blur to them, but she couldn’t help to give Liz the third degree, it was just too funny to watch.
“I’m not regretting anything Maria; I just wish it had happened differently. We were both drunk; we barely knew what we were doing-… I didn’t want our first time to be this way...” she finished wearily…
Maria couldn’t help but noticed the faraway look in her friend’s eyes. She knew from experience, Liz had a hard time dealing with everything surrounding her relationships with men. She had rarely been happy in one before, had even had to live through quiet some rough times, but she had to trust Max this time. Turning around to face her friend, she took both her cheeks between her hands.
“Liz, please don’t start making things more complicated than they are. You and Max are together now; I know what you’re doing; I know you’re trying to compare your relationship with Max to the one you had with-… the others; and it’s not healthy. So stop. Stop living in the past and just… Live!”
Liz had to force a smile at that. She remembered a time she had given Maria the same kind of lecture. Back when they were still young and free; when all this sounded so simple and possible. But she had lived since. She had learnt the hard way what it was to get hurt by imprudence. She refused to make the same mistake again.
“Liz, Max is Not Tom!” Maria’s stern voice made her winced and she had to withdraw from her friend’s embrace. “He won’t hurt you. I know he won’t, he’s not capable of it. I know you’re scared, but you’ve to trust him… please Liz.”
Liz had to close her eyes to stop the tears that threatened to fall; she didn’t want to be overwhelmed by all those memories again. It’d come back every now and then, and she just knew she could rarely fight the fears and depression that comes with it. This man had broken her, but not only on the outside…
She felt Maria’s hands stroking soothingly her upper arms and found the strength to open her eyes again fighting to regain some kind of composure. She pushed away the frightening thoughts and forced a tight smile on her lips to reassure her friend.
“Liz?”
“I’m ok.” She stated bravely but her voice was still quivering with unshed tears and she had to swallow thickly to get rid of the lump forming in her throat. She couldn’t let herself be drowned into those thoughts again. It had cost her too much already
