Hey guys! I'm so excited to be back with a new story and I'm especially happy that I get to revisit one of my past favorites. I don't want to reveal too much about what happened between Jason and Maxie yet, so hang in there. I promise everything will be addressed. I would just rather have it unfold in the story than me laying everything out.
I haven't written anything in awhile but I'm trying to get back into it. I've only just started working on the second chapter so I'm not sure when the next update will be.
As always, please review and give me your thoughts. Maybe I'll incorporate some of your ideas. (: And thanks so much for sticking with me and being excited about this sequel. I hope it doesn't disappoint.
Note: This takes place in present-day Port Charles, so about 3 years after the end of the Tired of Pretending. Jason is still alive in this story (duh).
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Obviously.
Pretending Not To Care
Chapter 1: Don't Eat The Shrimp
"Oh, Maxie, this gown is gorgeous. Beyond gorgeous," she gushed. Lucy admired the garment on the hanger and clasped her hands together before turning around to give Maxie a very satisfied smile. "How did you even get Jorge to agree to part with this one?"
Maxie simply shrugged. "Only the best for Lucy Coe," she replied, returning the smile her new boss gave her. When Lucy returned to Port Charles, she wasn't looking to settle in. But she had, and that included bringing part of CoeCoe Cosmetics with her. She'd seen Maxie's style at the Nurses Ball and was thoroughly impressed. Lucy had practically hired her on the spot as the new stylist for the company. Since then, Lucy had kept her busy.
"Jorge knew what a great cause this was and I told him it would be good exposure for him. He couldn't say no." Maxie had a knack for convincing people, especially men, to do what she wanted. "And everyone knows you'll look stunning in it."
Lucy moved over to the couch in her new office and sat down, gesturing for Maxie to do the same. "Speaking of looking stunning…" Lucy started as Maxie joined her and crossed her legs at the ankles. "Will there be a handsome man on your arm at the event?"
Maxie hadn't talked much about her love life with her new boss. She preferred to keep it that way, not that she had much of a love life to talk about lately anyway. It was a complicated situation and it had been for quite awhile.
She cleared her throat. "Uh, no. I won't. It's better that way though just in case I need to do some last minute things for you." Maxie figured that was a good enough excuse. She knew how events could get, especially in Port Charles. It seemed that something always went wrong, so it was safe to assume there'd be a hiccup or two.
"But there was a man, right? I seem to remember seeing you with a ruggedly handsome, dark-haired stallion." If there was one thing Lucy appreciated it, it was a gorgeous man.
The younger woman laughed a little and shook her head. "Well, yes. Johnny. But we ended things and it's all right." Maxie didn't want to get into it. Things really were okay, or at least they were now.
Lucy reached over and patted Maxie on the knee. "Okay, we don't have to talk about it. Right now, at least." She added with a smirk before pushing herself up from the couch. "Come on, we have lots more to plan and not long to do it."
As the women worked on a few remaining details, Maxie's mind wondered to Johnny.
It had been a few months since Maxie's relationship with Johnny had come to an end. The circumstances were terrible at best. Johnny had taken a turn for the worse and it was all becoming too much for Maxie to handle. The final straw came when she learned he'd been the one responsible for the deaths of Starr's daughter and her boyfriend.
Maxie knew their relationship wasn't a lasting one from the beginning. They'd been friends for a few years and remained close during her marriage to Jason. When that ended, Maxie relied on Johnny simply as a friend. That led to more and they started sleeping together and even lived together for a short time. It became more of an off-and-on relationship later on which Maxie was okay with. They were friends and had a lot of love for each other; they just weren't in love with each other. That didn't stop them from having sex occasionally and going out. Her parents didn't like the direction her relationship with Johnny was heading in, but she didn't want anything serious. In fact, Maxie tried her best to keep from getting in too deep with him. She didn't want to put herself through the pain of losing Johnny which she knew would happen eventually because it always did considering her track record with relationships was pathetic.
Even with what Johnny did, Maxie still loved him. Johnny had always been good to her and she knew what a compassionate and supportive man he was. She wouldn't accept anyone telling her otherwise. But, she did also acknowledge the dark side he had. It was no secret that Johnny was involved with the mob and Maxie was okay with all of that. She knew what she was getting herself into when she made the choice to move on to something more than just friends. He rarely talked about business and that suited Maxie just fine. It wasn't like she cared anyway. She found it was easier to keep herself in the dark. Considering they were basically only in the relationship for the sex, what he did for money didn't matter. They were never going to settle down and raise a family together.
"Earth to Maxie."
Lucy's voice pulled Maxie from her thoughts and she sighed. "Sorry. I'm just a little distracted. So you said gold for the lettering, correct?"
The two women went back to finishing up the details for the event. It was a rather small charity gala with guests paying upwards of ten thousand dollars a plate. Maxie couldn't even wrap her head around that amount of money. From her marriage to Jason, she'd gotten a large sum to add to her bank account, but she didn't ever feel like she had that kind of money to spend, even if it was for a great cause. Johnny had spoiled her also so there was never any need to.
The guest list was really coming together and included all the major names in Port Charles. Several members of the Quartermaines were expected to attend as well as Sonny Corinthos and other residents who made their money in less desirable ways. Maxie was hoping no one would turn the event into some personal agenda where a fight would ensue, but there really was no telling how it would go.
Several days came and went before the big day arrived. Maxie spent hours at the Metro Court going over the last minute details with Lucy before heading home to quickly get ready. She touched up her makeup and added another coat of mascara. After tousling and teasing her hair, she slipped into a turquoise gown that fit her like a glove. Maxie knew how to dress for her figure. The gown she'd chosen may have been a little sexy for the type of event, but there was no denying that she looked flawless.
Maxie returned to the Metro Court and found that a few of the guests had already arrived. She surveyed the room, thankful that things seemed to be perfect. A frantic Lucy came running up to her.
"What? What's wrong?" Maxie questioned, hoping it was nothing serious.
"I just have a bad feeling about the appetizers. We shouldn't go with the shrimp, Maxie. We just can't."
That wasn't a serious problem at all, or at least it didn't seem like one. They'd decided on three different appetizers for the gala which meant they still had two others.
"Okay, I will go alert the staff right away, Lucy. It'll be perfectly fine." Maxie excused herself after offering a few encouraging words to her frazzled boss. She'd heard about the whole vampire mess that landed Lucy in the hospital several month back. Apparently Lucy had some sort of visions or premonitions and tonight they featured the shrimp for whatever reason.
Maxie made her way to the kitchen, teetering a little on heels that may have been just a little too high. She spoke with the chef and while he was visibly upset about the last minute change, he agreed to not send out the shrimp. Maxie noticed the many trays of shrimp that had already been arranged and sighed. The decision hadn't been up to her though. She thanked the chef and returned back to the dining room.
On her way to update Lucy, she caught a glimpse of someone stepping out of the elevator and stopped dead in her tracks. It wasn't like they hadn't seen each other. They lived in the same town and attended a lot of the same functions, but the sight of him tonight in his suit left her breathless.
Out of nowhere, she felt a force against her back and fell forwards a little, managing to catch herself on a nearby table.
"What the hell?" She groaned, turning around to see a young waiter who'd managed to drop his tray. "Is that shrimp?"
The shrimp, neatly wrapped in bacon, were scattered around the floor. Maxie threw her hands up in the air.
"I said no shrimp!" Lucy appeared by Maxie's side. "Maxie, I said no shrimp. Nothing good can come from those shrimp."
Maxie really didn't understand what the big deal was, but maybe they had somehow caused the waiter to run into her. Stranger things had happened. "Yes, I know. And I told the chef. I don't know what happened, Lucy. I'm so sorry."
Lucy sighed and shook her head. "It's not your fault. Just get it fixed, please?"
Maxie nodded. "Yes, of course. Right away." She took a moment to compose herself before returning to the kitchen yet again. She had a few choice words for the chef before she insisted on watching him put the rest of the shrimp away. Maxie said a silent prayer that the rest of the night would go much smoother than it had already before heading back out.
More guests had arrived and the room was starting to look fuller and livelier. Maxie spotted Lucy mingling with a few of the guests with a smile on her face which she took as a good sign. Letting out a breath she'd been holding in, she moved over to the bar, needing some refreshment.
"Red wine please." She requested, getting the bartender's attention. She wasn't sure of Lucy's stance of drinking on the job, but after the ridiculous shrimp debacle, she needed something to calm her.
The bartender slid the glass her way and she thanked him with a smile before bringing the glass up to her lips to take a rather large sip. Sighing, she closed her eyes for a moment to try and relax. When she opened them, Jason was standing in front of her. She jumped, sloshing the wine in her glass.
Maxie quickly surveyed her dress to make sure none had spilled on it. It looked like she was in the clear.
"I was just trying to get to the bar."
She swallowed hard and managed a nod before she moved out of the way. That had been the first thing he'd said to her in almost a year. It still hurt to think about it which was why she tried to never bring any of that to the surface. Those memories and emotions were better left deep, deep down and buried.
"It's all yours." Maxie said softly before moving to a table to get away from him. She sat down and took another drink, this time downing almost half her glass.
Lucy pulled out a seat beside her and leaned in. "What was that all about?"
"It was nothing," Maxie replied, hoping Lucy wouldn't push. There was a very slim chance of that though.
"Come on. Tell me. How do you know Jason Morgan?"
Maxie didn't want to talk about it, but Lucy was one of the nosiest people she'd ever met and knew she wouldn't drop it until she got at least one juicy tidbit.
"He's my ex-husband."
Her expression was one of shock, but also one of immense curiosity. "Oh, honey. I need to hear that story."
