Chapter Two
"Maxi-Million!" John exclaimed as Maxi walked into the restaurant. He jumped up and scooped her off the floor to hug her. "Nasty bruise you got, love," he commented as he put her down. "That swine boss of yours hit you again?"
"Sadly," Maxi nodded. John looked sympathetic before pushing Maxi towards the other two members of the band. "Hey, Ringo," Maxi grinned as she hugged the drummer.
"Hello," Ringo replied shortly. He looked too concentrated on Maxi's fat lip. "He got you good." He had genuine concern in his eyes.
"I know," Maxi sighed. Ringo gave her a quick squeeze before pushing her towards Paul.
"Hi," Paul smiled, kissing Maxi's cheek gently. "You okay?"
"I'll be fine," Maxi replied quietly.
"Are you sure, sweetheart?"
"Yeah, I'm sure," Maxi blushed. Secretly, she loved that Paul cared to ask her a second time. That's what made him different from the rest of the lads…Well, all of them except George. But that was different in and of itself.
Maxi and George had known each other for almost their whole lives. They had met in grade school and had become best of friends ever since. He was constantly pestering her to quit her job with that abusive boss. He was more like a brother than a lover, though. Both he and Maxi knew that. Besides, he had different tastes and so did she.
"You lot ready for dinner, then?" John asked, clapping his hands together. "I'm starved!" The rest of the group agreed and they were seated at a booth.
"What did you say this time to get that old boss of yours all fired up?" Ringo asked.
"It started with something about his mathematical figures being wrong," Maxi pondered out loud.
"Old man didn't like you questioning his calculations?" George smirked. Maxi nodded.
"When I told him that his math was wrong, he got very upset," she sighed. "He said something about me just being a stupid girl and that I don't know anything."
"Typical," John huffed. "Sounds like a lie that lousy git would say."
"Anyway," Maxi continued, "I told him that if I was such a stupid girl, why did I find a simple multiplication error in his calculations and he got even angrier. Then, he stood up and hit me in the face."
"My poor girl," Paul pouted, snaking his arm around Maxi's back. She rested her head on his shoulder. Paul kissed the top of her head softly.
"Aw, the lovebirds," John smirked, winking at Paul. "You've got a lovely girlfriend. I'm sure jealous."
"You're married," Ringo pointed out.
"So're you," John returned snidely. "What's your point?"
"Sometimes I wonder if my relationship with Paul is really safe with all of you around," Maxi laughed.
"Feel the love," George teased, his crooked grin returning to his face.
The five sat around the table of the diner for a while, just talking and eating their various meals: Maxi and George salads, John a cheeseburger, Paul a hot dog, and Ringo some kind of chicken strips.
"Let's get out of here," Paul whispered in Maxi's ear. Maxi nodded and she and Paul slid out of the booth seat. "I'm taking Maxi home. I'll see you guys later."
"Bye, Maxi," Ringo waved.
"Bye, Maxi," George smiled.
"See you 'round, Maxi-Million," John winked.
Paul took Maxi out of the diner and helped her into his car before sliding himself into the driver's seat and taking off down the street towards Maxi's house.