Then, she heard a familiar voice call out her name: "Caroline!" Max was waving a brown take-out bag. "I forgot to give you the cupcakes."
Caroline let out a sigh and smiled. Thank you! I owe you big time for this one.
Max sauntered across the dining area, towards their table. She handed the bag to Caroline. "Your favorite: Max' specialty red velvet cupcakes!"
Caroline beamed, her eyes glistening. "Thank you, I love your cupcakes!" She hugged Max.
Max leaned closer and whispered in Caroline's ear. "Don't freak out. Just trust me and go along this. Got it?" Max paused to let the words sink in. "Close your eyes and tilt your head to the right."
Caroline obeyed. As she tilted her head, she felt the lips of Max softly touching hers. She placed her arms around Max' neck and kissed back.
"Ahemmm." William was staring at the girls, confused.
Caroline pulled away, and jumped back. "William, I forgot to introduce you. This is Max, my -"
Max chimed in. "Girlfriend."
William looked at Caroline. "I didn't know you were a..."
Max completed his thoughts. "Lesbian?"
Caroline blushed, her cheeks turning a light hue of pink. "I'm not a lesbian." She protested.
"Yeah, Caroline here is not a lesbian. She used to go out with guys before she met me." Max held on to Caroline's hand and squeezed it gently, reassuring her.
"I get it. I have nothing against lesbians." William forced a grin. "I'm happy for you, Caroline. You're slowly pulling yourself together."
"Well, her last boyfriend was such a complete dirtbag." Max continued in a boisterous tone. "He left her when her family lost everything. Can you imagine that?" Max banged on the table for effect, and eyed William closely. "What kind of human being does that?"
William felt his face heat up. He started to sweat.
Caroline sensed William getting uncomfortable. Good, now we're kinda even. "Actually, William was my last boyfriend." She looked William in the eye. "But no hard feelings. My life now is so much better." She wrapped her arms around Max and clinged onto her body, intensifying the blow to William's ego.
"Ooops...sorry!" Max gasped and faked her surprise. "I didn't know you were that 'jock'." She extended her hand out. "I should really thank you. Caroline would never have jumped to 'my ship' if it weren't for you." Max winked her eye.
William stood up and moved out of the booth. "We should really leave now." William glanced at Naomi.
"Uh-uh. I'm not leaving with you." Naomi retorted sternly. "We're done!" She looked away and walked out.
William grunted. "Look what you've done!" He glared at Max. "Thanks for ruining my relationship." He stormed away, rushing behind Naomi.
"I don't know what you were thinking, man." Max continued on loudly, as the broken couple headed towards the exit. "Caroline is the best partner I've ever had, in more ways than one." Then, she giggled playfully.
The diner erupted in applause. Max held Caroline's hand up and curtsied to oblige the audience.
Oh my God! I totally forgot that there were other people in the diner. I hope they didn't catch the entire scene. Caroline stood still, gaping at Max with her doe eyes.
Max snapped her fingers in front of Caroline. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
If only I could tell you. Caroline shook her head. "Nothing."
"Girl, you should be dancing with glee right now!" Max did a small celebratory dance. "You won! He's out of your hair for good."
Caroline beamed. "You're right!" She gave Max a big warm hug. "Thank you for saving me!"
"You don't have to thank me." Max laughed away her heroic deed. "That's what girlfriends do. They save each other from their horrible ex-es."
Why do you have to brush everything off like that? Can't you feel what I'm feeling?