*Thank-you for the reviews on the last chapter. They were greatly appreciated. Thank-you all so much.
Natalie:
Later on after I have Angelina in bed I am sitting watching my usual Tuesday night television line up. I have tried calling Max numerous times and he has not answered one phone call and it is going on 10:30 at night. He works late but never this late. I don't' know if it's my emotions from everything with John but I just feel like crying. It has been a long day and I just want to cuddle up with Max and watch some TV. I try calling him one more time and he finally answers. "Where are you?" I ask.
"I am on my way," he says and hangs up the phone. He doesn't even say goodbye. He just hangs up the phone. It's pretty much whatever right now. I don't care he's on his way home and that's all that matters.
He arrives within 10 minutes and walks in the front door. "I'm in the living room," I call out. I hear him walk to the living room and he walks over to the couch and sits down next to me. "Hey, Baby," I say, "where were you?"
"Hanging out," he says loosening up his tie.
"Oh," I say. I have never heard of him hanging out but I guess sometimes he needs to let loose.
"So what did you do this evening?" he asks me. It's a question but not one that I like. He has his condescending tone which means there's more than likely going to be a fight.
"I was out to dinner with Angelina," I say.
"Really, Nat? Out to dinner with Angelina?" he asks. It sounds even more condescending than before.
"Yes, Maxwell. I was out to dinner with Angelina," I say. It's half true but I have chosen to omit the John part because I know it's only going to upset him and after the emotional rollercoaster I was on today it isn't worth a fight.
"Are you sure it was just you and Angelina or was there someone else out with you two?" he asks.
"Why don't you just out and say what you have to," I say. I hate when he beats around the bush. My patience is slowly fading so I do snap at him a little bit.
"I heard you were with that wrestler again," he says.
I have no idea how he knows but I can take a guess. "His name is John," I say.
"I don't care what his name is, Natalie, what were you doing with him?" he asks.
"We were just out as friends. We took Angelina out to eat that's all," I say. I don't even want to tell him about John being Angelina's father. I know he is going to flip out and it seems as if he is about to flip out now.
"Why? Why do you and this wrestler have to take Angelina out to eat?"
"Because he is my friend and I wanted her to meet my friend. She's never met him before."
"So that hug you and him shared yesterday was just a friendly hug?" he asks me.
"What hug? What are you talking about?" I ask although I know what hug he is talking about.
"The one you shared with him in the conference room. What is up with the hug?" he asks.
"I told you we were just friends. And how did you know about the hug?" I ask.
"Callie told me. She told me she walked in on you two hugging before she left. She said it seemed awkward."
"Callie needs to mind her own business. She's a bitch," I say.
"She's not a bitch," he says.
"She is," I say. "And when did you get so chummy with her?"
"I'm not," he says taming his tone a little bit. "She just came up to me and asked me what was going on with you and the wrestler. I told her I didn't know and she told me about the hug," he says.
"Right," I say, "she still needs to mind her business."
"No. I'm glad she told me. You obviously weren't going to tell me," he says. "I'm glad she told me. Now you have me looking like some fool because you're out gallivanting all over town like some hussy with another man."
"Max," I say.
"No, Natalie," he says grabbing my wrists tightly. His grip on my wrist is pretty strong and it hurts. He grabs my face and makes me look at him. "I am not a fool and you're not going to treat me like a fool."
"Max, Let go," I say, "you're hurting me."
"I don't care," says Max. I try to pull away but he grabs my wrists tighter. "Natalie, I mean it. I don't like to be made out to be a fool," he says as he strikes my face. I don't even bother to cry as much as I want to. It's happened before in fact it's happened a few times. "I mean it, Natalie." He lets go of my wrists and I rub them.
"Okay," I say. "But when did you start talking to Callie?"
"She started talking to me," he says. "Why are we talking about Callie?"
"I just wondered when you started talking to her," I say as I rub my face.
"And I don't' want you talking to that John guy anymore, Natalie," he says.
That is going to be pretty hard to do considering he is Angelina's father. He's going to be in our lives now but now is not the time for me to tell Max that information. He already seems on edge tonight so no need to upset him farther. "Max, we are just friends. Please don't tell me not to talk to him."
"Natalie, I don't trust him."
"Why you don't even know him? If you did you would know he's a good guy."
"I don't' care if he's a good guy or not. I don't like you talking to him. Look at all the trouble he's caused so far."
"I think you're the one causing the problems," I say as I continue to rub my face. It really hurts but it's what I am used to.
"I am not," says Max. "I'm making sure you're not falling into a trap with this guy.."
"What trap?" I ask.
"The trap of him having you think he's just your friend and he's in it for so much more."
"And if I can't talk to John you shouldn't be talking to Callie." I only think it's fair if he is telling me I can't talk to John he shouldn't be allowed to talk to Callie although I'm not sure why they are talking. They never talked before now all of a sudden it's like they are best friends. I am not sure how I feel about it. I know I don't like it but I am not the jealous type. I rub my face on the spot Max struck me. I'm pretty sure it's probably starting to bruise.
"Nat, I don't talk to Callie," he says. "She only talks to me. Why are you getting so upset? Just relax. Callie and I aren't up to anything."
"I didn't say you were. Why are you getting defensive about her?"
"I'm not. I'm just saying we aren't up to anything. We just talk occasionally."
"Yeah but if John and I can't talk why can you talk to Callie. I don't like Callie. She's a vulture. She's a bitch. I think I have more reason to not like Callie than you do when it comes to John."
"Natalie," he says, "she's not a bitch. You shouldn't talk about her that way."
"Why are you defending her?" I ask. That I don't like. He has no reason to defend her. I really don't like it and I'm starting to get upset.
"I'm not. Nat, she's just not a bitch. She actually has some really good ideas for the hotel."
"What are you talking about? You talked to her about the hotel? Why would you go behind my back and talk to the ONE person I don't trust. You know she's after my job."
"She isn't after your job. She came to me and asked if she could discuss some things with me. She has a new direction to take the hotel. You know I'm all about new ideas. I think we should use them."
"I don't," I say. "I don't think we should use them and we aren't."
"Nat, you're letting your personal feelings get in the way. You should listen to her," he says.
"I don't think I'm the one that's letting personal feelings get in the way," I say. I think he is letting his feelings get in the way. I'm not sure but this whole Callie thing has me on the defense.
"What personal feelings, Nat? I have no personal feelings toward Callie. Just business ones, why are you getting so upset by this?"
"Because for the longest time you never talked to her. Now all of a sudden she's telling you I'm hugging John and giving you ideas about the hotel. That's why I'm getting so upset so maybe there is something going on with you two."
"Natalie," he says. "Nothing is going on. I love you. Why would you ever think I would cheat on you?"
I don't know how I feel. I don't want to look at Max as if he is a cheater but somewhere deep down I feel that he may be. I call it intuition. "I don't know," I say. "It's just," and before I know it I have tears in my eyes and I am moments away from crying.
"Nat, I'm sorry," he says as he moves even closer to me and wraps his arm around my shoulders. "I'm sorry." He takes his hand and rubs my face where he struck me. "And I'm sorry about this. It's starting to bruise. Let me get you something for it."
"Okay," I say as he gets up to get something for my face.
He returns a few minutes later with a bag of ice for me to put on my face. "Here you go, Nat."
"Thanks," I say as I place it against my face. The coolness feels so good on my bruise. "I just feel like something is going on with you and Callie."
"Nat, trust me. There is nothing going on with her. You know how I feel about her. I am only in love with you. Speaking of which, when do you want to get married? Do you want a long engagement or a short one. I would like a short one."
"I don't know," I say. I haven't even thought about the wedding or setting a date. I guess I just have so much on my mind.
"I was thinking a small wedding in June."
"June as in next month?" I ask.
"Yeah at the end of the month what do you say?"
"And how am I supposed to get a wedding dress by then?"
"You don't have to we can get married on the beach wearing casual clothes. You and me both know we are not the go all out type of wedding people," he says. He can't be further from the truth. I always thought of having a big wedding in a beautiful wedding dress.
"I want a big wedding," I say.
"Come on, Nat we went this long together. Let's get married right away. Next month. Please," he says begging me, "and then we can take a trip and then have babies."
"Wow, Max, I don't even know what to say. When did you get so serious about marriage and having a family?" This is all new to me. This is not Max. Something is definitely wrong.
"I don't know," he says.
"I know you're excited but I want to wait," I say.
"Why wait if we love each other?"
"Because I want my wedding day to be special. No earlier than March is what I'm suggesting."
"That's so far away. Anything can happen in those 9 months," he says. I'm not sure what he means but it sounds like he doesn't have much faith that we can last 9 more months.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Exactly what I said, anything can happen in 9 months."
"Yeah it can," I say. "A lot can happen."
"Well, since we're not getting married till March. I'm going to take a shower and go to bed. I'm exhausted."
"You're going to bed this early?" I ask. "I thought we could you know?"
"Not tonight, Natalie. I'm too tired."
"All right," I say.
"Love you," he says as he gets up and kisses me before heading upstairs to take a shower. What is happening? He has NEVER turned down sex before. Something is definitely wrong and I believe it has a lot to do with Callie but why want to get married in the next month if he was with Callie behind my back? That's when it dawns on me; Max is threatened by John.
*A/N: So what did you think? Please review and thank-you for reading.