Lean On Me

Chapter Twenty Six

Thursday November 22, 2007

Maxie smiled at Milo as they walked out of Harborview Towers. She was still embarrassed about her breakdown the night before over Cooper but she felt a lot more bonded to Milo now. He was really a good man and she appreciated him looking out for her.

She stopped on the sidewalk, as he hailed a cab so she could go back to Kelly's parking lot where she had left her car. "I'll take it to the grave, okay?" She crossed her fingers over her heart. "Little Lulu will never hear about what went down with us last night from me."

"It doesn't have to be a secret. Just don't throw it in her face, please, if you don't mind."

She reached up and caressed his cheek. "So damn sweet. I can't believe so many good men go down in flames over that..." Maxie brought down her hand and sighed. "Oh well. One day you'll see what she is and I'll be there to hold you all night....keep you from slitting your wrists over that.... " she bit back another nasty adjective to describe Lulu. "Wow. Its hard to not call her names."

"Thank you for trying."

The cab pulled up. Maxie raised up on her tippy toes. Milo stiffened. She kissed his cheek. Suddenly there was the sound of someone bumping into something...a distinct thud. Maxie looked past Milo and stopped a SUV at the curb, and a man quickly ducking down.

"What the hell?" she murmured. Milo looked over his shoulder. "What?" His hand went to his gun. He pulled Maxie behind him.

She jerked out from behind him, ignored the cab, and stomped over to the driver's side window of the SUV. Milo pulled out his gun and jogged after her, calling out "Let me handle it! Wait!"

She knocked on the window. "I can see you, you know."

This was unbelievable. Damien Spinelli was lurking outside waiting to spy on her with Milo. Wow. He really must have himself a little crush. Maxie had enjoyed their game of insults from him and come ons from her over the last few weeks, since the Black and White Ball, but she hadn't been really sure till now that Spinelli was taking it serious.

This changed things for sure.

With the way her life was going knowing that this guy actually was this hot for her- do crazy things and make an ass out of himself hot for her- made her feel fantastic.

But there was no way she was just gonna smile and say thank you. He had to find out that no one messed with her and got away with it. Besides this time he was the one who screwed up...not her...so he got to hear about it.

Take that, Jackal.

Spinelli sat up. He rolled down the window. "Bad Blonde One," he gritted out.

"Really? You have the nerve to cop attitude right now? You stalker freak!"

"Well you leave little option when every word that comes out of your mouth is a fabrication and now I see that you have also managed to coerce an otherwise honorable man " he pointed at Milo "to engage in telling falsehoods on your behalf too! Why the grand denial of what is obviously a torrid affair between you two.? Tell The Jackal why you insist on such deception?"

"The Jackal can fuck off! I'm not telling you shit." Maxie yelled at him. "I can not believe you would spy on me."

Milo said "Spinelli, really, that's not cool man. What is your deal today?"

"The Jackal has great admiration for The Clean Cut Cadet," his voice stayed ice cold throughout this conversation "and I felt it was my duty to find out if he was once again being deceived by The Bad Blonde One."

He looked deep into Maxie's eyes and she felt a shiver race down her spine at the intensity behind his gaze.

She yelled "Stay out of my relationship with Cooper!"

"He should know your true nature....how you will hit on every man you run into....I'm sure that won't sit well with someone you claim to love."

Maxie gave him a knowing smile. Her voice was calm and teasing when she said "Oh. Sure. You did this all for Cooper? It has nothing to do with the wet dreams you have over me? Okay." She looked at Milo and rolled her eyes before looking back at Spinelli. "We all believe you, Spinelli."

Maxie walked back to the cab, got in, and told the driver "Kelly's diner."

She rolled down the window and flipped Spinelli off as they drove away. A block later she smiled. Hmmm, she thought, that boy's got it bad for me.

It felt good to be wanted by someone still.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Logan sat down next to Serena on his couch. He put his feet on the coffee table. "Look. I'm not saying I'm not glad you're here right now..."

"This is you glad? Good to know."

"Just listen, will ya?"

"Well try to be nicer, could ya?" Serena asked.

"Uh...I'm glad you wanted to meet me. I am. Just get that I'm not looking to become all chummy with Scott or his folks or anything, okay? That's off limits. If you really came home just to meet me then cool but its okay too if you just stopped by cause you're in town for Thanksgiving."

"I moved home for you, Logan. Deal with it."

"I thought you go to school in Paris? Did something go down over there? Guy trouble?"

"Just the usual. I have less than zero luck with men but I'm not running from a broken heart. Is it so hard to believe that the second I learned about you I came home? Is that so threatening to you? What problem do you have with being my brother? You have enough siblings already or something? I'm an inconvenience to your busy life? What?"

"Scott just told you about me? He's known about me for months now."

Serena looked away. "Why don't we leave him out of this for now? So about dinner....you have to change. All this sweat and work out clothes....not a good luck for meeting my Mom."

Logan refused to let it go. Through gritted teeth he asked "That bastard sperm donor never told you about me, did he? How did you find out?"

"Cut him some slack. This isn't easy for him either, okay?"

"Boo fucking hoo."

"Grow up. Its hard for everyone involved."

"He made this hard for everyone, not me!"

"It's a big change in all of our lives but I'm not complaining," Serena said.

Logan looked away.

Serena added "I think this is a good thing. I never expected to have a brother. You could be just want this family needs."

"How do ya figure?"

"After we lost Karen.....Dad has never been the same....one kid can't replace another but...you could be the person who brings us all back together again. Its been a mess for years now. We need you, Logan. And you're stuck with us. So stop fighting it so hard. You can't do anything to make me run out of here and not look back. I'm way tougher and more stubborn than you could ever even hope to be."

"You think?" he asked with a small grin.

"I know."

"Fine. I'll go to your little Turkey Day dinner. But I'm not wearing no freaking suit. Forget about it, Serena."

"All I ask is that you take it easy with the moodiness around Tina."

"I'm moody? You don't even know me like that."

"I grilled Cooper for info."

"Sneaky."

"Go take your shower. We have to stop at the store and get flowers for the table before we go to my Mom's place. Get a move on, Logan. I don't got all day, you know."

"I can meet you there. Give me the address."

"And let you ditch Tina? No, I don't think so."

"Hold up here. If I say I'll be there, I'll be there. I'm not looking to break no little girl's heart."

"You better not."

"You don't have to warn me about not hurting her. I'd kill myself before ever doing that."

She looked at him for a long moment. "I'm gonna choose to believe you on that one. Don't make me regret it or I'll kick your ass."

"You're a violent little thing, ain't you?"

"As need be."

Logan smiled and walked over to the door. "Go."

Serena grabbed her coat and purse. She told him the address and then added "Two hours till we eat. Don't be late."

"I'll be early. There. You happy now?"

"I'm happy I got to meet you. Yeah. I'm happy, Logan. And that don't happen often for me so feel special."

"Bye." He grinned as he closed the door behind her.

"Don't be late!" she called out through the door.

"I heard you the first time!"

Serena chuckled and walked away. Logan had the urge to call Georgie and tell her all about meeting his sister.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Lulu once again was living with her grandmother. She couldn't handle staying in the Quartermaine mansion with all that craziness. Not to mention memories of Dillon around every corner.

Thank God, she thought as she walked downstairs into her grandmother's living room, I don't have to do Thanksgiving with them today. Sitting across from him holding her hand....no thank you.

Lesley walked out of the kitchen. "I thought I heard you coming down. You had a delivery this morning from one of your gentleman callers."

"I did?"

Lesley motioned to the dining room table where a box of flowers sat. Lulu walked over and opened the box to find yellow long stem roses. After what went down with Johnny and Logan at the Black and White Ball she couldn't imagine either sending her anything ever again.

Lesley asked "So which boy is it this time? I thought you said all this jumping back and forth between them was over for good now?"

"It is." She frowned and picked up the card. "I swear I can't imagine who would send me flowers."

Lulu read the card: Yellow roses symbolize friendship and joy. Smile today, Lulu. Your friend, Milo Giambetti.

A huge smile broke out on her face.

Her grandmother said "I don't want any fights on my front lawn over you, young lady. Pick a boy and settle this. Will it be Scotty's son or the Zacchara guy?"

"These are from Milo, Gram."

"Really? I thought you told him he was out of the running months ago? I just can't keep up with your dating life."

"Milo is just my friend....he's really a sweet man. I can't believe he did this!" Lulu couldn't stop smiling.

"Well while I can't encourage you to date someone who makes their living in the mob. But I do think its nice that he is a gentleman."

"He's.....amazing."

"Go slow this time, Lulu."

"What? We are just friends, Gram. Promise."

"Just go slow, my dear girl. Slow. Slow....do I need to spell it?"

"Slow. I got it." She kept smiling. Lulu pulled out her cell and called Milo. As soon as he answered she said, in this breathy, dreamy tone "Thank you."

"You're...uh...very welcome," Milo said.

"Happy Thanksgiving."

"You too. Are you seeing your family today?"

"Yep. What about you?"

"Later. Um....do you have time to....talk.? Maybe take a walk or something."

"Sure!"

"An hour?"

"I'll be home. Bye, Milo."

"Good bye Lulu."

(We're just ordinary people

who don't know which way to go.

We're ordinary people

maybe we should take it slow

Take it slow oh oh ohh This time we'll take it slow

Take it slow oh oh ohh This time we'll take it slow) ( John Legend)

Note- Glo is in the next chapter and the one after that, too.