Title: Trusted friends (7/?)
Name: Joy
Email: SleepingBeauty2@ziplip.com
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Logan learns to rely on Original Cindy on matters of Max.
"Normal has sent me out on my 5th run today, man," Herbal announced to Original Cindy, Max, and Sketch who were sitting at Jam Pony near closing time. "The most high says to honor thy superior, but I am tired."
Max with her back to the pick up desk so she didn't notice Logan roll in secretly. Original Cindy was about to wave him over when he, "sshh…" her. "Don't tell," he mouths. Logan talked to Normal and handed him a box, then disappeared behind the desk again.
"MAX…" Normal shouted, "I got a hot run to Jefferson and 53rd."
Max spun around in her chair to face him. "There is no reason to shout, I'm right here…Anything else in that direction. Don't get used to it, just antsy," Max said as Normal looked at her with shock.
"No, that is a hot run that needs extra care. Do whatever is necessary to get it delivered. Now BIP BIP BIP!" Normal responded.
"I'm going. Check ya later."
"Guess you'll be with Romeo tonight?" Original Cindy asked for Logan's enjoyment.
"I'm thinking about heading over there after work. I'll be by Crash later…Save me a beer," Max said.
Original Cindy responded seeing Logan's disappointed face, "No worries. I am all about the solo thing. Plus ya never know, ya may want to stay with the man tonight."
"BIP BIP BIP," shouted Normal, who was earning his fifty that Logan had slipped him.
Max made a face at Normal then headed out the door. Herbal and Sketch came to the desk to see what was up. Logan wheeled around the corner, "Thanks. I guess I have improved in your opinion of me. Is it OK that I'm borrowing her tonight?"
Original Cindy rolled her eyes, "Man. The sister is happy, you got her back, and ya loaded. Got my blessing…Sketch, Herbal meet the man that could tame Max, Logan Cale. He's the one that got the pigs out of Kendra and Max's apartment."
"Dude - You are my idol," Sketchy said.
"Thanks, I think."
"So, what's on tap tonight for our Max?" Cindy inquired.
"Romantic view of the city, dinner, and if my braces work, an attempt at dancing. She has been so great helping with my therapy, I wanted to surprise her with the fruits of her labor," Logan said as they moved out of the main path of traffic to a table.
"You got to hook me up with a wealthy broad," Original Cindy stated. "I need me some of that!" She pauses, "Hey, I'm heading over to Kendra's, should we wait up?"
Logan looked down with a bit of a blush, "I'm not telling. Besides, you probably know more about where she wants things to go then I do."
"What planet 're you from? Girl tells us squat. It was pulling teeth just to get her to admit anything had 'changed' between you. I feel privileged to talk to you unaccompanied," Original Cindy stated to drive the point home.
Logan looked puzzled, "I just assumed she would talk about us to her friends."
"BDAJ!" Cindy chimed. Logan's confused look caused the explanation of, "Before Darren and Justine… You know the guy that cheated with the 'good' friend… She didn't tell ya…. Short version: Darren wanted Max to be different, more open, found 'comfort' in Justine, under her skirt that is, broke a heart, sort of, and a friendship, definitely. The heart was broke but the girly never showed it, other then trusting people even less." He sat and pondered the new information he had just learned from her.
"Girlfriend tells you way more then us. She trusts us, but not the way she trusts you. She goes and comes as she pleases with no explanation. At least now, we know you got her back, even if she won't let us," Original Cindy said, trying not to sound jealous.
"Should I try to spend more time with her in public? You're making a face. Stepping on toes?" Logan asked.
"Logan, honestly she doesn't want to share you. You're all hers and she wants to keep it that way," Cindy said.
"Really!" Logan said a little shocked, since to his knowledge she still would not allow herself to call him her boyfriend.
"Stick to the private thing. You've a place she feels very comfortable in… Uh, have you two…?" Cindy asked gingerly.
"No," Logan responded bluntly. "Neither of us wanted to rush it. Uh, I was married."
"And Max lived with Darren."
"So, a really bad break up?" Logan asked.
"More trust issues then childhood trauma," Original Cindy said shaking her head.
"She just didn't mention living with a guy…" Logan shrugged. "I just thought she would have mentioned something like that."
"Since you seem clueless in some areas, here are the Tips - Incredible memory, but has no birthday, no life before ten, no parents, no siblings, no childhood. Oh yeah, watch out for the three times a year when she basically goes into heat," advised Original Cindy as Logan rolls away.
"Hey cake eater, she loves you, she don't know it though. If she did, you might never see her again. Don't be telling her you love her either, not just yet, even though its obvious…The sex would be easy, the emotions are hard."
"Thanks Cindy. And you're wrong. She does trust you more than she does me. I will do best to change that though. Wish me luck," Logan said slapping his legs. Cindy smiled as he rolled away.
"Jam Pony messenger. I need a signature," Max said to a woman behind a desk at a fancy hotel.
"Oh, I'm supposed to give you this and ask if you would take them into the ballroom. It is just down the hall," responded the receptionist whom handed her a garment bag.
// Great. I'm now delivering dry cleaning too. //
Max entered the ballroom. "Jam Pony messenger. I need a signature."
"You can sign for it," Logan said from behind her. "After all they're for you," he said with a smile. He was wearing a tuxedo, which complimented his chiseled face nicely.
"You set me up," Max said with a smile.
Logan shrugged. "Go ahead and open them. I want to know if you like what I got you."
Max pulled out a plum colored silk dress from china. It was amazing. She had never owned a fancy dress before. "This will have to live at your place; at mine it would be stolen." Max had 'accidentally' left clothes at Logan's apartment before but this was the first thing that was to stay there. "I have no shoes?" Logan pointed to the box.
Next Max opened the box she was to deliver. It contained a pair of black high heels. There was something stuck in between the shoes. It was a small picture frame in it with no picture. "What am I supposed to do with this?"
"Well, I was hoping that when you are ready, you will put a picture of us in it; not you and me, but us," Logan said with purpose.
"I see. Just a small way of letting me know, I set the pace," Max responded.
"Sort of… I would like to have a picture of you for my apartment. I would really like to one of us, if you'll let me."
"We haven't really been moving forward, have we?" Max asked though she knew the answer. "How do you want things to change?"
"No, no, no," Logan said shaking his head. "Not the point. When you are ready, you will know how you want things to change. Until then, I'm here waiting for you. Now why don't you get dressed and I will wait to escort you into dinner.
Max walks out of the bathroom in the dress Logan got for her and no shoes. "The combat boots definitely didn't go. How do I look?" Max asked a little self-conscience.
"You are breath taking. I said it when I first met you and it is still true, you are singularly the most beautiful woman I have ever seen," Logan said as Max blushed. This time it was a real compliment. "Kendra helped with sizes and style…The shoes aren't that high since you already tower over me."
"I don't know how I feel about you and Kendra collaborating against me," Max said, as they walked into the ballroom.
"You and Bling collaborated against me for your surprise thing."
"Fair enough," Max said as she looked about her to see a four string assemble playing in the background, a waiter for meal, and a beautifully arranged table with candles and wine. The couple sat next to each other gazing into the other's eyes. They ate a wonderful meal laughing and talking.
"And now, the main event," said Bling, dressed in a tuxedo himself, brought out Logan's braces. Max looked confusedly at Logan, while Bling strapped the braces on. The assemble began playing piece of music for the couple to dance to. Logan stood and teetered out from the table and extended a hand to Max. "My last present," he said slyly. "I wanted to thank you for all your help and show you one of my favorite dreams that keeps me going: An evening with you, consisting of a perfect date then dancing."
Max nestled into Logan's arms while balancing him, as they danced to the music. It looked at bit like Frankenstein's waltz, but it didn't really matter. Bling took pictures of the happy couple, knowing this would be one of the only times they were likely to be dressed up together.
Logan just smiled at Max and she looked back at him lovingly. Bling took a picture of them looking into each other's eyes. It was a great us picture that one-day they both would be ready for.