Reaching for The Moon by ThePekingNoodle

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Chapter Seventy-Two: Reality Bites

In which our hero and heroine ponder on the nature of girl power…

Max stood staring after Logan. The bedroom door closed with a sharp click behind him and she let out a sigh.

Smart move girl, make him feel like something less than a man back there.

What was I supposed to do?

Don't know but what you did sure didn't work.

I am what I am and Logan needs to deal with it. If he can't…

If he can't what? You'll walk?

I can't.

You're screwed then.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Logan heard the bedroom door close behind him and he took a deep breath. He walked over to stare out of the window.

That was great, Logan. What in hell did you expect her to do back there anyway? Let them do the dirty deed?

No.

So what's your problem them? You know what she is. It's not like it's some kind of a secret from you.

No but…

But what? Can you deal with it or not?

I don't know.

'Cause if not then you better walk away from this before you hurt her.

I can't walk and I don't want to hurt her.

Better figure it out then or you're screwed.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Several hours passed before Logan finally emerged from the bedroom. When he looked around the apartment was empty. Max was nowhere to be found.

"Damn it." A look, almost of panic crossed his face.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Max sat at a table in CRASH across from Original Cindy. Kendra had been there earlier but she had left for a date, leaving Max alone with Cindy.

"So what's the dealio with you tonight anyway?" Original Cindy finally asked. "Ain't seen so much as one smile from you, not even when that idiot Sketchy was makin' a fool of himself trying' to do bike stunts on the bar."

"Sorry." Max looked up at her. Her misery was clear in her face.

"Ahhh. Trouble in paradise. Sugah, all newlyweds have fights. It comes with the territory. Especially seein' as how men are idiots anyway."

"Logan's not an idiot." Max said indignantly. Cindy just looked at her and she continued, "Except he is acting like one."

"Told ya." Original Cindy grinned. "Just 'cause I happen to swing the other way don't mean I don't have an understanding of the three legged gender and how their tiny little brains work. What happened?"

"I guess I made him feel…I dunno…there were these guys and well you've seen me fight before. I sort of  didn't let Logan take care of them for me…"

"And the boy's feelin' like you stomped all over his manhood now. Boo, you need another drink." Original Cindy poured Max some more beer. "You ever had a serious boyfriend before, Logan?"

Max looked at her, puzzled. "My parents kept me locked up in girls schools…so no."

"Thought so. The thing is females got it all over the male of the species. Now it's okay for us to know that but you can't ever let one of them figure it out. At least not that we know it."

"So what was I supposed to do? Let the goons that had us rape me or something? To spare Logan's male ego?"

Original Cindy looked at Max. "Boo I didn't say don't be who you are. Your boy needs to deal with that. You a kick ass female and if he can't handle it, then he ain't worth your time. But," she paused for a drink. "at the same time you got to feed that ego of his. Male ego's don't get fed they get nasty. Fact of life."

"So what should I have done?" Max almost wailed.

"You shoulda done your ass kickin' just like you evidently did. But then when it's all over you gotta let him take care of you a little bit."

"Act like some dumb blonde? No."

"Boo, I didn't say that. Now kick ass as you are, there's still gotta be some things your boy's got over you. What you need to do now is let him play those cards. Let that ego of his feel better. But its gotta be real. You get my drift?"

"I think so." Max was deep in thought. "He can deal with me being kick-ass if I let him do his own ass-kickin' in his own way."

"Boo now you learnin' about men. You ain't gotta do that with females. But men…just say that's one reason Original Cindy ain't in no rush to be hookin' up with any of the male gender. Give me an upfront sistah any day of the week."

For the first time that night, Max smiled. "Thanks Original."

"So what you gonna do?"

"I don't know yet but at least I know what direction I'm heading in."

"That's a good thing." Original Cindy was staring at someone or something behind Max. "'Cause I think your boy's here after you."

A hand fell on Max's shoulder and she turned her head to see Logan glowering down at her.

"I see a hot chick at the bar been givin' Original Cindy the eye all night. Now that you got company…" Original Cindy was gone.

Still without a word Logan dropped down into the chair she had vacated.

"Hey." Max tried smiling at him.

"You think this was the smartest move to make in the circumstances?" Logan said to her. He was clearly still angry.

"The Colonel's going to come looking for a runaway X5 in a bike messenger bar?" Max looked at him with eyebrows raised.

"We don't know where he's looking, Max."

Max poured a glass of beer and pushed it over to him. Logan took it silently and took a swig.

"I was worried when you were gone. You could've at least left me a note you know."

"Oh. I didn't think of that. How'd you find me?"

"I called Kendra. She wasn't too happy, guess I caught her at a bad moment, but she told me where you were."

"Why'd you care?" Max put him on the spot.

"Damn it, Max, why would you say that?"

"You didn't seem to care how I was feeling before. After those guys…"

"You were fine before. Just another ass-kickin for you." Logan said sharply.

"Right. Like I enjoy that." Max shot back.

"Doesn't seem to bother you."

"So do you enjoy all the things you do when you take down the bad guys, Logan?"

He looked at her. "What do you mean?"

"I mean people get hurt in your business, don't they? Do you like knowing that one of your informants maybe got killed because of you?" Max's words were sharp.

"No. But it happens. I am who I am and I do what I have to."

"Exactly, Logan." Max stared at him and he stared back at her. "I am who I am too."

"So what do we do?"

"Right now I'm going to have another beer. You want some more?"

Logan held out his glass and the two sat in silence drinking their beer each one wondering about their next move.

End of Chapter Seventy-Two…TBC…