Disclaimer: The usual
Author's note: Please keep in mind I'm no native speaker, I just try to give my best.
LET THE VACATION BEGIN
"Logan! Come on, wake up!"
She slapped his leg before painfully reminding herself that he was not gonna react to that, so she shook his shoulder forcefully until he stirred.
"Whazzup?"
"Where to? I don't know where you booked rooms or an apartment."
"We are here already?"
"Yeah, you slept through a ferry ride, amazing."
Logan shook his head and sat up straight. "You should have woken me!" he accused Max.
"Why? So where to?"
"Hotel's called Harbourview something. Island Highway South 809," he recited.
"We passed by already!" Max quickly checked the rear view mirror then hit the brakes and turned around. Logan involuntarily held on to the glove compartment.
Five minutes later, Max stopped in front of the hotel. "Uhm, Max. I have to tell you something before we check in..." Logan cast his eyes down insecurely.
"They were nearly booked out...but I was lucky to get a wheelchair accessible minisuit."
"Great, so?"
"Period."
Max rolled her eyes. "Period what?"
"It's the only room...rooms I got. But there are two seperate units with beds," he added hasitly.
Max considered him for a long moment, then shrugged. "Guess I have to live with that. Could be worse." She opened the door and stepped out to take a deep breath. Then she took a few steps away from the car and looked around the corner of the building. "Logan! Have a look!!"
Right behind the hotel there was a river or the ocean or whatever passing by, and it looked breathtaking. Small shattered islands rose from the water and further away a larger island lay in the sunset.
Finally Logan stopped his chair next to her and had a look. "Wow, actually feels like a real vacation, what do you think?" He looked up and smiled from ear to ear. Maybe that hadn't been such a bad idea, even if his lead would proof to be fake. "Wanna check in and grab a bite to eat afterwards?"
"Sure, lead the way." Max put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. "Thanks." At his questioning look he explained. "You know, for bringing me here and stuff."
"You're welcome." He wanted to tell her that he couldn't imagine a better place to be right now, that he was the happiest guy on earth because she had joined him, but all he managed was 'you are welcome'. He bit his lips and chided himself. Why couldn't he be a little more like the guy he used to be before the accident? Before Max? But there was no use in mulling over it, he was here with her, and he would hopefully get another chance. And even if not, nobody could take this away from him ever again.
"How may I help you, Sir?" The young receptionist looked down at Logan with her friendliest smile. The wheelchair didn't seem to bother her.
The lobby was spacious and welcoming, in warm, friendly colors and with lots of plants and a small waterfall right in the middle. Soft piano music was playing in the background.
"Cale, Logan. I called the day before yesterday and reserved a room."
The girl typed something into a computer and moments later presented a keycard with the room number on it. "It's right down the corridor, the last door on the left. Have a great stay. If you or your wife need anything, let me or anybody else of the staff know."
"Thank you." Max smiled back and grabbed the key before Logan had even had a chance to react. "Come on, honey."
Logan threw her a confused look, then grinned at the receptionist and followed Max. "Honey?" he asked while wheeling down the hallway next to her.
"Don't give them more to think about than absolutely necessary. If she assumed we were a couple, we pretend to be one."
"Manticore?"
Max just shrugged. She could never admit she had simply enjoyed being held for Logan's wife. "Here we are." She rather changed the topic. Why did she feel so insecure when it came to Logan? She always had the perfect answeres to everything, only with him it was different. God, she hoped this vacation would help ease things.
She preceded him in the clean suit. To her right she found a small room with a couch and a work desk, she took some more steps to check out the bathroom, and some more to find herself in the huge main room which held a king size bed and a huge window front. Max immediately opened the curtains and drew in a deep breath. From here she had an even better look at the waterfront.
"Do you like it?" Logan stopped next to her. "You can have the big room."
Max nodded, still totally focussed on the view.
"I'll get our luggage."
"I'll help you."Max grabbed the key and closed the door of the suit behind her, then she hurried after Logan who was on his way to the car.
"Can you park the car over there? I don't really wanna climb in just for that."
"Sure." She dropped his bag next to him. "Wait right here."
Logan watched her drive away and grinned at an old couple passing by, casting him and the beautiful young woman who had just climbed in the car odd looks. They sat down on a bench across the street under a huge tree and kept on staring at Logan. Max noticed their audience when she returned, carrying her own bag. She looked from Logan to the couple and back at Logan, and slyly grinned at him. "Play along," she whispered.
Logan was about to ask what she wanted when she suddenly sat down on his lap and threw her arms around his neck, placing light kissed on his neck and cheek.
At first Logan tensed, but then decided that he should rather enjoy it, god only knew if he would get a chance like that ever again. He grabbed her around the waist and let his hand caress her back while biting at her ear.
He could hear her giggle. "What?" he asked.
"I'm ticklish there!" she mumbled, letting her hand brush through his spiky hair. God, he smelled so good, and it felt so right to do that. What was the matter with her?
Logan had all but forgotten about the couple on the bench, observing them arrogantly and in disbelief. He was totally focussed on the beautiful young woman sitting on his lap. He had dreamt of that for so long!
"Logan? Logan, they are gone." Max leaned back and looked around. "We can stop now."
"Uhm...ok, sure." He released the grip he had on her and she stood up, a little shaky.
"That was fun," she giggled. "Have you seen the expressions on their faces? Like this was totally inappropriate."
Logan suddenly felt a sting in his heart. "Max, that's exactly what they thought. I mean, look at us, you and me."
"Why, what's so wrong about it? I mean, hypothetically of course?"
"Come on, we are like day and night. You are gorgeous, perfect, healthy, beautiful- and I'm...just some cripple in a wheelchair."
Max looked at him in shock. Did he really believe that? After all the time she had spent telling him he was so wrong about that? "We had this discussion before, and I'm not gonna do it again. This is crap."
"Yeah? So why do you think they reacted that way? Why do you think everybody stares at us? God, I can practically read their thoughts. 'How much is that guy paying her?' Get real, Max. That's the way it is."
"Not for me. And it shouldn't be like that for you either. You are much too smart for that." She threw his bag in his lap and sighed. "And now come on, I'm starving."
Logan was glad this discussion seemed to be over. He knew he was right, but it was good to hear from Max that she thought differently. "Aiight," he answered, in Original Cindy's typical tone of voice in order to lighten the mood.
**
A few minutes later they strolled down the busy street until a sign lead them into a small sidestreet towards the water. According to it, a Mexican restaurant was just a few meters down the street. Max and Logan checked the menu and after Logan had made sure it was accessible, he asked. "Wanna go in there?"
"Yeah, sounds great."
They enjoyed dinner and afterwards went on a little walk along the waterfront, until Logan started to yawn.
"Wanna go back home?"
"I guess. I have slept all day in the car, I can't believe I'm tired already again."
"The air." Max nodded seriously. "Or so they say."
"Definitely." Logan swiveled his chair around and started to wheel down the small street.
"What is this job all about anyway?"
"Excuse me?"
"Why are we here?"
Logan swallowed. 'Because of you!' he wanted to scream. 'Because I want you to be happy.' Instead he shook his head. "I can't tell you, not now. Please, trust me. I will tell you as soon as I have checked on something."
Max considered him for a long moment, looking right into his eyes. "Ok," she finally agreed. "No matter why you really wanted to come here, I'm glad you let me join you."
"I'm glad you came." That was an improvement, man! She had thanked you before and all you got out was 'you are welcome', now it was 'I'm glad you came'. Much better- and still way to go. "And now let's go home, it's getting chilly anyway."
Author's note: Please keep in mind I'm no native speaker, I just try to give my best.
LET THE VACATION BEGIN
"Logan! Come on, wake up!"
She slapped his leg before painfully reminding herself that he was not gonna react to that, so she shook his shoulder forcefully until he stirred.
"Whazzup?"
"Where to? I don't know where you booked rooms or an apartment."
"We are here already?"
"Yeah, you slept through a ferry ride, amazing."
Logan shook his head and sat up straight. "You should have woken me!" he accused Max.
"Why? So where to?"
"Hotel's called Harbourview something. Island Highway South 809," he recited.
"We passed by already!" Max quickly checked the rear view mirror then hit the brakes and turned around. Logan involuntarily held on to the glove compartment.
Five minutes later, Max stopped in front of the hotel. "Uhm, Max. I have to tell you something before we check in..." Logan cast his eyes down insecurely.
"They were nearly booked out...but I was lucky to get a wheelchair accessible minisuit."
"Great, so?"
"Period."
Max rolled her eyes. "Period what?"
"It's the only room...rooms I got. But there are two seperate units with beds," he added hasitly.
Max considered him for a long moment, then shrugged. "Guess I have to live with that. Could be worse." She opened the door and stepped out to take a deep breath. Then she took a few steps away from the car and looked around the corner of the building. "Logan! Have a look!!"
Right behind the hotel there was a river or the ocean or whatever passing by, and it looked breathtaking. Small shattered islands rose from the water and further away a larger island lay in the sunset.
Finally Logan stopped his chair next to her and had a look. "Wow, actually feels like a real vacation, what do you think?" He looked up and smiled from ear to ear. Maybe that hadn't been such a bad idea, even if his lead would proof to be fake. "Wanna check in and grab a bite to eat afterwards?"
"Sure, lead the way." Max put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. "Thanks." At his questioning look he explained. "You know, for bringing me here and stuff."
"You're welcome." He wanted to tell her that he couldn't imagine a better place to be right now, that he was the happiest guy on earth because she had joined him, but all he managed was 'you are welcome'. He bit his lips and chided himself. Why couldn't he be a little more like the guy he used to be before the accident? Before Max? But there was no use in mulling over it, he was here with her, and he would hopefully get another chance. And even if not, nobody could take this away from him ever again.
"How may I help you, Sir?" The young receptionist looked down at Logan with her friendliest smile. The wheelchair didn't seem to bother her.
The lobby was spacious and welcoming, in warm, friendly colors and with lots of plants and a small waterfall right in the middle. Soft piano music was playing in the background.
"Cale, Logan. I called the day before yesterday and reserved a room."
The girl typed something into a computer and moments later presented a keycard with the room number on it. "It's right down the corridor, the last door on the left. Have a great stay. If you or your wife need anything, let me or anybody else of the staff know."
"Thank you." Max smiled back and grabbed the key before Logan had even had a chance to react. "Come on, honey."
Logan threw her a confused look, then grinned at the receptionist and followed Max. "Honey?" he asked while wheeling down the hallway next to her.
"Don't give them more to think about than absolutely necessary. If she assumed we were a couple, we pretend to be one."
"Manticore?"
Max just shrugged. She could never admit she had simply enjoyed being held for Logan's wife. "Here we are." She rather changed the topic. Why did she feel so insecure when it came to Logan? She always had the perfect answeres to everything, only with him it was different. God, she hoped this vacation would help ease things.
She preceded him in the clean suit. To her right she found a small room with a couch and a work desk, she took some more steps to check out the bathroom, and some more to find herself in the huge main room which held a king size bed and a huge window front. Max immediately opened the curtains and drew in a deep breath. From here she had an even better look at the waterfront.
"Do you like it?" Logan stopped next to her. "You can have the big room."
Max nodded, still totally focussed on the view.
"I'll get our luggage."
"I'll help you."Max grabbed the key and closed the door of the suit behind her, then she hurried after Logan who was on his way to the car.
"Can you park the car over there? I don't really wanna climb in just for that."
"Sure." She dropped his bag next to him. "Wait right here."
Logan watched her drive away and grinned at an old couple passing by, casting him and the beautiful young woman who had just climbed in the car odd looks. They sat down on a bench across the street under a huge tree and kept on staring at Logan. Max noticed their audience when she returned, carrying her own bag. She looked from Logan to the couple and back at Logan, and slyly grinned at him. "Play along," she whispered.
Logan was about to ask what she wanted when she suddenly sat down on his lap and threw her arms around his neck, placing light kissed on his neck and cheek.
At first Logan tensed, but then decided that he should rather enjoy it, god only knew if he would get a chance like that ever again. He grabbed her around the waist and let his hand caress her back while biting at her ear.
He could hear her giggle. "What?" he asked.
"I'm ticklish there!" she mumbled, letting her hand brush through his spiky hair. God, he smelled so good, and it felt so right to do that. What was the matter with her?
Logan had all but forgotten about the couple on the bench, observing them arrogantly and in disbelief. He was totally focussed on the beautiful young woman sitting on his lap. He had dreamt of that for so long!
"Logan? Logan, they are gone." Max leaned back and looked around. "We can stop now."
"Uhm...ok, sure." He released the grip he had on her and she stood up, a little shaky.
"That was fun," she giggled. "Have you seen the expressions on their faces? Like this was totally inappropriate."
Logan suddenly felt a sting in his heart. "Max, that's exactly what they thought. I mean, look at us, you and me."
"Why, what's so wrong about it? I mean, hypothetically of course?"
"Come on, we are like day and night. You are gorgeous, perfect, healthy, beautiful- and I'm...just some cripple in a wheelchair."
Max looked at him in shock. Did he really believe that? After all the time she had spent telling him he was so wrong about that? "We had this discussion before, and I'm not gonna do it again. This is crap."
"Yeah? So why do you think they reacted that way? Why do you think everybody stares at us? God, I can practically read their thoughts. 'How much is that guy paying her?' Get real, Max. That's the way it is."
"Not for me. And it shouldn't be like that for you either. You are much too smart for that." She threw his bag in his lap and sighed. "And now come on, I'm starving."
Logan was glad this discussion seemed to be over. He knew he was right, but it was good to hear from Max that she thought differently. "Aiight," he answered, in Original Cindy's typical tone of voice in order to lighten the mood.
**
A few minutes later they strolled down the busy street until a sign lead them into a small sidestreet towards the water. According to it, a Mexican restaurant was just a few meters down the street. Max and Logan checked the menu and after Logan had made sure it was accessible, he asked. "Wanna go in there?"
"Yeah, sounds great."
They enjoyed dinner and afterwards went on a little walk along the waterfront, until Logan started to yawn.
"Wanna go back home?"
"I guess. I have slept all day in the car, I can't believe I'm tired already again."
"The air." Max nodded seriously. "Or so they say."
"Definitely." Logan swiveled his chair around and started to wheel down the small street.
"What is this job all about anyway?"
"Excuse me?"
"Why are we here?"
Logan swallowed. 'Because of you!' he wanted to scream. 'Because I want you to be happy.' Instead he shook his head. "I can't tell you, not now. Please, trust me. I will tell you as soon as I have checked on something."
Max considered him for a long moment, looking right into his eyes. "Ok," she finally agreed. "No matter why you really wanted to come here, I'm glad you let me join you."
"I'm glad you came." That was an improvement, man! She had thanked you before and all you got out was 'you are welcome', now it was 'I'm glad you came'. Much better- and still way to go. "And now let's go home, it's getting chilly anyway."