I hope you all are enjoying this story. Side note. I'd love to post on FF. Net, but I don't have an account. Anyone willing to post it? Drop me a line and let me know.
"I love you," Kenny repeated, "I mean it Max. I'm in love with you."
She nodded, as the revelations made her head spin, "I love you too."
"This isn't exactly taking it slowly," Kenny replied, feeling a smile creep across his face.
"No it isn't," Max trailed off, as he pulled her closer to him, "When? I mean we just started this . . . thing, uh relationship."
"What about you?"
"I asked you first."
"So you answer first."
Max looked up at him thoughtfully before replying, "I . . . you really want to know? How long have we known each other for?"
"Five years."
Max stood up on her toes, and pressed her lips to his without saying anything. He tightened his arms around her, as she melted against him. Trailing his hands down her back, he whisper in her ear, "You didn't answer my question."
She looked up at him, slightly confused at first, "I didn't?"
Kenny smiled slowly at her, as it dawned on him, "You too? I fell for you the first day we met. I just knew, and that scared the shit out of me."
Max smiled back at him, "This is . . . Oh Kenny. Are we really doing this?"
He stroked her hair, "I think we are. A little bit faster then we planned. I never thought we would . . . be together this way. I didn't think you'd want to be."
"Oh, I wanted this. More then anything else," Max sighed, "I didn't think we would either. But I'm glad we did."
He lowered his mouth to hers again, as they made their way inside.
"This is unreal," Jimmy said, as he and Jill relayed their respected conversations, "I can't believe that they're doing this . . . the potential complications are unbelievable. If this thing falls apart, I don't want to consider what might happen. He's in love with her Jill, and terrified that she doesn't feel the same way."
"She does," Jill verified, "I just wonder if they'll get around to telling each other. I feel so badly for Rachel . . . that she had to see them like that together. But, last night, when we saw them kissing. They looked so, well sweet together."
Jimmy nodded reluctantly, "Yeah they did. I worry about both of them, I don't want to see them hurt again. And I think they have the power to do that to each other, more so then they realize."
"They're adults Jimmy. Albeit commitment phobic and stubborn ones," Jill replied, "I don't know. I don't think that they would be together if it wasn't . . . I don't think they would do this casually."
"Probably. What do you say the four of us go out to dinner? Maybe find out where they're going with this?"
"Hi Carter," Max said glancing up from the file on her desk a few days later, "What's going on?"
He shrugged, "Nothing, nothing. Where is everybody?"
"I'm not too sure, the radio has been kinda quiet today," Max replied, watching him shift from one foot to the other, "What?"
"Uh, I heard about you and Kenny," Carter said quickly, looking away, "Uh, I was surprised. Maybe I shouldn't have been, but still. I think that it's great. You both seem really happy."
Max nodded, and couldn't contain her smile, "We are. It's still kind of new, but . . . It's great."
"Hmm," Carter mused, "I haven't really seen you two much lately. Want to go and grab a beer tonight? Like well all used too?"
Max looked at him thoughtfully, "Tonight?"
"Hey if you guys are busy . . . I understand. Being a couple and all."
"Carter. Come on. Nothing has changed, really. We're still getting used to it too, we haven't been ignoring you."
"Ah, the use of we," he replied nodding, "You know that the whole town is talking, and that Rachel Harris is saying some, uh not so flattering things?"
"I've heard, she said some to me," Max said, twisting her pen in her hands, "She can say what she wants, and people can think what they want. Strangers opinions don't really matter to me."
"Do your friends?"
"Why?"
He shook his head, "If you guys are happy, I'm happy for you. What if you break up though? What happens then?"
Max stared at him silently before responding, "Why are you so pessimistic? We're barely a couple, and you're always planning our demise?"
"No! Forget it. I have to go to the morgue."
"I guess we've been kind of wrapped up in each other," Kenny said later, as he watched her search through his fridge for something to eat, "We can order something if you want. Was he weird about it?"
"Weird? Not really. I mean it's Carter and all, but I think he's been lonely lately," Max said thoughtfully, "I mean used to all go out on Thursday night for drinks and stuff, and we've been occupied lately."
"I like having you all to myself," he replied, pulling her into his lap and kissing her neck, "Plus people have been giving me some odd looks.'
"Yeah. I guess Rachel's been saying some stuff."
"How do you know it's her?"
"Carter. I understand why she's upset, and I know I would be too. To walk in and see . . . us. It has to be awful, and I hate that we made her feel that badly."
"Me too. But Max, we had already broken up. She shouldn't have been there to begin with."
"But she was."
Kenny sighed at her stubbornness, "Yeah? What do you want to do about it? I tried calling her, so did you. If she wants to rant and rave, let her. She'll get over it."
Max stared at him for an instance, "Just like that? Jill told me she is in love with you. I don't think she's going to get over it anytime soon."
"She doesn't have a choice Max. I want you, I've always wanted you. I love you. Do you know how long I've waited to say that to you? The thing with Rachel was, it went on much to long. It started off as a fling, and . . . it just got comfortable. It was sex. Nothing more to me."
"You can really just toss it aside that easily? After what? Nine months?"
"Max. Not tonight. I'm way to tired."
"I'll just go."
"Hey, what's going on?," Kenny asked, grabbing her wrist as she stood, "What do you want me to say?"
"I don't know. Maybe it's just guilt."
"You have nothing to feel guilty about," Kenny said gently, tilting her face up so he could look at her, "I wish that she could have found out some other way, but she didn't. We all have to deal with that. I cared about her Max, really. That's why we broke up. She wanted something more, and I couldn't give it to her."
She nodded slowly, "Okay, okay."
He ran his fingers through her hair, and trailed them down her face, "I guess people are talking. Maybe we should go out, and give them something to really talk about?"
"You're going out to dinner with them?," Rachel screeched to Jill, "How can you do this to me? Jimmy I can understand, but you? You're supposed to be my friend."
"I am your friend," Jill shot back, "Rachel, it's nothing really. I know you're hurting. Jimmy wants to get a read on where they're going with their, um, relationship. He might have to start making schedule changes and stuff if it gets to serious."
"Serious? Right? It's just a sex thing Jill. Two young bodies. He'll move on someone else, and it'll serve that little slut right."
"Rachel," Jill exclaimed, somewhat shocked by her bitterness, "I know you're hurting, but that's a little harsh. I know they both care a lot about each other, and neither of them would have risked their friendship over a sex thing."
"Right," Rachel spat, "I hope you enjoy your dinner."
"You look beautiful," Kenny said giving her a once over, "Wow."
Max smiled up at him, "Thanks. I know how you like to look at my legs."
"I like to look at all of you."
She reached out and linked hands with him, "Are you as nervous as I am? I know it's just Jimmy and Jill, but they've both been kind of weird about this."
"They're in a tough spot, with the work thing, Rachel . . . and they want what is best for us. It's like having another set of parents."
"It's nice to have a set that gives a shit about me."
"Hey," Kenny said softly, as they walked toward the restaurant, "Wait a second, where did that come from?"
"No where," Max sighed, "You know how well I get along with my family. They make me all bitter and stuff. Can we just drop it?"
Kenny studied her before replying, "Okay, if you're sure you're okay."
"I am, really. Stop looking at me like that."
He leaned in, and kissed her on the temple as they made their way inside.
"They're cute," Jill whispered, as they watched the approaching couple, "Look at the way he looks at her Jimmy. Oh."
Jimmy nodded in agreement, as he watched Kenny lift his her hand to his lips, "I think this is serious Jill. I've never seen either of them like this before."
Jill couldn't help but smile as she watched them, "Over here! Be nice Jimmy."
"I want what is best for them Jill . . . and they do seem happy."
"Uh, sorry we're late," Kenny said in way a greeting, not releasing his grip on Max's hand, "Traffic and stuff."
"No worries, we just got here," Jimmy replied, taking note of their intertwined fingers, "I'm glad we could do this tonight."
"Excuse me, your table is ready," the hostess said, coming over, "If you're ready?"
To be continued.