Chapter 4

After a few seconds of silence, an annoyed girlfriend on the phone finally voiced the problem

"Can I talk to him, please? He will surely explain me why a woman answered my call when I know it's past bedtime in France."

'Dear oh dear !!! Think fast Liz, think fast'

She didn't know about Max's life, if this Tess was just a fling or an important relationship. But she wasn't surprised that he had a girlfriend. A guy like him just couldn't be single, it would be a shame. a so beautiful specimen. She had to weight her words, the less she said, the better. She didn't want to be the source of a big misunderstanding that would put an end to this couple. Liz knew by experience that nothing could be worse than thinking your boyfriend was a cheater..

"eh, I'm really sorry but I didn't hear you well, there's like an echo.. hello?hello?"

"I can hear you perfectly here. I want to talk to Max. PLEASE"

She didn't need to shout, Liz thought.

"I'm sorry, you want . talk . Evans? .. will.." Liz tried to say, imitating a bad reception before hitting the end button and switching off the phone.

Well, this would put off the inevitable. At least Max would be the one to have to deal with her..

Several minutes later, Max finally stepped out of the bathroom, still dressed as a businessman and found Liz sitting on the bed . She seemed to be engrossed in a television program about the different ways to fly-fish. Without stopping watching TV, she said to him:

"I've just had the confirmation that men are never there when you need them.."

"What? Afraid of a miserable spider I suppose, aren't we? I just don't think you could find a mouse in this kind of hotel" Glancing at the TV he added "Or did you need comforting after seeing a dead fish on this screen?"

"I'm not that helpless, you know." She replied, finally turning her head and making eye contact "Your girlfriend. On the phone. Simply wanted to speak to you to know why another woman said 'hello' to her"

Max looked surprised before asking with a mixture of annoyance and anxiety

"And how did you handle the situation?"

"Why, I'm very proud of myself. I was really polite, I didn't say anything wrong.."

"Ouch" he interrupted her, making a face "Now do please tell me what you did"

"Thanks for the vote of confidence" she said rolling her eyes before turning her head to watch the TV again.

"If I have learned anything about you during those few hours, it's that you're kind of direct." He was standing , looking at her while she seemed to completely ignore him.

Liz simply shrugged so he kept going

"But with Tess, you know, you have to be a little diplomatic. She could get a wrong idea.."He explained to her, speaking with his hands.

"Well YOU will have to be * very * diplomatic then."

"What do you mean by that?" he asked worried

"I just let her think that we had a bad reception here and that I couldn't hear her. So the line went dead and you can say it was really bad timing because the battery went off too.. That's all, no big deal! I just didn't want to do all the "diplomatic" works for you. It is your job, as her boyfriend, to make things clear. Couldn't spoil your fun.."

They stopped their conversation and concentrated on the voice-over.

"La pêche à la mouche est un sport noble qui demande beaucoup de concentration et de préparation. En effet, la clé de la réussite réside dans la fabrication de la mouche car le rôle de l'appât est déterminant. Nous allons maintenant suivre Alain, 58 ans, pêcheur depuis sa plus tendre enfance.. "

(" Fly-fishing is a noble sport which requires a lot of concentration and of preparation . Indeed, the key to success lies in the fabrication of the fly since the role of the bait is decisive. Now, we will follow Alain, 58 years old, fisherman since his earliest days.")

During the commentary, Max had sat down next to Liz on the bed. Never taking his eyes off the screen, he told her:

"How can you watch something like that? It's soporific and in French !"

"For your information, I'm a French teacher, so it isn't a problem.. And frankly, it's not that bad.If you'd just listen, it would be a lot more interesting.."

"Come on, like someone would like to know how our dear Alain makes his flies.. Seeing the time, it must be to help insomniacs to fall asleep.."

Before she could respond, someone knocked at the door . It simply was the room service bringing the dinner.

"So, what did you order?" Liz inquired

"I didn't know what you like so I took some "Canard à l'orange" (duck with orange) , salmon in case you'd prefer fish but for hors d'oeuvre, I asked for some foie gras.."

"Seems delicious!!"

They sat at the newly set table and started eating. Both realizing that, apart from their bantering, they had never truly made conversation.

"So" Max tried "Who is Liz Parker?"

Liz looked up, surprised by his question but answered nonetheless..

"Elizabeth Parker, 25 years old, French teacher, live in LA but born in Roswell, NM. Satisfied?"After a few seconds, becoming really curious she couldn't help adding "And you?"

"Maxwell Evans, 27 years old, lawyer, born and currently living in LA even if I have to often go to NY.." After some awkward minutes, Liz finally said

"You know, we will never see each other again so you can feel free to ask any questions you want.."

"Single?"

She let out a laugh, but he didn't miss the little flash of pain in her eyes

"Yes"

"For how long?"

"Curious, aren't we?"

"Eh! You said I could ask any questions I wanted.. It's just to make some conversation.."

"Yeah, but you could just have asked about the weather or how many times you went fly-fishing.."

He chuckled

"Ok, I've got the message!!"

But when Liz looked into his eyes, she understood that he would ask again later on.

"All right." She took a deep breath and said " We broke off 3 months ago"

Sensing it wasn't an easy topic he asked

"We?"

"I.. I dumped him after I found him with another woman in our bed.."

"Ouch..the jerk"

"You can say that" Swallowing her glass of wine she added "But I'm a cheater magnet you know."

"The boyfriend before him, we were like, high school sweethearts.. And one day, I went to his house, where he was supposed to watch a game with his best friend. And you want to know what happened??"

"Go ahead.."

"He was playing kiss-faces with his best friend, his very male best friend.."

"He was gay?"

"Worse. Bi. He said he loved me too, and the asshole even suggested that we had a threesome if it made me feel better"

"I don't believe it.. What did you do?"

"I gave him a taste of my knee.Where it hurts..."

"You know, I have no idea why I'm telling you all this. I only met you a few hours ago..And you know already so much about me.."

"It's maybe because, like you said, we're strangers and we won't meet again.. It's like a psychologist, he doesn't judge you.."

"And you? Tell me about your love life.."

It took a few seconds before Max answered, for he was lost in her doe eyes.. She seemed to be so strong, he thought. He couldn't understand how someone could go and find another woman when he had Liz as girlfriend, and even less how a guy could become gay..

"I have got one or two girlfriends in high school then maybe a few flings in college, but I met Tess 4 years ago, and we have been together for 3 years now."

"Is she the love of your life?"

"I don't know. At first, we became really close friends and after that one thing leading to another. And now I think that everyone's expecting me to propose soon"

"You don't want to?"

"I don't know.. I love her and she loves me. But it isn't in a passionate way, I feel like it's more like a companionship, for me at least. I don't know, I'm confused. I was hoping that this little break would help me . But I'm more confused than ever " He said the last part, looking at her straight in the eye.

They finished eating, talking about their childhood and their days in high school.

It was now late and Max stood up, putting an end to their lovely dinner

"Well, now I'm going downstairs to sleep. I will see you tomorrow morning I suppose. Sleep tight" He excused himself with a smile.

"Good night"

He walked out of the bedroom, closing the door behind him.

A few seconds later, when Liz finally realized what was happening, she opened the door and called in the hall

"Max!"

He was just a few meters away. He turned around and smiled at her

"What is it?"

"I was thinking, you could always sleep on the armchair you know, it would be quieter there than in the salon ".

He nodded, his smile widened and both of them entered the room and shut the door behind them.

Tbc.