Chapter 2
After Maria's starling confessions and of course Diane's tears at having another grandchild to spoil, everyone went home for the night.
"Liz, I was wondering what you were doing tomorrow?" asked Max. Liz bit her lip.
Liz's POV
My god I need to stop hanging out with him. I have to be finding dirt on him for Tessa, not going to the park with him and his son, or having dinner with his family. God what is going on with me? This Max is nothing like the Max that Tessa described. But why would my friend lie to me. NO Max is just playing his game. But I'm better at playing games. But why does he have to give me those puppy dog eyes. He is so cute, and handsome. My god Liz, get a hold of yourself.
"Well in the morning I have to start my job with the gardens, hopeful by mid-afternoon I'll be free", said Liz looking at Max that was currently rocking Aidan to sleep in his arms.
God the man is amazing. He is so gentle with his son. But Tessa is my friend, I can't do this to her. Tessa was there when I found out that my parents were not my biological parents, that I had been adopted. I was so angry because they never told me. Now I understand why, they thought they would lose me.
"Shh Aidan, daddy's here", whispered Max rocking his son that seemed to be whimpering in his sleep. "Maybe you should have him lie down?" suggested Liz looking at the whimpering boy.
My god he is so cute, like father like son I guess.
"Max can I ask you something?" asked Liz.
"Sure Liz, you can ask me whatever you want", said Max while he put Aidan to sleep.
"Why are you living in Maria's home if you have a home of your own?" asked Liz.
Liz saw a shadow of pain pass over his eyes before he started answering.
"I know it's silly, but I do live in my own home, it's just that two years ago I used to live there with my grandmother. She was the most perfect person in the world, and well I went to this party with Tessa and she died that night. I never got to say good bye. That house gives me bad memories. So Maria suggested that I could live with them in this house and when I'm ready I could move back home. I mean I have most of my stuff over there. I go there every night to pick up stuff for me and Aidan it's just I have a hard time sleeping there", said Max trying to swallow the pain that usually was there when he talked about his grandmother.
Max's POV
God I can't believe I told her all of that. But she is so easy to talk to. I just need someone to talk to. It's hard sometimes to be alone. Both my sister and brother and my cousin are in these committed relationships and they seem so happy. I want that too. But I want it to be perfect. Liz can make it perfect. God is there anything flawed about her. She is perfect in everyway. Then she shocked me. My god she is hugged me. God she smells so good and fits against me perfectly. She is my match I know that. God how do I convince her of that now.
"Max I'm so sorry to hear that. But who is Tessa?" asked Liz trying to feign ignorance. Another flash of pain shown in his eyes. But then it was replaced by what Liz detected as bitterness.
Liz's POV
Okay what is going on? Maybe I shouldn't have asked that question. I don't get it, why would Max be upset at that mention of Tessa's name. It doesn't make any sense. Tessa told me that Max dumped her and used her. He used his money to take away her little boy from her. She knew that she should be angry with Max for what he did to her best-friend but she couldn't help but see his sadness at that mention of her best-friend's name.
"She is Aidan's mother", answered Max looking away from Liz and looking down at his little boy. He could feel Liz reach out and touch his shoulders.
"She didn't want him, only my money, she left when Aidan was just a few weeks old", said Max with his head down dejected.
Liz almost gasped at that.
Tessa said that Max stole Aidan from her. This makes no sense. I got to find out what is going on.
"Did she tell you why?", asked Liz rubbing up and down his arm. Max sighed a little bit but she could tell that he was in pain. His body trembled.
"She was going to use my past against me. My father knew my reputation but he didn't want everyone else to know especially his clients. Anyway Tess somehow found out and said that if I didn't give her a push in her singing career as well as 2 million dollars she would go public with the information", said Max shaking.
"I asked her why she would do this, that we had a son together", said Max trying to curb his tears. "She said that only reason she had Aidan was because she knew that she would be taken care of since she was the mother of my son, but I guess she noticed that I would only take care of Aidan, not that I didn't give her money, I did, she got everything but I still expected that she would help me raise our son, I guess that was not part of her plan", said Max.
"God she just left him, it's not fair, what am I going to tell Aidan when he starts asking about how come he doesn't have a mom?", asked Max looking at Liz with tears in his eyes. Liz pulled him in for a hug. He shook with sobs. Tears fell from Liz's eyes also. Liz was always good at reading people, but she didn't know who to believe. Why would Tess lie to her? What would Max gain out of lying to her? He didn't know her at all.
God I don't know what to do. Who should I believe? I don't know my grandma always says follow your heart, but my heart is raging a war here. God if Max said is true, I am a pawn in Tess's game, if what Tess says is true then I'm a pawn in Max's game. Either way I'm going to lose in this.
"It's okay Max, I promise it's okay, Aidan has a mother and father in you Max, you love your little boy so much, I'm amazed. I have never seen anything like that before", said Liz looking into Max's eyes.
Damn I shouldn't have done that. I have to kiss him if I don't I'll die.
Liz leaned in at the same time that Max did. She felt his breath on her lips and knew this was the man she would love. She never felt his way before. This was crazy.
God his lips taste so good, is it supposed to be this good?
Max explored her mouth and pulled her small frame onto his. He couldn't get enough. His heart was pounding and his palms were sweaty. My god he had never felt this way in a long time, since high-school.
Max made love to her mouth. His fingers ran through her long soft hair and cupped the back of her head. He was drowning in bliss. Was this how heaven felt like? If it did he surely has gone to heaven. He heard her little whimpers and he groaned. She felt perfect and right. He knew that he was seeing stars. He knew she was the one. She would be his wife, she would be the mother of his children, she was his soulmate. He knew without a shadow of a doubt that she was his happily Ever after. He wanted her in his bed, in his home, in his life.
God what am I going to do. It's so fast, this is happening so fast. I can't be in love based on a kiss. God what am I going to do. How am I going to tell Tessa that I fell in love with her enemy?
Liz pulled away from Max's embrace with panting breaths and looked at his desire filled eyes. She knew she had the same look on her face. '
God this just got so complicated. Max was going to lean in to get another kiss when Liz's cell phone rang loudly. It was like a splash of cold water. Liz smiled shyly at Max before looking down at who was calling her. Liz's heart stopped. Because in bold letters on her Sprint phone was the words Tessa.
"I have to get this call Max, can we talk later?", asked Liz getting up.
Max nodded his head but he still looked a little dazed. Liz smiled at his face. He had a goofy smile and her heart melted. The phone stopped ringing and a beeping sound indicated that she had a voice message. Liz bent down and kissed Max gently on the lips and pulled back and bent over to kiss a sleeping Aidan on the forehead.
"Goodnight sweetheart, sweet dreams baby", whispered Liz into Aidan's ear.
It made the little boy smile before rolling over unto his stomach into a deep sleep. Max smiled at how Liz was with his son. He wished that Liz was Aidan's mother. That idea caused a riot of emotions in his stomach.
"Good night Max", whispered Liz before leaving the room.
Max's POV
God how can I already feel this way. But what is she going to think of me when she learns about my past. God she will hate me. NO Max she won't you just have to tell her gently. There can be no secrets between the two of you or it will be like your relationship with Tess. NO I don't want that. Honesty is the best policy. It's the only way for it to work with her. Plus I need to find out more about her.
Liz walked to her room that was down the hall from Max. Liz closed her door and leaned up against it and took in a deep breath.
Liz's POV
What am I going to do? Who do I believe?
"Alright Liz you can do this, let's just find out if Tess is lying that why you, can figure out what to do. But if she is lying why would she do that to me, to Max?", said Liz to herself.
"Hello", said a high pitch voice that made Liz cringe a little bit.
"Hey Tessa, it's Elizabeth", said Liz trying to keep her racing heart in check.
"Lizzie, are you over there, did you get the information already?", asked Tess already smiling with glee.
"NO not yet, I only got a few things out of him, he is still very secretive", lied Liz trying to draw out Tess.
"Oh Liz I know you can get him to talk, I trust you with this, Max Evans has to suffer", said Tess glaring at the wall.
"Yeah I know, Tessa maybe you can tell me a few things that can draw him out you know", said Liz.
"Oh okay, I know that he doesn't live in that blasted house of his, it had something to do with his relative or something dying and he actually wanted me to clean that place for him. I mean come on", said Tess not realizing that Liz was already doubting her friends sincerity.
"Anything else?", asked Liz.
"Yeah the Evans have a lot money, you probably can see that, they are selfish though and controlling, just like Max that took my little boy from me. I mean he honestly thought that I had to do all the work taking care of his brat", said Tess acting outraged.
"Oh", said Liz swallowing the bile that rose up in her throat.
Tessa didn't realize it but she gave herself away by calling her son a brat, no mother would do that.
"So Tess what is this info that you want me to get?", asked Liz.
They never got around to talking about it.
"Oh that is easy, you see Max Evans was a ladies man anyway this woman that he slept with accused him of rape. I know it's not true but because of Phillip Evan's connections it didn't go public. The woman got paid a heavy sum. Anyway I know that the documents are at Max's house the one that he doesn't live in. He had slept with the woman there too. Her name is Pam Troy. She actually still lives in the area so you can find her and I know she is more than willing to get Max in trouble", said Tess laughing.
Liz tried laughing with her friend. God she never knew that Tess could be so evil.
"Tess did Max actually rape the girl?", asked Liz with her heart pounding.
"Max Evans please hell no, but that doesn't matter, I want him gone Liz", said Tess.
Liz shuddered.
"Alright I'll talk to you later", said Liz with tears in her eyes.
"God what am I going to do?", asked Liz out loud.