Chapter 11:
Maxie looked back at Jesse with a confused look in her eyes. "Go home?"
Jesse smiled, "yeah, they're letting me take you home today"
"I thought… wait, we live together?" questioned Maxie.
"Well, no, you're just going to be staying with me for a while until your memory improves. I only have a room at Kelly's and its not very big- but I will do whatever it takes to help you remember".
"And my dad… Mac, he's okay with this?" Maxie asked, a little taken back.
"Hah, well, not really but he doesn't seem to have much of a choice" said Jesse. "How about you get your stuff together- and then I'll take you to get something to eat".
"Oh, that sounds great- this hospital food was starting to get on my nerves" smiled Maxie. Jesse watched as Maxie put her things into a suitcase. This wasn't quite how he had pictured their relationship progressing to the next level. He had always wanted to make sure that he could support Maxie before they made any kind of serious commitment. But he was excited- he hadn't lived with anyone since he left his family years ago- it would be new, but worth it. Maxie finished putting her things away and zipped up her suitcase. She turned around and saw Jesse staring at her. She smiled and he smiled back, again sending chills down her spine.
"Alright" she sighed "let's go".
Jesse picked up her bag and threw it over his shoulder. Then he reaches out his hand for Maxie to take. She grabbed his hand, instantly feeling warm and safe- she didn't know much, but she did know that right now she was meant to be with him.
When they finally got back to Kelly's it was dark outside. Jesse thought Maxie looked tired so he immediately took her to his room.
"Well this is it" Jesse said as he opened the door "it's not much- but its home.
Maxie walked in and looked around "You weren't kidding when you said it was small" she laughed. Maxie looked around the room- at the hospital Maxie knew that she would feel comfortable with Jesse, but now looking around his room it felt oddly familiar.
"Have I been here before? It looks really familiar" asked Maxie.
Jesse blushed and cleared his throat "Oh, um, well, you have yes". Maxie raised her eyebrows "Oh really?" she said playfully.
"Maxie, it's getting late, I have to be in early tomorrow- and you've had a long day" Jesse said, quickly changing the subject.
"Yeah, I guess you're right, I'm going to get ready for bed then". Maxie picked up her suitcase and went into the bathroom. Outside Jesse, pulled off his shirt and put on some sweat pants. He drew back the covers for Maxie, and grabbed a pillow and extra blanket for him to sleep on the floor. When he turned around he saw Maxie standing there watching him.
"You can have the bed, I'll take the floor" said Jesse.
"Oh, no, Jesse, I can't do that- I think the bed is big enough for us to share" replied Maxie.
Jesse just stood there looking at Maxie in her big shirt and short shorts, thinking of all the possible outcomes of their "sharing the bed".
"Hello, Jesse, where did you go" smiled Maxie "come on, nothing is going to happen, you stay on your side and I'll stay on mind".
"Alright, I didn't really want to sleep on the floor anyways" sighed Jesse.
They both pulled back the covers and got into bed. Jesse switched of the light and fell back onto his pillow, laying there, starring at the ceiling, and thinking. All of a sudden Jesse felt Maxie's hand on his and he turned to look at her.
"Maxie…" he started.
"Shh, Jesse, I just wanted to say thank you, for everything you've done for me, I know this is hard for you, to wait for me to remember everything, but I really do appreciate it" whispered Maxie. She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, then she turned over and closed her eyes.
Jesse starred at the ceiling for what felt like hours. When Maxie had kissed him, it took all of his strength not to grab her and pull her into a long, passionate kiss. So many thoughts were racing through his head: Would Maxie remember? And when she did remember, would she choose to still be with him? Jesse knew that if he was given another chance to be with Maxie that he wouldn't waste anytime in asking him to marry her. He loved her. He knew it, and he knew somewhere deep down she loved him too. They might be young, but if there was one thing he had learned in the past few weeks it was that time was precious and not to be wasted.
When Maxie woke up in the morning- she rolled over to find Jesse gone. She looked at the nightstand and found a note that said Jesse had gone to work, but that if she needed him to just call, and we would be back immediately. Maxie decided to take a shower and then go downstairs to get some breakfast. On her way down to the diner, she heard a voice call after her in the hall.
"Hello Maxie, how are you feeling this morning?" said Manny
Maxie turned around and saw that it was the criminal from the hospital that Jesse was supposed to be keeping an eye on. "Hello" she said cautiously "I'm doing better, thanks for asking".
"I hear that you'll be staying here with Detective Beaudry for a while" grinned Manny.
"Yeah, well hopefully not for too long, only until my memory comes back, I'm kind of hungry so if you don't mind I'm going to go eat" Maxie said quickly as she went downstairs.
Manny watched her walk away. "This could not have worked out more perfectly if I tried" Manny thought as he walked downstairs and left for the hospital with an abnormally large grin on his face.