Sins 25

Max took a shower and changed clothes after she finished talking to Caleb, then Pogue. Pogue was calling to see if she would tell him anything she wouldn't tell Caleb. She thought it was cute but she wasn't that naive.

Caleb was starting to act like a big brother and she could see why Reid complained about it. He could be overbearing with the controlling issues. She hoped it wasn't a family trait.

She put on the new tank top she bought and some old jeans with some beadwork on them. They were an attempt to use a friend's bedazzler when she was younger.

She threw on her battered tennis shoes and waited for Reid to show.

Ironically he was somewhat early. While she waited Max picked up all the pictures Jenny had of her and Reid and hid them. No need for Jenny's memory to come flooding back while she was just getting close to Reid. She was forced to wake Jenny when Todd called. Fortunately she didn't have to stay for the conversation.

Reid took her to a small diner in town. It was a small Italian restaurant and he chose a table hidden away in a corner. The small candle on the table made it a quaintly romantic spot.

The food was delicious and Reid seemed to know the people working there quite well. "You come here a lot?" said Max. "I've brought a few girls here" said Reid "oh really how many?" said Max she was teasing him but she was also curious. "Only two counting you, the rest of the time I eat here alone," said Reid

"Really?" said Max "yeah this is kinda my get away" said Reid "oh really?" she said. She smiled at her soda glass "what?" said Reid

"Nothing that's just sweet that's all" said Max "what's sweet?" said Reid. He sounded confused or maybe he was playing she never could tell with him.

"That you brought me to your little hideaway" said Max "oh yeah, that" said Reid "so who do you hide from?" said Max "my brothers and my dad mostly" said Reid "you mean Caleb and the guys?" said Max "yeah, sometimes I just need some space you know?" said Reid.

"I hear you, I used to go to the beach, in LosAngeles just to get away from my mom" said Max "oh really what beach?" said Reid "the one by the third street promenade, muscle beach they called it" said Max "really you lift weights?" said Reid "no silly, do I look like a body builder to you?" said Max "so what did you do?" said Reid "I just sat in the sand and watched the sun set" said Max.

"Sounds beautiful and speaking of beautiful," said Reid. He pulled a box out of his jacket. It was a small jewelry box and Max grinned at him. "Don't you think it's a bit early to propose?" said Max "oh no, its not a ring" said Reid.

He opened it and handed her the box. "Wow there beautiful how did you know I like dolphins?" said Max. Reid smiled "lucky guess" said Reid. "Oh thank you Reid that is so sweet," said Max.

"So would you?" said Reid "would I what?" said Max "would you marry me if I asked?" teased Reid. Or at least she thought he was teasing. "Sure why not" said Max.

"Seriously?" said Reid. "Yes silly why you planning on proposing?" said Max. Maybe some day he thought. Reid just grinned at her and didn't say a word. She wasn't sure if he was teasing her anymore "ah Reid, your not serious are you?" said Max. "Maybe" he said with a grin.

She looked at him funny and he grinned back at her. "Reid" she said "what?" he answered. "Be serious," said Max "what makes you think I'm not" said Reid. She eyed his impish grin and wondered if her first assessment of him was a little too accurate.

"I wanted to ask you if you'd join us tomorrow" said Reid "join you for what?" said Max

"We have a swim practice over at Tyler's house in Marblehead and I figured we could work on you swimming skills while we're at it" said Reid. "Don't cha mean my lack of swimming skills?" said Max "oh don't worry that's correctable" said Reid "yeah you just want to see me in my bikini" said Max.

"Ooh promises" said Reid she play smacked his arm "is it heated?" said Max "yeah its indoors" said Reid "ok sure I'd love to and maybe I will wear the bikini." Said Max "you trying to get me killed?" said Max. "Ah stop griping, besides you'd die happy" teased Max "you are so bad" said Reid "oh and like your innocent" said Max. Reid laughed "far from it, but I fake well" said Reid.

"Oh really, should I be worried then?" said Max "worried about what?" said Reid. She had lost him again; she kept doing that to him. It was almost as maddening as sleeping beside her had been last night.

"If your faking," said Max "baby doll I would never fake anything with you I don't have to" said Reid. She smiled at him "remind me to smack Tyler for that nickname" said Max

"Ah now why assault baby boy it's a cute nickname" said Reid "ok whatever you say goldilocks" teased Max "hey! That's not right I didn't make it up" said Reid "mm ok fair enough sunshine" she teased. "Ok bunny boo" said Reid "oh how original bright eyes" said Max. Reid smiled at her wickedly, "sweet cheeks" he said back. "You better be referring to my face," said Max. He smiled again "maybe" he said

"Reid!" said Max she was turning bright red. He chuckled at her expression. She made like she was going to slap him. "So what time is the practice?" said Max. "Four am, we'll wake you up" said Reid "four am! Are you nuts, who swims at four am?" said Max

"Caleb thinks winners do," said Reid. "And you still think he's sane?" said Max. "That's debatable sometimes," said Reid. "Yeah I bet, especially since we started dating" said Max. Reid laughed "yeah he's not to happy about it, does that bother you?" said Reid. Please say no, he thought

"A little, but mostly because of the over protectiveness, I'm not used to it" said Max "Caleb is kind of hard to get used to," said Reid. "Yeah well I wish he'd just get over it" said Max "then he wouldn't be Caleb, besides I can handle him" said Reid.

"Should that worry me?" said Max "why?" said Reid "cause you two are a couple of hard heads, and I don't want it to cost you a friendship" said Max. Reid leaned forward and took her hands in his."Hey don't worry we fight all the time, that's just how we are, and we've always come out friends afterwards" said Reid.

"I know, guess I got the worry gene huh" said Max "its all right I'm glad you care," said Reid. "Because most people don't?" said Max. Reid looked away and at the scenery around him."Yeah" he said. He said it softly but Max still heard it. "Not until you came along," he said. Max pulled his hands toward her. "Then I'm glad I came along," said Max.

He smiled at her and then leaned forward and kissed her. "I am too," he said

The waitress discreetly laid the check on the table and scurried away. Reid grabbed the bill and flipped it over. Leaned forward and pulled out his wallet. Setting a fifty on the small plate under the check. Their waitress came back rang up their order and put his change back on the plate. She walked it back over to him and he pulled a five out of the change. He set it under a water glass.

"Well if we're going to be up so early we might want to call it a night" said Reid "I can't believe I agreed to get up at four in the morning on a Sunday" said Max. Reid chuckled "get used to it, Caleb does it all the time" said Reid. She snorted, "I'm not Caleb, I'm cuter" said Max