Chapter 23

Friday

8 am

THAT MORNING, Emily Quatermaine made a big decision. She was moving out of the Quatermaine mansion. It was beyond time.

Last night it would have been nice if her and Milo could have warmed up together after their dip in the lake, started a roaring fire and sipped spiked coffee while they talked.

But, no, her Grandfather had woken up and thrown a conniption fit about hoodlums being in his house. His yelling woke the whole household causing Monica to tell him it was her house, Dillon to tell Lulu to stop looking at the half dressed body guard, and Tracy to ask if Emily was sleeping her way through the mobsters in town. Then Alan complained that Milo was just as bad as Sonny who stole Michael, and Alice whispered to Milo that she thought he looked hot with no shirt on.

All of it gave Emily an instant headache and made what she had to do clear.

Today she was going apartment hunting.

9 am

ROBIN AND CRUZ met at Kelly's. They had made a deal to get together every Thursday for Grey's Anatomy and every Tuesday and Friday morning for coffee. That way neither had to wait for the other to call for a date.

Robin couldn't commit to anything, they both knew that. But there was no reason to not get to know each other better while they tried to figure out where their lives were going.

Sitting across from him at the table, she said "You're distracted again. Why don't you go up and check on Lucky while I order us some food?"

"You don't mind?"

"I want him to be okay, too."

Cruz smiled at her and left.

After she told Georgie to bring them both eggs, bacon and juice Pete walked in.

"Hey, doc."

"Professor Marquez."

He plopped down in the seat Cruz had vacated.

Pete replied, "A little formal, don't you think? You were dating my best friend that makes us..."

"Nothing."

"Family, once removed. Since you broke up." Pete said

Robin shook her head, "It's too early to deal with you."

"You know you need to give up on the cop and go back to Patrick. True love should not be so easily discarded."

"Aren't you the same guy who sat in Jake's and told me that love doesn't exist?" Robin asked "What happened? You go and fall for Liz?"

Pete furrowed his eyebrows, wondering if it was that obvious that Robin could see it.

He jumped up. "That's silly! You, Robin, you are a silly...confused...wrong...silly..."

"You said that already."

"Person." Pete finished then politely said, in his weird Pete way, "Good bye. It was nice seeing you."

Robin watched him walk out without ordering anything, looking red in the face. She smirked.

That guy has it bad, she thought

Cruz came back downstairs. Robin asked about Lucky.

"Still sort of depressed," Cruz admitted "But it's going to take time. He's loved her since they were sixteen. That is not going to be easy to get over."

"Tell me about it." Robin said thinking of Jason. She had actually had to force herself not to hold out any hopes for him when she came back to town. Still it had been a struggle. And now, hourly, she had to push Patrick out of her mind. "Can't love work out for anyone? You know to give the rest of us some hope."

"It does sometimes, sweetie."

Sweetie, she thought happily. That sounded nice.

"You really believe that Cruz?"

"I want to."

"I want to, too." Robin said

1pm

LIZ was at home playing with Cameron and worrying about Lucky. He had rushed out of the party last night, obviously upset.

She wanted to call him. But she kept telling herself it was not her place to make everything all right in his world.

It was time for her to move forward with the divorce. The unsigned papers sat in her dresser drawer, there every time she went to get a pair of socks.

The last thing she wanted to do was sign them. But there was no getting around it.

Her marriage was over.

She picked up the phone and dialed. When Pete answered she asked, "Do you want to get some drinks tonight?"

"Oh, Liz, oh...um..."

"Is something wrong? Bad time?"

"I was just doing something.. watching... tv.. yeah."

"What show?"

"American Idol!"

"On a Friday afternoon? What now you are taping the worst show on TV according to wise words of Professor Opinionated Marquez?"

"Umm..I don't know how to answer that."

Liz asked, concerned. "Is something wrong?"

"Did you mention drinks? I could use a drink. What time did you want to meet?"

Liz asked, "How about eleven thirty when I get off work?"

"Great!" his voice was over enthusiastic yet strained.

"Maybe you can tell me what is bothering you then. This isn't such a great day for me either."

Pete immediately forgot about his nervousness and said, "Tell me why."

"I'm getting a divorce," as soon as she said the words Liz burst into tears.

2:15 pm

"This place is amazing, Patrick," Emily said as she walked around the apartment. "You sure you want to give it up?"

"I already moved out. The Metro Court is ...where I belong. Robin is the one who liked it here."

Emily saw the look on hi face and said, "I'm so sorry things didn't work out with you two."

Patrick glanced away. "You want to sublet this place or not?"

"I'd love to. So what is the building like. The neighbors?"

Patrick thought for a moment and said, "Well upstairs is that nurse from Neo natal, Bianca. And next door is some old man accountant named Bernie. Then down the hall is two gangster brothers."

"You're kidding me?"

"Well it's not like you have to wear a bullet proof vest or anything in the hallway. So don't worry about that. They are pretty quiet. You probably know them through your brother. Unless they work for a rival gangster. I can never keep the affiliations and allegations straight in this town. Their name is..." he pictured the mailbox downstairs that listed all the tenants "Giambetti."

"Could you point the apartment out to me?"

Patrick shrugged and stepped into the hall. "The first one when you come up the stairs."

"I think I'll go say hi. Let me know how much I owe you and I'll get you a check, okay?"

"Sure. Here are the keys. Enjoy."

Emily smiled. "Oh I think I will love living here."

She walked down the hall and knocked on the door. Max answered.

"Hi, neighbor. I just moved in."

Max called into the apartment. "Milo! One of The Five is here for you."

Emily laughed. "You guys call us that now?"

"You started it."

"I did not. Blame that on Kelly."

Max waved her inside. Emily was surprised to see how fancy it was decorated. In the corner of the room was a piano and over it was a painting of the New York skyline.

Milo walked out of the bedroom, pulling a shirt on as he did.

Emily tried not to let her expression show just how turned on she was by seeing his bare chest. The image of him stepping out of the lake, water dripping off him, stuck in her mind.

"Hey," Milo said, smiling, "You were not kidding when you said you want to see my place huh? I would have invited you sooner if I knew..."

"I was in the neighborhood. In fact, I am going to be everyday now since five minutes ago I rented the apartment down the hall."

"Oh," Milo said, losing his breath. "Oh. That's cool."

"Want to come over for dinner?"

"Sure. Sometime."

The looks between them made Max feel like he just walked into some couple's bedroom.

"Tonight," Emily said

"You don't even have furniture yet..."

"We don't need furniture, Milo."

He studied her for a minute, truly unable to form a thought, and then said "Okay."

Max finally interrupted "You two want to join me for some lunch at Eli's or is the rest of the day reserved for flirting in my living room?"

"Max," Milo hissed

"Lunch sounds great. My treat." Emily said "And to pay me back you two can be part of my moving men team. Dillon and Lucky don't know it yet but they made the roster too."

Milo smiled happily. He would do just about anything for her at this point.

4: 30 pm


LAINEY sat across from Max in her office.

"Did you tell Carly about your feelings?" she asked

He stumbled over his words. "Um, I tried to but she didn't really understand what I said."

"What did you say?"

He repeated his exact words, "Mrs. C, there is no one else I would rather lay down my life for."

"A nice start." Lainey said "Then what?"

"That's it."

"Max! How could she know you are in love with her unless you say I am in love with you Carly."

Max shrugged.

Lainey thought about how Max always reminded her of herself, so out of his league in the love game.

But last night she had started to make some progress. For long stretches of minutes, she felt unencumbered by her past and what she was afraid of for so long. That hadn't happened to her in years, or maybe ever, before.

Then at the end of the night, right when she thought Ned might kiss her for the first time, Ned kissed her hand instead. The gesture sent fire coursing through her whole body, and made her dreams that night be filled with him kissing every other part of her body.

"Maybe you should try dating someone else." Lainey suggested

"There is no one else for me!" Max moaned.

"Then are you going to tell her?"

Max nodded. "Yes, this week. I will tell her this week."

He said this every week.

NOTE- I have a scene in mind where Max tells Carly his feelings. But it won't be for a while. They aren't a real part of this story but I might slip that one little scene in.

Hope all is well with all of you,

Sara

Coming up- Nik and Kelly go to the wine bar.

Lainey and Ned go to dinner at the Metro Court.

Pete and Liz go to Jake's.

And one couple goes to bed together.