Part Thirteen
I wake up the next morning in possibly the most uncomfortable position I've ever slept in. Max's arm is stretched out along the pillow, supposedly supporting my head, except that my neck is currently bent backwards over his forearm and the back of my head is touching the pillow. I am lying half on my side with the arm closest to Max squashed up against his side at the oddest angle. With a soft groan, I try to lift my head, only to discover an ache in my neck and a throbbing headache. Careful not to disturb Max, I push my body up into a sitting position and hold a hand to my head, almost swaying with the dizziness that my actions have caused. Gently, I ease myself off the bed and still holding my hand over my eyes, I fumble around for my wash bag, where I keep a packet of painkillers.
My intended stealthy journey to the bathroom is disrupted when I trip over a pile of clothes that I left on the floor last night and almost go flying into the nightstand. I mutter a curse and stumble into the bathroom, wincing when I flick the light switch and the brightness practically blinds me. Cautiously moving to sit on the toilet seat, I rummage in my wash bag for the painkillers, but my fingers are clumsy and the bag slips out of my hands and onto the floor, the entire contents spilling out in all directions. I let out a tired and frustrated sigh before leaning down to gather up my things, my eyes staying half-closed from the pain in my head.
I finally get hold of the tablets and quickly down two of them with a glass of water. I sink back against the wall, trying to build up enough energy to stand again, but I suddenly feel a twinge in my belly and cease my movements. Ouch. My hand flies to my stomach, as if that's going to help dim the sudden pain. My other hand comes up to my forehead again and I let out a deep breath.
My period. I should have known it. Especially after how I was acting yesterday – talk about PMS-ing! My periods have never been totally regular, but it has been almost six weeks since the last one. I really don't know how the fact that I was due, could have slipped my mind.
Oh, wait, I do.
One word.
Max.
I reach into the bag again, this time searching for my tampons.
My head throbs in response to the awkward position and pain courses through my abdomen once more.
It's just going to be one of those days.
"Liz? What's wrong?"
Slumped on the toilet seat, with one hand pressed to my stomach and the other holding my head up at the side of the sink, is how Max finds me half an hour later. After sorting myself out, I somehow managed to shuffle back into the room and slip a pair of sweatpants and one of Max's oversized t-shirts on over my small, dressy top and panties.
I don't have the strength to move my head to look up in the direction of his voice; but a soft moan escapes my lips, letting him know that I heard him. Barely a second later, I hear movement from behind me as Max crosses the small room and then crouches down beside me, watching my face in concern.
"Feel sick," I supply in response to his questioning gaze. He frowns and I realise that he must think I have food poisoning or something. "Period," I add.
"Oh," he replies, slightly uncomfortably. As you probably can imagine, my menstrual cycle is another topic that Max and I have never really discussed before. "You know, you really don't look so great. Is there anything I can do?" he asks tenderly, rubbing my shoulder comfortingly with his hand.
I try for a smile, but it doesn't come off and only serves to aggravate the throbbing in my temple. "Help me up?" I ask timidly.
"Okay," he smiles, but instead of supporting my weight so that I can get to my feet, he simply bends down to scoop me up into his arms and then carries me back into the bedroom.
He carefully lays me back down on the bed and I curl up on my side, my hands clutching my stomach. Max takes a seat beside me, gently stroking my hair away from my face.
"Are you sure there's nothing I can get for you? Some painkillers? Something to drink?" he asks softly.
I try to shake my head, but it just makes me dizzy again. "I've already taken something," I whisper throatily. "It just hasn't kicked in yet."
"Okay," he nods. "So, if I can't do anything to help, can I just hold you instead?" he asks almost hesitantly, as if he's afraid he'll hurt me, and I can't help the smile that touches my lips. I reach up and cover his hand with mine, bringing it to my lips, I place a light kiss on his fingertips.
"I'd love that," I reply and he smiles again.
He gets up and as I wait for him to move around to his side of the bed, I let my head relax against the pillow and close my eyes. A sigh escapes my lips as I feel the bed shift behind me and then his warm body comes to rest against my back. His arm wraps around my waist and he buries his face in the back of my neck. Having Max there, holding me to him, makes me feel better, if only a little, and I find myself drifting off to sleep again.
When, I wake up a couple of hours later, I find that we've shifted positions and now my face is buried in Max shirt. He still has one arm around me, but my arm has somehow slipped beneath his and is currently wrapped around his trim waist. Our free hands are resting together, between us on the bed. Our fingers are entwined, just like our legs. I move my head to peer up at Max's attractive features, which at present are peaceful in sleep; when I do so however, I also realise that the pain in my head is all but gone and I feel much better.
I don't make any attempt to move though, I'm content to just lie here in Max's arms and watch him sleep. My gaze travels from the few strands of hair that have fallen across his smooth forehead, down over those impossibly long eyelashes and beautiful nose, eventually coming to rest on his perfect lips. Suddenly I can't take my eyes off them and licking my lips in anticipation, I lean in to taste them.
"Hey," comes the amused whisper, just before our lips touch and I jump in surprise. But Max is simply smiling down at me sleepily.
"Oh my God, you scared me," I whisper back.
"I scared you? You're not the one who woke up to find someone practically attacking them!" he exclaims quietly.
"I did not attack you," I pinch his waist. "Anyway, it's not my fault you're so cute when you're asleep; I just couldn't resist."
He raises his eyebrows smugly, but I can still see concern in his expression; concern for me. "So I guess you're feeling better then?"
I nod, "A little. My head doesn't hurt anymore, at least."
"That's good," he murmurs and places a kiss on my forehead.
We lay together quietly and it is a few moments before either of us speaks again.
"Max?"
"Hmm?"
"Remember the other week in Arizona, when we got drunk?"
He shifts slightly, a slightly frown appearing on his face, "Yeah."
"Well, um, what happened between us that night…when we kissed…was it really just because you were upset about Tess?" I ask, unconsciously biting my lip in anticipation of his response.
He doesn't say anything at first, just fixes his gaze on something above my head and I start to get worried; but a moment later, he clears his throat.
"You know, at the time, I didn't really know why I kissed you. I guess I just convinced myself that I was hurting and upset about Tess cheating on me and that's why it happened; but I think that was just an excuse not to analyse what I was feeling for you. I mean, first I had to deal with Tess and then I walk out to find you all cosy with some guy...and it just threw me, I guess."
"Oh…" I breathe.
"But what about you?" he continues. "I've been telling you all these things about me and what I've been feeling, but you haven't mentioned why you kissed me that night."
I gaze into his eyes as I consider the question. Why had I kissed him? At that point, I hadn't admitted to myself that I was feeling more than friendship for him. So why? The best answer I can come up with is "I think that it was partly the alcohol. I mean, we were sitting there and I was feeling all warm and fuzzy from the drink, and suddenly I couldn't keep my eyes off you. It was like I was just noticing you for the very first time. Your soft skin, your eyes, those eyelashes, your cute nose and those beautiful lips…" my gaze fixes on the lips in question. "I realise now that deep down, I've always felt that way about you, but at the time it was the alcohol that made me look at you differently and I couldn't stop myself. When we kissed, it was like I was on fire. And you know what was racing through my mind afterwards?" Max shakes his head and his eyes widen curiously. "I was thinking: Wow, Max is a great kisser!"
Max just laughs throatily at my confession and I feel tingles go down my spine at the sound.
"You were really thinking that?" he asks with a grin. "What a coincidence, that's just what I was thinking that night too! Well, that and 'why did I never pluck up the courage to do that before?'" he chuckles and I can't help joining in.
When our laughter dies down a couple of minutes later, I find myself staring into Max's eyes and my breath catches in my throat. His expression mirrors that of the night in San Francisco when we finally kissed for real.
"Max?" I whisper.
He shakes his head in the negative, a slight movement, and before I know it, we are kissing hungrily. I gasp into his mouth as his hand slides down from my neck towards my belly, gently cupping my breast on the way.
"Liz," he whispers into my mouth when he reaches my bottom and holds me closer to him. His hand slowly creeps round from my backside and over my hips until he reaches the juncture of my thighs. My legs part slightly and his hand brushes my clit through my panties and sweatpants.
I gasp, tearing my mouth from his at the sensation of his fingers touching me, albeit indirectly.
"God, Liz. I want…"
The longing in his voice brings me to my senses and I place my hands on his chest to push him away. His expression is a mixture of confusion and hurt and I realise that pushing him away like that was probably not the best reaction.
"Max, we can't," I murmur grudgingly. "My period…"
"Oh," Max lets out, in realisation, removing his hand from between my legs. "I'm sorry. I forgot for a moment there…"
"Hey, don't worry; I forgot too," I roll my eyes at myself in exasperation. I fall back down to the bed with a sigh and watch as Max mimics my actions. "Well, this sucks. I was really in the mood as well."
"Yeah, it does," he agrees. "So, no nookie for a few days, then, huh?"
"Guess not," I agree. "Wait. Did you just say 'nookie'?"
"Um…"
"Since when do words like 'nookie' come out of your mouth, Max Evans?" I exclaim in mock horror. "My God!"
He shifts uncomfortably, "Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up, Parker. So, I say stupid things sometimes; so sue me."
I roll my eyes again, at him this time and we lie in silence for a while.
It's Max who breaks the silence a few minutes later, "So, you feeling up to seeing Boston today, Miss Parker? Cos we'd better get a move on if we're going to have time to see it all."
"Yeah, I'm up to it, Mr. Evans," I stress playfully. "Just don't expect me to go running and jumping around the city or anything, okay?"
"Let's get going then!" he exclaims and gets off the bed. Holding out a hand he pulls me up too and less than half an hour later, we've checked out of the hotel and are on our way into Boston.
And I'm driving this time.
Okay, so what Max didn't tell me when he agreed to let me drive, was that Boston is only a few minutes from Cambridge, so basically I've only driven a couple of miles in the last few days! Bastard (and I mean that in the nicest way – honest).
Anyway, we're in Boston by lunchtime, so before we set off to explore the city, we decide to stop for sandwiches in a small café.
"So," Max begins through a mouthful of chicken teriyaki sandwich. He swallows. "How's your stomach? Is it any better?"
My hand goes to my belly, rubbing it soothingly, "A little," I reply, touched by his thoughtfulness. "The pain comes and goes. But right now, it's gone."
"That's good," he smiles. "But let me know if you feel ill again, cos we don't have to try and get everything done all at once, you know."
"Okay, I will," I return his smile. "Thanks."
He shrugs and ducks his head, returning to his sandwich.
"I mean it, Max. Thank you," I tell him sincerely, reaching across the table to take his hand. "And not just for helping me this morning. Thank you for putting up with me yesterday. I didn't know what was wrong with me then; it didn't even occur to me that it was, you know," I lower my voice, "the time of the month."
"Oh, butI knew, Lizzie," he grins, squeezing his hand more tightly around mine.
My smile drops. Crap. "What? You knew what was wrong with me? Shit…" I trail off. "How?"
"How what? How did I know?" he looks puzzled for a second.
"Yes," I hiss, mortified that he'd realised what was going on before I had.
"Oh," he says. "Well, you know, I have been around you a lot over the last few years. And I do have a twin sister. I pick up on things; I know what it means when you or Isabel, or any girl really, is unusually tired, stressed and weepy," he admits sheepishly.
"But, if you knew, why did we have that stupid argument in the car yesterday?" I shake my head, embarrassed, "You should have ignored how I was acting and carried on driving. Everyone else does when I get like this," I roll my eyes and he smiles again.
"I didn't realise that's what it was then, otherwise I wouldn't have got so annoyed. But you'll notice that I tried to make it up to you later on," he reminds me, reaching for his coke with his free hand.
"Yeah, you did; and thank you. I really didn't mean to burst into tears on you. I just needed to let off some steam and crying is what came out. You know, I actually have no idea what it was about life that I found so stressful last night," I frown and scrunch up my nose, trying to remember what exactly had set me off.
"Wait, I know what it was," grins Max, with a wiggle of his eyebrows, setting his glass back down on the table. "You were watching Friends, when it occurred to you how much you're going to miss your own best friend a.k.a…me, when you come here in a few weeks and you couldn't bear the thought of leaving me all alone to fend for myself in big, scary Albuquerque; so you did the only thing you could – cry over me," he holds his hand over his heart as he finishes.
My mouth drops open and removing my hand from his, I lean across the table to lightly punch his arm, "You are so full of yourself, Max Evans!" I grin. "Like I would ever cry over you."
It was meant to come off as a joke, but the second the words spill from my mouth, I realise that chances are, I will be crying over Max in the near future, when we have to go our separate ways in just over a month. However, I'm not going to admit that to him just now.
"Aww, come on, Lizzie; no need to be so harsh," he whines pitifully, still clutching his chest. His voice snapping me out of my thoughts and causes me to roll my eyes.
"Oh, shut up, Evans and eat your food," I shoot back quickly.
"Man, why are you uptight all of a sudden? Was it something I said?" he grins again, but tucks in anyway.
I fix him with a mock death glare and turn my attention to the tuna-melt sandwich in front of me. But I have to hide a smile; teasing Max is fun today!
Boston is a lovely city. Max and I visit Quincy Market and the Boston T train; and I manage to get a gorgeous picture of the downtown skyline. I can tell that I'm going to like living close by. The east coast is so different from the southwest; the atmosphere, the streets and buildings; even the people seem a little different, but not in a bad way, of course.
"Hmm," I sigh, leaning against the railing that overlooks the water. "I really like it here. Isn't Boston a great place?"
There's no reply from my left where Max is standing and I look over to find his head buried in a magazine. He hasn't even heard me!
"Oi, Max!" I exclaim, elbowing him in the side. He looks up in bewilderment. "I thought we were supposed to be enjoying the sights of Boston here, not walking round with our noses buried in the latest issue of…what is it you're reading?" I grab the front of the magazine so I can see the cover. "Max! FHM? I can't believe you!"
"What's wrong with that?" he asks defensively. "You've never minded when I've read it before."
I roll my eyes at his stupidity. "I wasn't your girlfriend then!" I tell him, as if it should be obvious, but he still looks confused, so I have to explain further. "You're not supposed to ogle half-naked women in magazines in front of your girlfriend. It's not polite."
"Liz, I'm confused here, you've always told me that you didn't mind – " he starts. But I don't let him finish; I just cross my arms and start walking away from him. I'm overreacting, I know, but it's these damn hormones and my stupid period.
Normally, I wouldn't give a shit whether Max was reading FHM or not. It's never bothered me before. He's a teenage guy; it would be kinda weird if he didn't read guy's magazines. I think maybe I just said it because I was trying to act more like a girlfriend and less like a best friend; but the more I think about it, the more I realise that it's something that someone like Pam Troy or any of the other brainless cheerleaders would say to their boyfriends, but I'm not that type of person.
I come to a stop a few feet away from where I left Max, but when I turn to go back and apologise to him for flying off the handle at him, I practically walk right into him.
"Liz!" he exclaims in surprise. "Look, I'm sor – "
"No, Max. Stop," I cut in, placing a hand against his chest. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to go off on you like that. Go ahead and read the magazine, I don't have a problem with it, it's just my stupid hormones going crazy today."
His hand covers mine on his chest, rubbing his thumb over the back of my hand. "Hey, it's no big deal, okay? Thanks for apologising, but there was really no need. And for the rest of the day, I'm all yours." I smile at him in return and before I know what's happening, his lips are on mine and we're making up big time.
I manage to keep my hormones in check for the rest of the day and we spend the time enjoying each other's company. I try my hardest to keep positive and upbeat, but my currently oversensitive emotions keep reminding me that this wonderful trip is not going to last much longer and I need to make the most of it.
We decided earlier that we really don't have enough money to travel to any more of the big cities and since I'll be living out here soon, there will probably be several chances to explore New England in the future; maybe even with Max. Therefore, after we leave Boston tomorrow, we'll be heading back towards New Mexico.
The good news though, is that because we're travelling by car, it will take us a few days to get back, maybe longer if we stop off at other places on the way back home.
But right now, I'm going to savour how I'm feeling right this moment. We are walking back to the jeep and Max's arm is looped casually over my shoulder, his fingers tracing small patterns on my skin. Wanting to feel him closer to me, I slip my arm around his waist and hook my fingers into one of his belt loops. Max's head turns to look down at me, a half-smile, half-smirk gracing his full lips and I can't help but smile back. We're having a moment; and I don't think I want it to end. I let out a sigh of contentment as he nuzzles my neck, tightening his arm around me.
No more words are spoken as we continue the short journey back to Max's car and we don't talk again until we reach the motel where we've booked into for the night.
TBC…