BA: Hmm 2/3 chapters of the same night are M/L interacting….Is that good enough for you?

Reminders:

Trix: OC's girlfriend.

Ken: Trix's roommate

Chapter 30

The Truth Behind Those Rumors

He looked a little confused and pleased at the same time as he spun in his computer chair to see her appear in his doorway wearing a pair of slightly loose jeans, a slate blue sweatshirt and her hair twisted into an almost ponytail meant to hide just how crooked it was.

She wondered how close this had come to actually being true as she took in the relaxed manner he was leaning back in. The top button of his white shirt undone, the blue tie loosened and pulled low. His jacket tossed without care onto the table she normally used as a chair.

A little more pressure from his uncle? A little less?

His mother living a few more years?

His father not forgetting he was alive after his mother had passed?

Had it been easy to not become this person or hard?

Would it have been easier for him if he'd simply given in and done as he was told? She wondered if he could have been happy like that. He'd say no, but she wasn't so sure.

"What brings you by?" he asked not bothering to move.

"My apartment turned into the love shack so I figured I'd take a ride get some night air, do a little food shopping since Original Cindy's Sweet Cheeks decided to eat my breakfast."

"Where are you-" he paused as he was asking her where she was planning on scoring anything so late at night since it was ill-advisable to stay open without the safety of the daylight and numerous witnesses. "Oh, my kitchen," he realized.

"If you don't mind?" she asked in all her Max not-to-sincere sweetness.

"Go right ahead," he said with a shake and a smile and stood to stand.

ooOoo

…

"You've been holding out on me," she said pulling out the container of cream cheese that was almost never present in Logan's fridge. The guy had some annoying food habits when it came to eating by himself, like breakfast always had to be in a bowl. He really was one of the least morning people she'd ever met. Anything more than open, pour, open, pour and spoon in was too much for him unless others were present, no effort or thinking were allowed in his kitchen before noon. The gourmet of all gourmets even had his coffee set on a timer.

He laughed as his hand had the bottom of his tie lifted up as he looked at the out of place piece of his wardrobe, sometimes a continuous flow of unnecessary motion from him and others perfects stillness, she wondered why she hadn't been expecting it after how he swayed in the chair, it applied to everything when he walked. "I only bought it today, same time that I bought the bagels," his head knocked to the side as he gestured towards them.

She stopped twice before reaching the bagels, once for a small opaque Tupperware container and the next for a plate, grabbing the knife on her walk back to the cream cheese.

Her skills with a knife always marveled Logan. Her only true skill in the kitchen aside from boiling water. The knife was in the bagel and through almost before he realized, leaving two perfectly even sides with a flat surface.

"Are you going to leave any for me?" he asked as he watched half of the container be glopped on.

"Don't be so overdramatic Logan, there's plenty left."

He frowned at the edge in her voice, first dinner now this. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she shrugged and shook her head as the top was tossed back on and the knife quickly ran through causing a clatter in the dish.

"You can tell me or you can break my dishes," he looked over with slightly peeved eyes.

"Okay," she said stepping back from the island to look at him on the stool. "So technically yes, I'm responsible for the fact that OC no longer has her own place. Hmm actually that's all you, since you sent me chasing after Bruno."

Ah the love shack comment. "How was I supposed to know one two bit crook would be such a challenge for you?"

She frowned, that still annoyed her, how the twerp had played her, piece of metal she still had in her neck thanks to him. "Point is that was over a year ago."

"Original Cindy wear out her welcome?"

Max shook her head as her eyes continued to show her annoyance, "She's fine, the eating me out of house and home girlfriend is another story."

"I thought you liked Trix?"

"Not in my apartment all the time and she's always eating…" Okay maybe she wasn't always eating, but any eating in their place just about always meant it was or was close to their last meal.

Logan laughed at the comparison that ran through his head.

"Really want to piss off an X-5 that's holding a knife?" she waved it.

"Like you need the knife," he answered honestly as he stood to remove it from the firm grasp her fingers had on it before it ended up plunged into a countertop.

"Should teach her that," she muttered.

"Back to her eating you out of house and home," he got her back on track.

"They act like it's their place," her eyes widened with exasperation, "she's over all the time, eating my food, drinking my milk," she threw in to get him annoyed as well, "using my shampoo, my toothpaste, they hog my shower."

Hogging her shower? His mind automatically went male.

Damn where was her knife, she thought annoyed as she caught his eyes,"Don't even. Lesbians are not as much fun as they look on tv," she pointed since she didn't have the knife.

"I know," he consoled and kept from laughing at her.

"Fuckin right. Ugh she's just always there and in my business, acting like she knows me."

"So are you jealous that Original Cindy's spending so much time with her?"

Okay she'd wondered herself that for awhile, "I'm annoyed because OC has been living rent free for a year and has saved nothing. I'm sorry I got her landlord killed, honestly, but seriously this is pushing it."

"I don't suppose you thought to mention any of this to her?"

Yea because that's a topic you could just throw into normal conversation.

"Did you mention to her that apartment-"

The apartment that Logan had been on the hunt for since she'd first come to him with this problem. "Trix," Max smiled sarcastically at the name, "can't leave Ken high and dry."

"Ah the father to be," Logan laughed.

Stupid, dumb OC couldn't stay broken up after Trixie had made that asinine comment? Max frowned, but refrained from letting loose that low growl that wanted to emerge from her throat before Logan started in on any canine jokes. "Point is what the hell has she been doing with all the money she's been saving on rent?"

"How do you know she-"

"She just about drooled over the thought of hot water and heat said she'd move on her own if she had the dinero. Then asked me if I wanted to move with her."

"So she has no idea you're trying to shove her out?"

"Not trying to shove her out," Max muttered as she walked around the kitchen poking into a few things, "she can stay, just not that freeloader."

"I think you're going to have to talk to her Max because somehow I doubt you two going to Crash three nights a week is helping her save up."

Crash, the clubs, buying lunch and dinner all the time, the new shoes/accessories/clothing OC managed to turn up with every week. They were living high and mighty in their slum.

Hell her rent money was in her ass Max realized. Her roommate had definitely put on a few pounds since moving in, that whole eating on a regular basis.

"You made chicken without me?" she stopped in her mental rant as she'd moved back over to the fridge to poke around and keep her body active.

"Max I do need to eat when you're not around," he laughed.

She frowned.

"Why don't you make chicken salad for your lunch tomorrow?" Logan offered.

She turned back with her eyes rolling upwards and the glass Pyrex container in her hands.

He chuckled a bit, "It's not that difficult Max, I know you can make tuna fish."

"Ah," she smiled, "but why would I want to when I have you here to do it for me." She dropped it on the island behind him. "Remind me, who was up in a tree last week," she questioned as he turned in the chair to follow her movements.

"We're back to quid pro quo are we?"

"Did we leave and I didn't get the memo?" she asked in a lighthearted tone as she removed the glass top and wondered what had inspired his lazy way of putting away the bird.

He laughed and stood walking away to grab a bowl. He turned back to find a piece of chicken dropping into her mouth. "You're eating again?" he asked in shock.

She shrugged, "That was like two hours ago."

"We ate enough for a week," he continued to be astonished.

"I'm just having a piece Logan, gotta make sure it didn't dry out."

He shook his head and dropped the bowl down next to her, "Think you can manage tearing off some chicken or would that disrupt the balance of our relationship?"

"We might be okay," she said with a teasing smile. "Though they're normally still alive when I'm inflicting the bodily damage."

He smiled. "I'm assuming you want normal chicken salad?" he asked as he walked back over to the fridge.

"Yup none of that veggie crap you threw in last time."

He laughed and shook his head.

"No celery either," she called out as he was going into the crisper for just that, "I don't feel like having to spend half of break spitting it out…It screws with the texture."

The drawer slid shut again before he stood; he dropped the mayo off before heading back over to the spices.

One for me, two for the bowl, Max thought as she tore apart the chicken.

Spices, herbs, seasonings whatever you called them were placed down in front of them as he joined her standing at the island.

"Just a bite?" he questioned as he watched her chew.

"More culinary creating, less chit chat," she smiled and shoved the bowl to him.

"How hungry are you Max?" he asked looking down at the bowl that now easily contained half the roasted chicken.

"What?" she questioned, "Figured since you were already making it, you should make enough for your lunch."

He nodded his thanks and pressed on with their earlier conversation, "So what are you going to do about Trix?"

She thought about it for a moment before deciding, "Betcha I could scare her out of town?"

"I don't doubt that you could," he laughed, "would you though?"

She pouted, "Bad friend move, right?"

He nodded as he began to mix, "Just slightly."

"Hmmm," she murmured for a moment, "swipe a little extra from the next bag guy and plant it somewhere for OC to find?"

"A little extra?" he paused and turned.

Her head cocked and she looked at him, "Really want to ask that question?" Wasn't like she did it every time. After all if it was just sitting there…She didn't want to make it easy for the bad guys to get away. Why shouldn't Father Destry find a little extra in the 'pay for a miracle' box next to the candles? Which he swore wasn't actually that. Or Jacinda finding a hidden stash after Omar had to get his appendix removed, that hadn't only racked up a huge bill, but caused her to lose her job.

"Probably not," he laughed.

"So did we veto that idea?"

"I think so," he nodded.

"Hmmm."

"You could always move out," he pointed out.

"It's my apartment," she exclaimed, another one with no respect for what was hers.

"So then talk to her."

She turned completely for this, "And how many times have you gone up to your best friend and said, Your girlfriend annoys the crap out of me, either you dump her or move."

"None," he acknowledged, "but I was present for a housemate's life being threatened if his girlfriend ever stepped foot in the house again." He thought about it for a moment as he speared a piece of the chicken to test it, "We lost a coffee table, a lamp and a Playstation that day."

"A what?"

"Video games…His girlfriend was a bitch though," Logan's eyes narrowed remembering, "she was always complaining and she'd never leave you alone."

"What got her banned?"

"Informed a girlfriend of the housemate who banned her that he cheated on her."

"Was he?"

"That's not the point," he smiled.

Max laughed. "So what happened?"

"She tried to come over once, she caught on that she wasn't wanted," a huge guy in your face screaming you're a 'cunt ass bitch' would do that to one. "My housemate spent about a week with her at her place before he realized everyone was right and they broke up."

"And all was well again in the house?"

He shrugged, "We're guys," he said as if that explained it all.

"So bros before ho's?"

"Something like that," he smiled as he walked to get the bread. "Roll, whole wheat or another bagel."

"Roll's good," she said moving to put the chicken back in the fridge. "So back to my solution since I don't think I can ban Trix and still have a friend."

"Hmm," he said cutting into the roll. "Don't know what to tell you on that one?" he smiled sympathetically from the end of the island.

"Some help you are Logan," her head shook as she walked back over reaching in front of him to grab the mayo.

"Sorry," he smiled as he spooned on the salad.

"You sure there are no super loaded bad guys with an easily accessible fortune Eyes Only needs to go after?"

"You'll be the first person I call when there are."

She groaned as she dropped the mayo back into its spot in the fridge.

He was turning to go grab the foil as she came back around, unintentionally invading on his space as she'd gone to clean up the spices, keeping herself busy from having to truly think about the consequences of all possibilities.

And there they were again.

They switched spots before he turned back, "It's going to be fine," his voice was soft and tender.

She turned to face him with a pout, no it wasn't.

He laughed and went to move back a crooked hair that now resembled an Allen key, tucking it behind her hair.

She spied it out of the corner of her eye as he moved it back, she began to roll her eyes and her hands went back up to the haphazard knot she had her hair in. "The joys of hair spray," she said quickly pulling her hair back once more hoping this time it would stay.

He tenderly smiled, "You look amazing."

Her lips went up as well, especially as she noticed it was present, not past tense.

"You looked kind of spiffy yourself tonight," she smiled taking in his slightly rumpled hair, apparently only a little gel meant it was fair game to Logan's fingers. She had to admit, it looked slightly more inviting than it normally did. The faintest of lines noticeable at the corners of his eyes due to his smile, noticeable because of the missing glasses. He never got enough sleep, despite what she'd tease.

His head shook just the bare minimum as the smile never left his lips, "For the life of me I can't remember why this isn't a good idea."

She smiled and let out breathy laugh as she looked up at him, "Screw up our friendship?" she offered.

"Hmm," he nodded, "that does seem like a good point," his hand went around her waist, he didn't remember his reasons anymore, they didn't seem to matter, consequences seemed impossible while she was so close.

"Hmm," she murmured as they came closer together.

"We should probably stop," he said as they were almost on top of each other.

"Probably," she whispered as she met him in a kiss.

Slow and teasing this time, amidst murmurs of about them stopping, whispers of how crazy this was, that they knew better.

She cursed herself for wearing sneakers, wanting to be as close as possible. Still though her hand found its way to the back of his hair and she teased what was left of the baby soft strands after his haircut.

She shivered as his hand suddenly slid past the layers of her sweatshirt and found the silky expanse of her back. It fueled her need for him, the desire to be as close as possible, wrap her strong legs around his strong body. Her body pressed forward closer to his and a hand moved alongside her sliding down, as he stepped her in closer to the counter, slightly bumping it.

She pressed a hand back to raise herself up, unable to jump without knocking him back.

Cold and smooshy instead of the cool and hard surface of the island, she paused.

His kiss stopped and his laughter came upon her cheek in a warm breeze, "Did you just put your hand in the chicken salad?" he asked with his eyes closed.

"Oh yea," she nodded.

He continued to laugh as his head dropped down more.

"Yea," she nodded looking up with slightly annoyed eyes, "like you'd be laughing if you'd just put your hand into your lunch."

He smiled looking into her eyes and nodded, "Go wash your hands I'll make you a new sandwich," he took a step back.

She frowned as she moved to walk away, throwing a look back at her slightly smooshed sandwich, "It's fine, you might want to wrap it though."

"I'd been trying to," he pointed out as he headed towards the foil.

She was still shaking her head and looking down in misery at the mood breaker as he neatly wrapped it for her and grabbed the plastic wrap he'd carried over to cover the bowl containing his half. "This is still not funny," she ordered and she caught him continuing to laugh.

"Whatever you say Max," he turned with a smile as she went to go toss the bowl into the fridge as he cleaned up the spices.

"I smell like Kendra's home remedies," she said taking a whiff of her hand as they neared each other again.

He captured a wrist and pulled her hand near him, "I think we've found your new scent."

The phone of course started to ring as they moved back in for another kiss, unwilling to let a little chicken and mayo come between them.

"Who the hell is calling you this late?" she said in-between their lighthearted kisses.

"I don't know, but they're waiting," the world could stay broken, siblings could be left in the wind, everything could wait.

His hand was already straying again as Logan's voice ended on the answering machine, "Hey Logan, it's Bennett…You're really going to want to pick up for this so if you're there pick up. Lo-"

The person whose name was repeatedly emerging from that small box in the dining room groaned, "I should probably get that," he admitted with defeat realizing his cousin wasn't going to stop.

"I should probably head home, make some creepy noises outside of OC's window. Maybe turn some faucets on, on their own," she supplied.

"Well that's one way to do things," his head shook as he turned to grab the phone.

What the hell is going on? Her mind pounded along with her heart as she went to go grab a bag for her things.

"Hey Ben, what's the emergency?" Logan's cool voice asked into the phone.

She listened as she tossed her things in.

"Ben, how much did you drink tonight?" Logan was asking as he walked back into the room as his cousin was rambling nonsense.

She smiled.

He returned it.

They both looked a little confused and Logan forgot he was supposed to be listening to his cousin, neither of them knew what exactly they were supposed to do.

She nodded, he smiled and nodded back.

"Bennett, what exactly are you apologizing for?" she heard his voice call out as she made her way down the hallway.

"What did you tell Bitsy?" was asked as she was grabbing her jacket.

She silently laughed as she heard, "And you thought that was a good idea why?"

Someone do something to fix this story! I swear I loved it up until a few chapters ago. Ugh! I'm not kidding people fix.

BA before you say it, them getting it on is not going to fix it. :-P
(I'm sure that will come in time on its own and isn't my unknown problem at the moment)