122 An open talk

Liz is not sleeping.

She was lying on the bed and trying to figure out how to deal with this mess in case McKenzie or Jackson try something funny. When she heard Max's steps approaching, she closed her eyes, hoping to avoid his questions related to Jackson.

Liz's heart ached when she heard Max asking when is she going to share her burden with him. She remembered that when she told Max about the drama with Dr. Snow at her work, he blamed himself for not being good enough.

In Liz's opinion, no matter what burdens Max is referring to, none of them are his fault (how much she knows).

\"I am sorry.\", she whispered in response. \"I am used to dealing with my own problems.\"

Max was surprised (and glad) that she is awake. Maybe they can talk and clear up some things. God knows that he needs to talk to her and remove the painful knot from his chest.

\"Liz, I know that you are more than capable of taking care of everything. However, these are problems caused by me, and I feel responsible.\"

Liz turned to face him. \"It's not your fault. And I don't blame you for any of it. I have no intention of keeping things from you. I am only hoping to avoid the drama that could ruin this weekend for everyone.\"

Max's brows furrowed. He guessed that it's something like this. She is hoping not to spoil the weekend for others, at her own expense.

First, he needs to clarify one point, before he forgets again: \"I want to tell you about McKenzie. Since we were kids she has a crush on me. She never approached me or confessed her feelings, but everyone knew about it. I never touched her and nothing ever happened between us.\"

\"Why?\"

\"What?\" Max was not sure to what that 'why' is referring to and he wished that she clarifies her questions.

\"You touched pretty much every other woman. Why not her?\"

Max frowned while wondering, what kind of a question is that? Now he regrets his previous thought how Liz's questions should be clarified. Is this what Liz thinks about him? Ah, it probably is. And she is not far off from the truth. \"I don't know. I guess every time I look at her, I see a ten year-old girl. I'm not into that stuff.\"

Liz grimaced. \"Good to know that you are a man of principles.\"

Max can see that she is mocking him, but he does not want to continue down that topic because it will not end up well for him. After all, Liz is armed with the truth and no matter what he says, he can't go around it.

Max reminded himself that he explained how there is nothing between McKenzie and him and he will stop and move on to the next topic: \"Do you want to tell me what is going on with Jackson?\"

Liz closed her eyes and took a deep breath before responding: \"This morning, when I was in the garden, he approached me and introduced himself as Jay. He spouted some cheesy lines how he knows people who can make me famous and if I go with him somewhere private, he can check my talents. He didn't know that I am your girlfriend and I didn't know that he is Sabrina's fiancé either. I left and he didn't follow, and I thought that is the last time I will see him.\"

\"Until breakfast.\"

\"Yeah… until breakfast.\", Liz confirmed.

Max took few seconds to sort this information next to Liz's behavior from that morning and it all made sense. \"What about during lunch?\"

By now, Liz confirmed that Max didn't just arrive in that hallway when she was leaving, but he was listening for some time. That explains Max's change in attitude when Jackson joined the table and that is why Max said that he wants to use the restroom and later he didn't go… he was testing Liz to see if she wants to expose Jackson or not.

Well, no point in denying anything. They are talking openly.

\"How much did you hear?\", Liz asked.

Max's lips curled up. He knows that the experience was uncomfortable for her, especially because Jackson was degrading her, and Max is happy that she wants to talk to him.

\"I saw that your kick is strong enough to take him down and I decided to let you handle it. But I didn't leave, in case you need help.\"

Liz was surprised that Max heard almost everything and was still cool when they returned to the table. She knows him as an impulsive person. Liz took a mental note to reassess the man next to her.

She summarized her interaction with Jackson before the kick: \"Jackson assumed that I didn't expose him because I am interested in him, and you heard the rest… What should we do about this?\"

Max's face lit up. He likes that she said 'we', and that means that she thinks of them as a team. Well, that is a first. \"Do you have any thoughts?\"

\"I was thinking of telling Rina about what happened, but not now. When we return to Seattle. However, if I just go and tell her that Jack is flirting around without providing any evidence, I will end up risking that she dislikes me or call me a liar, or she might think that I am interested in him. Other than confirming that I should not say anything until we go home, I didn't reach far. Do you have any suggestions?\"

Based on Liz's response, Max can see that Liz is a levelheaded person and that she thought about this. But she does not know his sister. \"Sabrina is a romantic. However, she is also a smart and a rational woman. I have trouble believing that Jack is fooling around, and she does not know about it. I wonder if his behavior is the reason why she refuses to talk about marriage.\"

Liz didn't understand. \"If she knows, why is she not breaking up their engagement? She is pretty and smart, there are tons of other candidates. Even if she is with him with a hope that he will fix his behavior, they are engaged for more than six years. That is plenty of time for her to confirm that he is not good.\"

Max shrugged, indicating that he does not know. \"I don't think that she is so much in love that she can't see what is going on. There has to be something else… Maybe we can talk to Hunter. I admit that last six years or so I am not paying attention to my family, but Hunter might know more about this. Other than Hunter, we should talk to Rina. Jackson is her fiancé and it would be the best if she is the one to take care of this.\"

Liz nodded in agreement. She remembered one point…\"Sabrina is not pregnant.\"

Max was taken aback by this sudden change of topic, but it didn't make him less interested in it. \"How do you know that?\"

Liz nodded knowingly. \"During lunch she was drinking Mai Tai and that cocktail is made with rum. Rina does not look like someone who will drink alcohol if she knows that she is pregnant.\"

Max agreed with Liz's deduction, but…\"For whom did my parents buy baby clothes?\"

\"You should ask them.\"

Max made a 'makes sense' face and smiled.

\"You are not angry?\", Liz voiced her observation.

\"Why would I be angry?\"

\"Because you asked me this morning if something happened in the garden and I denied it. So… I lied.\", Liz admitted.

Max shook his head indicating that he is not angry. \"I only hope that the next time you are confident enough to tell me.\"

\"I was afraid that you will be upset and make a scene or something that will spoil the weekend.\"

\"I am not an impulsive man. I always think things through before acting.\", Max declared proudly.

\"What about the guy in the Black Rose, or punching Dr. Snow? That didn't look planned...\", Liz paused and added a question: \"Or was it?\"

The thought that Max had those events planned, and possibly staged in advance was disturbing.

Max stifled a laugh. \"I must admit that when it concerns you, I lose my composure and act on an instinct like a primitive creature. I can't stand the thought of anyone hurting you or forcing you into anything.\"

\"Even if that someone is you?\"

Max nodded in confirmation and repeated: \"Even if that someone is me.\"

Max licked his lips anxiously before speaking again: \"Liz, what Jackson said… that you are replaceable… it's not true.\"

Liz felt butterflies in her stomach under his intense gaze and she scrambled her brain for few seconds to respond. \"Uhm… don't worry about it. He was upset that I'm not acting according to his plan, so he was saying random things with the goal to hurt me.\"

\"I am glad you think that way. But… I want you to know that I believe how my last few years were necessary so that I can recognize how special you are when we meet. Elizabeth, you are many things, but you are not replaceable.\"

Liz was not sure how to respond. Again, his words sounded like a promise and made her soul tremble. She wondered, what power does Max have to make her react like this? After all, his words were not grandiose or romantic, yet when she heard him say that she is special and not replaceable, it woke up in her a strong desire to kiss him. And she didn't resist that urge.

One moment before their lips connected, Max pulled her closer to him, like he was waiting for the kiss eagerly.

Their tongues danced together, teased and tasted each other, and Liz was not sure where to put her hands because every spot under her palms was perfect.

Max kissed her chin and her jaw before moving lower and licking her neck. He smacked his lips. \"Salty.\"

Max knows that she is salty because of their swim in the ocean (after the cliff jump), and even if it's her sweat he would not mind, but he wanted to tease her a bit.

Liz squirmed uncomfortably. \"I didn't shower since we came back. I thought that there is no need since we are going back to the beach.\"

A mischievous smirk danced on Max's handsome lips. \"I didn't shower either. Do you want to… shower… together?\"

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