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Chapter Six: Crescendo

�No, he�s not here. Can I help you with something?� Max answered slowly a bit unsure why this woman was here.

�Oh, um ... do you know when he�ll be back?� The woman asked a bit confused.

�Should be back at least in an hour.�

�Do you think I could wait for him?� The woman asked but could obviously see the conflict in Max�s face.

�Um, I guess that�s not a problem.� Max answered out loud but inside she was asking, �Why was she doing this?�

�Thanks� The woman said as she scooted past Max and headed to the kitchen. �I�m Erin by the way and you are?�

�Max.� Max watched Erin a bit shocked with her familiarity and comfort with Logan�s apartment. She had gone straight to the kitchen and gotten a glass of wine for herself.

�Oh, you�re Max.� Erin said with a smile and recognition in her eyes.

�Logan told you about me.� Max felt a small sense of superiority raise up in her. Logan had told this woman about me.

But that feeling was quickly squashed when Erin responded by saying, �Actually, Cindy told me about you and your friendship with Logan. Logan never mentioned you.�

�Oh.� If only she wasn�t eight months pregnant, Max was certain she would have snapped her neck. But why the hell was she jealous of this woman, after all she was Logan�s Max, right? The baby kicked her, �Oh yeah,� she thought, �I am carrying his child.� But she was also the woman that walked out on him without a word. She was the woman who broke his heart. So now this other woman was here. What was she to him? �So you and Logan are friends?�

�I guess you could say that. Probably the better phrase is friends with benefits.� She smiled and took another sip of wine.

Max sat there with a fake smile plastered on her face. �So how long have you known Logan?� In reality, she was planning the numerous ways she could kill this woman.

�For a couple months.� The woman smiled back completely oblivious to Max�s jealousy. �But in truth, we�ve known each other longer. We went to college together, but then he was strictly off limits due to Daphne.�

�Oh.� Max smiled again. Her head started hurting and she could feel the baby moving inside. �I need to go to the bathroom. Be back.� Max was certain she was going to make this the longest bathroom trip in history. How could he be dating someone else? How could he be sleeping with someone? He was sleeping with her, while I am trying to protect our child. I could always kill him, instead of her. As she finished up in the bathroom, she heard the door close. Fake smile she thought to herself. She heard voices and at first panic set in. Her instincts were on full alert and telling her to run. But instead she stayed in the bathroom, hoping to figure out who it was. Then someone knocked on the door.

�Hey boo, you all right in there?� Cindy asked, slowly opening up the bathroom door.

�Yeah, I�m fine.� Max sighed she was relieved that it was only Cindy.

�You sure.� Cindy noticed the look of relief on her friend�s face. Max nodded. �So when is Logan supposed to be back?�

�Sometime.� Max replied as she looked at herself in the mirror.

�So when did Erin come?� Cindy could obviously tell that her friend was not in a good mood.

�A few minutes ago. You didn�t bring any makeup with you?� Max was leaning over the sink, carefully looking at her face. Under her eyes were the shadows of the evidence of her lack of sleep.

�You don�t need any makeup.�

�I look like crap.�

�I actually don�t think that is genetically possible.� Cindy smiled. �Besides who you trying to look good for?�

�No one. I just feel so gross.� Max was definitely hitting a low crescendo in her mood.

�Hey girl, maybe you are hungry?� Cindy could seen the green grow in Max. She knew that Max was not all that happy about Erin being here.

�Who is she?� Max asked.

�A friend of Logan�s.� Cindy was fairly sure that Max was not going to like what kind of friend Erin was.

�Why is she here?�

�What is this fifteen questions? Apparently Logan and her were supposed going out to dinner tonight. I have a feeling that he forgot to cancel.�

�Why would he have to cancel?� Max decided that she was not going to play the role of angry ex-girlfriend. If he could move on, so could she. So she simply was going to put up her nonchalant, not caring barrier. She was not going to let him hurt her, that was not what she needed. The baby gave her a good kick in the stomach which caused her to wince a little.

�You okay.� Cindy was concerned. She could see the barrier go up and then she saw the wince. Good that�s just what the two of these guys need the stress of Logan�s new �friend.� She was going to have give him a good smack up against the head for this one. �Smart Logan.�

�The baby just tried to score a goal. She�s been doing it all day. No dealio.� Max answered nonchalantly.

�Okay. Back to your question, he would cancel because you are here.�

�I don�t need a baby-sitter.� Max walked out of the bathroom at this point. Cindy followed. Erin was still sitting on the kitchen stool, drinking her wine and reading a magazine. Max decided that she was hungry and went into the kitchen. Erin stared at her for a moment as she walked in and headed straight for the refrigerator. �So Erin, where were you two going tonight?�

�Some restaurant that opened uptown.�

�Sounds nice. You want anything?� Max asked as her head was stuck in refrigerator. She was obviously searching for something. �Cindy didn�t he make chili last night?�

�Yeah. Is that what you are looking for?�

�No I am looking for the ...� Max cursed under her breath. The baby had just kicked her again.

�What?� Cindy could tell from Max�s body movement that she was in pain.

�Nothing. This baby just keeps kicking the fuck out of my back.� She was starting to get angry and tired. �Where is that stupid chili?�

�Here let me, Kendra put it away last night. Go sit down.� Cindy tried to push her out of the way, but Max wasn�t budging.

�Here is it.� Max grabbed the container, leaving Cindy standing with the door open. She went to the stove and poured the chili into a pan, turning the stove on. She continued her questioning, while she stirred the chili. �So what do you do Erin?�

�I�m a lawyer.� She was a little bit confused about the whole situation and frankly she was getting uncomfortable.

�Nice and you went to Yale, right?�

�Yeah. What about you?� Erin was trying to keep up with the polite conversation.

�College, didn�t go. What kind of a lawyer?�

�Prosecutor. How far along are you?�

�Eight months, not like that matters. So you put the bad guys in jail?�

�Try to.�

�I�ll bet.� Max couldn�t believe that Logan would hook up with some prosecutor. He couldn�t have changed that much. �Where are you from, originally?�

�Georgia and you.�

�Wyoming. So you know Original Cindy?�

�Boo, would you please sit down?� Cindy was feeling incredibly awkward and she didn�t like being in the middle of this conversation. She also didn�t like the way Max keeps rubbing her back, the baby was obviously still kicking her.

�I can cook this for myself. So Erin, right? So you and Logan have been dating for two months, right?� Max smiled at the woman and bated her eyes.

�Yeah.� Erin smiled.

�So are you going to give details or am I going to have to drag them out of you?�

�I�m not quite sure what you are asking.�

�So how is he in bed?� Max asked. Cindy just shot her a warning look, but Max didn�t care.

�I think that is a little personal.� Erin answered uncomfortably.

�Whatever. You have slept with him right?� Just then the door opened. Max turned back around and continued stirring the chili. �Erin, do you want some chili?� She asked politely.

�Hey all.� Logan said as he walked into the kitchen. He stood there for a moment shell-shocked. Why was Erin here?

�Logan, hello.� Erin smiled and went over giving him a hug and a kiss, which Logan awkwardly tried to dodge with no success.

�Shit, dinner.� He said simply as he remembered that he and Erin had plans for dinner tonight. �I forgot. I�m sorry.� He went to the counter placing his bags. �Hey Cindy, good day at work.� Why did he feel like he just walked into something that was not going to be good.

�Delightful.� She sweetly smiled back at him, while giving him an evil eye, saying I will kill you later.

�Erin have you been here long?�

�She�s been here for about thirty minutes. You know it�s not polite to keep a girl waiting, Logan.� Max chimed in from behind Logan. � But I was doing my best to keep her entertained. We were actually just starting to get into a good conversation.� Max walked away from the stove to the counter where Logan had laid the groceries he had gotten. �So what did you get?� Again she did the close proximity thing, she was going to make him pay tonight.

�Erin, I am sorry about dinner. I completely forgot to give you a call.� Erin had returned to the stool and was watching the scene play out in front of her. �So you two were talking?�

�Don�t you want to know about what Loggie?� Max smiled as she opened a bag of potato chips and popped one in her mouth.

�No.� Erin and Cindy both answered simultaneously. Logan just stared at Max like a man about to receive his death sentence.

�We were talking about you two. She was telling me that you two knew each other in college and that she was a prosecutor. That you two started dating two months ago and that ...� for the grand finale, Max thought as she smiled at Logan her belly touching his arm, �that you were a really good lay.�

And the shots were fired. Logan went down coughing, �Excuse me.�

�I didn�t say that.� Erin quickly interjected.

�So he�s not good in bed?� Max tilted her head to Erin. Just then the door opened again and Kendra came into the kitchen.

�Max.� Cindy said.

�No, I want to know is Logan a good lay Erin?� Her voice was filled with saccharine.

�Max.� Kendra said as she figured out what was going on.

�What?� Max asked to her friends. �I just wanted to know if Logan and Erin have a good time banging the gong? That�s all.�

�I think I should be leaving.� Erin said getting up out of the stool.

�Why, weren�t you two going out to dinner?�

�Max, stop it.� Kendra said. Logan was still staring at Max, completely shell-shocked.

�No you two were going out tonight and you should. Logan she wanted to get laid tonight and I am not going to be the one to deny her that.� She smiled again.

�Fuck you.� Logan said quietly.

�Fuck me, no. Fuck you Logan.� Max replied in the same tone with a smile on her lips.

�Erin, I�m sorry. I will give you a call.�

�Logan, didn�t you hear what I said. I am giving you permission to go out. I am giving you permission to bang her.�

�You don�t give me permission for anything.�

�That�s right, I don�t. Your a big boy and you can do whatever you want, no strings attached. Hey Erin, you know that Logan is obsessed with his work, right. That he doesn�t need anything or anyone and that he will quickly throw you away for his work.�

�Erin, Kendra, Cindy could you please leave us alone.� Logan asked his eyes never breaking contact with Max. The three silently went outside. �How dare you be that rude to my friend?�

�Don�t you mean your lover?�

�It�s not any of your business, remember no strings.�

�But she is your lover isn�t she?�

�If I recall you are the one who walked out on us.� Logan was starting to yell.

�That�s right. I forgot I walked out on you.� Max matched his level. �So you went on. I almost forgot that, thank you for reminding me.�

�You have no right to judge me.�

�And you have no right to judge me.�

�You know something, you are unbelievable. You are the most selfish woman I have ever met. You act all independent, claiming that you don�t need anything or anyone. But you know that is all a big sham, to cover your lack of ...�

�Of what, my lack of what?�

�Courage, faith. First signs of trouble and you run. You actually fooled me, I actually thought that you had changed. That maybe you weren�t so immature, but you are immature. You think only of yourself.�

�Oh, that�s right. Selfish me. Fuck you.�

�See you can�t even argue with me MAx. You know that you are and you know that you hide behind Manticore to protect you, to help you put up a wall between you and everyone else. You use it protect yourself because you can�t handle the reality that you aren�t in Manticore anymore. The only thing you know how to do is be a soldier and it scares the shit out of you.�

�You have no idea what it is like to be me. I had to run. If they had caught me ... I will not go back there.�

�But you couldn�t trust me. You couldn�t trust me that maybe I could help you. That maybe I would care if you left, that maybe I wouldn�t understand that. That maybe I didn�t want you to give up on us.�

�I didn�t give up on us.�

�Hell, you didn�t. You walked out Max. You ran. You left me here to clean up your mess. And now you need me to clean up another mess you made.�

�Oh yes, Logan Cale, Fight the power, protect the downtrodden, blah, blah, wolf, wolf. Savior of all. May I remind you, that I did not choose to come here.�

�I am keenly aware of that fact Max. You did not come here willingly. Believe me I am not going to forget that.�

�Good. Don�t forget it. That I do not need you, Logan Cale.�

�You don�t need anyone.� Now they weren�t shouting anymore, instead talking calmly and coldly to each other.

�That�s right.�

�So is that what you are going to tell to that kid?�

�None of your business.�

�That�s right. It is none of my business. I don�t care that the child is going to have a cold and selfish mother.�

�Fuck you.�

�No Max, actually I am actually quite surprised that you are having the kid. Being the soldier that you are, why didn�t you just kill it. It�s only going to get in your way and we both know that a soldier can�t be worried about some damn kid. Or were you going to do it after the kid was born.� Logan couldn�t quite believe what he was saying to her.

Max just stared at him. The look in his eyes were so cold. He meant that. He thought that she could actually kill their child. She closed her eyes, trying to hold back the tears and walked calmly into the bedroom, closing the door behind her. She could hear him breaking things in the kitchen. She simply sat in the chair by the window and stared outside at the rain. �He hated her.� �He hated her.� She kept repeating to herself.

Chapter 7