Chapter 2
Max skipped the afternoon shift at Jam Pony and went straight to the Crash to hook up with her friends. Normal agreed to give her two weeks off in exchange for saving his life from the art gangsters, so she wasn�t worried about her job. She was worried about her friends, and what they would pry out of her concerning her trip. She didn�t want to lie to them any more than she had to. She also didn�t want to relive the experience, which was still pretty raw.
"Back and badder than ever. Where�d you score those jewels, as if Original Cindy doesn�t know the answer to that." Cindy smiled, her arms crossed. Max shrugged and pushed a chair out from the table with her foot, inviting Cindy to sit. They snagged another chair for Herbal, who was at the bar getting drinks. The ring fit on the middle finger of her right hand and she wasn�t going to try and hide it.
"It�s just a welcome back present. It doesn�t mean anything."
"Mmhmm," Cindy said in disbelief. "And when you flossed over to the ivory tower to thank the boy, I�m guessing you slammed him a nice thank you?"
"Who�s our girl slammin� wit?" Herbal chimed in, coming around the corner wearing his biggest grin.
"No one," Max insisted. "We�re not like that. Now give me a beer."
"But you did thank him, right?" Cindy pressed her. "Your man was like a mother hen this week. Walked into Jam Pony three times to see if you were back. Normal threatened to give him a job."
"I haven�t seen him yet. Had to hang with you sorry excuses for riders. Look at Sketchy."
Their attention turned to Sketchy for a few seconds while he botched a half-twist jump on the performance table. However, Cindy wouldn�t let the topic go, and Herbal sat back to watch the action. When Max got riled up she sometimes threw things. Maybe it would be one of those wild nights.
"So, you�re going over there after the Crash closes?"
"I�ll see him tomorrow," Max shrugged. "No big dealio."
"Original Cindy ain�t never seen her girl wiggin� like this over a man."
"I am so not," Max countered lamely. Herbal patted her arm.
"You like him, he likes you, it�s all good for a late-night love."
"Exactly," Cindy agreed. "It�s about time you two stopped the prelims and got to the final set."
"I have to agree with Original Cindy on this one, my girl," Herbal said. "You and Mr. Hen don�t have dialogue, you have foreplay."
Max was trying to wrap her tired brain around their accusations, but her mind was about three sentences behind, ruminating on something Cindy had said about Logan visiting Jam Pony. Had she said he walked in to see her? When she left, he was standing for short periods of time but wasn�t walking. Bling couldn�t have him walking in two weeks, could he?
"Did you say Logan walked into Jam Pony to see me? As in, not wheelchair-bound?" Max asked.
"Man had braces, but yeah, he was among the bipeds. Don�t let this one go just �cause he�s rich and pretty and gives you presents and appears to be falling in love with you, aiight?"
"Kendra said the same thing."
"Love happens," Herbal said wisely.
**If saving the world and hiding from Manticore don�t get in the way** Max thought cynically.
"What if he�s not into me like that?" Max muttered.
"He is," Herbal said.
"What if we hit it and then he just wants to be friends?"
"Ain�t no way in hell."
"Y�think?"
"Original Cindy knows. You let that man do what he�s been wanting to do since the day he met you and we�ll have to pour you onto your bike in the morning."
Max fiddled with her ring while she contemplated that, and finally turned Herbal�s wrist to check his watch. It was late enough for Logan to be finished dinner. He was probably in front of the computer, hacking away. She would probably be a welcome distraction. Still, she didn�t feel up to reporting the Portland recon and its tragic outcome. He�d immediately hop on the computer and try to trace the vehicle that took Jondy, figure out if there was any way to spring her free from Manticore before they started reprogramming her. Eyes Only would take over and Max�s heart would be left on the floor. She was trained to hide her emotions and be a good little soldier. But if she were honest, she would admit that she missed him so much it hurt, that that scared her, and that she would avoid the confusing feelings until the last possible nanosecond. Coward.
"You really like Logan?" Max needed to know.
"He�s aiight," Original Cindy allowed, but there was a smirk behind her casual demeanor. It was as much of a compliment Logan Cale would ever get from her.
"Go," Herbal urged her. "We will drink our measly paychecks another night."
"Peace." Max said goodbye and hurried out of the club.
