lomh5

Chapter 4.

I�m startled by the sound of the ringing phone.

I wheel over to it, knowing who it is without having to answer.

I�m proven right when the machine picks up and Max�s voice fills the silence in the apartment.

�Pick. Up.�

There�s an authoritative element in her tone, and my trembling hand picks up the receiver of it�s own accord, bringing it up to my ear before I can realise the betrayal.

�Hey Max� I greet, grateful I didn�t stutter.

�Logan, we need to talk.� I can sense her anger through the phone lines, and my hopes of refuge are dashed.

I open my mouth to speak, and then close it again. What can I say? �Please don�t kill me?�

�Logan, you there?� she asks, a hint of worry replacing some of the anger in her voice.

�Y-yeah� I hurry to assure her, cursing myself for slipping and stuttering, something I haven�t done since high school.

The shock of seeing us getting down �n� dirty on the screen is quickly fading beneath the realisation that half of the west coast would have seen us too.

�Come over.� I blurt out suddenly, worried that someone may recognise her and link her to EyesOnly.

I�d rather have Max at home, safe, even if she�ll beat on me, than riding around the city all day delivering packages.

�Now?� she asks, slightly shocked I requested it. �Logan, I have work and��

�Did you want to talk about this over the phone?� I ask, cutting her off.

�Well� no, but��

�Then come over.� I cut her off again, looking at my watch. �It�s almost 10, by the time you finish with me, it�ll be time for lunch and I�ll drag my remains to the kitchen to make you some pasta.� I say, beseechingly.

�Pasta won�t save you this time.� she responds, a touch of the anger in her voice dissipating.

�No, but I�m hoping it�ll soften the blow.� I joke. �Please Max, I don�t want you riding around the city today.� I plead, serious again. �Please.�

�Hold on� she says, moving the phone away from her and covering the receiver.

I hear snippets of a muffled conversation.

�� wants� come over��

�� yes now ��

�� Normal� tell him� you at crash?�

�Ok, I�m back.� She announces, coming back onto the line.

�Are you coming?� I ask.

�I�m still mad at you.� She declares after a moment of silence.

�Of course.� I respond, allowing a hint of hope to seep into my voice.

�I�ll be right over.� I release a breath I didn�t know I was holding.

�Besides, I�ve never had the chance to beat someone to death with pasta before. Should be interesting.� She adds after a pause before hanging up.

I slowly drop the phone into its cradle, letting out a long sigh.

I�m surprised at how well that went.

I wheel towards the kitchen, and wonder if I actually have the ingredients to make pasta.