A genius!

[…Elizabeth's world…]

Liz is sitting in front of the television and her mind is replaying what she saw in the bedroom…

A minute ago, Liz opened the door to tell Max that commercials are done, how they agreed on… she heard Max say breathlessly: 'Give it to me' and then her eyes fell on two grown men who were kind-of-wrestling on top of the bed. She was blanking out and she is not sure if they kissed or not, but she definitely heard them panting and making other suggestive sounds while tossing and turning on the bed. They were fully clothed, but even with that, the electricity between those two men is undeniable and she was not prepared for what she saw.

Liz reminded herself that they are in a relationship, and she told Max more than once that she accepts him for who he is, however… do they need to express themselves physically in her guest bedroom? Max's apartment is right across the hall! Can't they control their urges until they go there? No wonder Quentin asked for privacy. This was… too… intense…

Liz filled up her wine glass and downed it. She needs that alcoholic buzz to take the edge off.

She took a mental note to tell Olivia to wash the bedsheets from that bed. Comforter included. She hopes that Olivia does not ask why those need washing. She should probably come up with some story because there is no way that she can tell Olivia the truth. Not that Olivia would believe her that the 'hottest guy on the planet', 'Max freaking Anderson' was tossing his rumored best friend on that bed.

Liz heard the door open and footsteps of two men behind her. She didn't have the courage to turn and face them… she didn't know how to. And she hoped that they will leave. Both of them.

She heard Max growl: "I don't want to see you again!" and the door slammed shut.

Liz was not sure what happened, but it didn't sound good. Well, at least they are gone and it's not her problem anymore.

Her insides jolted when Max took a seat next to her.

Liz felt like crying. Why didn't he leave? How is she supposed to face this man now? She intruded on their… activity, and it seems that they fought?

Liz heard Max sigh few times and she reluctantly turned to look at him.

Her heart cracked a bit when she saw that his face is hidden under his palms. She understood that there was a lover's quarrel going on, probably after she left the room.

"Are you OK?", she asked in a soft voice.

Max sighed again but didn't respond.

'It seems they had a big fight. I hope not because of me! What if Quentin saw me as barging in-between him and Max?!', Liz was coming up with one scenario scarier than the other.

How can she allow to be the cause of a problem in Max's relationship? What kind of a friend she is? But she can't go that route and feel sorry for herself or anyone. She can't fix the past. And Liz can see that Max is hurting and he needs a friend. Someone who will understand…

Liz placed her hand on Max's shoulder and rubbed it gently. "It will be OK. It will all be sorted out somehow.", she comforted him like he is a dying patient who needs to be pulled out of the depression.

Max turned to face her, and she saw him open his mouth twice, but no words came out.

Liz sighed… it's worse than she thought.

She spread her arms wide, offering him a hug. After all, there is nothing better than a soothing hug. Max's eyebrows shoot up, telling her that he didn't expect that, but after a second of deliberation, he approached her, and they hugged.

Liz heard him take a deep breath right behind her ear, and he shivered a bit before his hold on her tightened and he pulled her closer to him.

'Oh, no… I hope he does not cry. I can handle anything other than a crying grown man…', she thought and hugged him tighter with one arm while the other one patted his back gently.

…

[…Maximilian's world…]

Few minutes earlier, in the guest bedroom…

"You are really going to leave me hanging, M?", Quentin asked in disbelief. "Come on. We are buddies. I'm not asking for your bone marrow or a kidney… it's just a VIP card."

Max narrowed his eyes at Quentin. "What buddies? How dare you ask me for anything after throwing all that mud at me?"

Quentin raised his arms in surrender. "Fine. Next time when you need help with a chick, don't come looking for me."

"Help? Oh, you helped me plenty. Get out!", Max growled.

He followed one step behind Quentin, all the way to the apartment door, in order to make sure Quentin does not talk to Liz and make this horrible situation even worse.

Quentin stepped into the hallway and turned to Max, ready to ask one more time for that VIP card, but Max didn't give him a chance.

Max squeezed through his teeth: "I don't want to see you again!" and slammed the door.

Max turned to Liz and he can see that she is facing the television.

He shoved his hand into his hair angrily, 'How the hell am I supposed to fix this?'

Max knows that Liz has her ideas, and it can't be worse than how Quentin came and that two of them got handsy in Liz's bedroom! Or maybe it can be worse… knowing Liz, anything is possible. But he can't run away. If he does that, he will seal any opening he has to get closer to Liz.

His brain scrambled for options, but nothing came out that makes sense.

The only thing he knows is that he does not want to leave, and he does not know what to say. Max decided to go and sit there and be quiet and eventually something will come out of his brain. So many people called him a genius, he should come up with something… anything.

He didn't know how to face her, so he hid his face in his palms.

Max heard Liz ask if he is OK. What should he answer? No, he is not OK, but she will ask for an explanation which he does not have. He sighed.

Two seconds later, he felt Liz's delicate palm on his shoulder, rubbing him gently. She said that it will be OK and that things will be sorted out somehow. Her voice was so soothing, it sounded like a lullaby and it called to him.

Max turned to look at Liz and he opened his mouth to say something, but he still didn't know what to say. Now he really felt like a loser. He charmed so many girls before, and now when it counts, he can't find any words. And she is comforting him like he is brokenhearted. Yeah, right.

His eyebrows shoot up in surprise when he saw her spreading her arms. Is she offering him a hug? That definitely looks like an offer for a hug!

Max scooted closer and hugged her. Oh, God! He never felt a girl fit so perfectly in his arms, her body is pressing on his just right, and she smells just as good like on Sunday when he kissed her. He inhaled deeply, enjoying her scent and his whole body shivered from desire for more. He reminded himself not to push it, but his arms really wanted to explore her body and he ended up pulling her closer. He tightened his hug in order to keep his hands in place.

He can feel that she is patting his back gently and it reminded him that she is comforting him… because she thinks that he had a fight with Quentin… his lover… he cringed internally at that thought. But no matter how wrong she is, right now, Liz is in his arms and she is hugging him back… A sly smirk bloomed on his face when several possibilities popped in his mind how he can use this… he is a genius!

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