The next morning, Laney was all smiles at the kitchen counter watching her friend drag herself down the stairs.
"Mornin, Blue," she squealed a little too chipper for Max this morning. Max was usually an upbeat, happy morning person, but memories from last night had her mind in a fog and her body aching. It was that nice after sex ache when limbs and muscles have been stretched and split. She really was surprised she could walk.
"Hey, Babes. Let me get some tea before you bombard me with questions because I have some for you."
The girls moved their breakfast and conversation to the living room. Max was still not feeling hungry, so all she had was toast and bacon. While Laney had her quintessential Southern breakfast: biscuits, sausage gravy, bacon, eggs, and hair raising coffee. She was a Texan through and through.
Max told Laney everything, even about what she saw in the alley. Laney was shocked and staring at her in disbelief. "He made you come three times?"
"Lanes are you missing the point of this conversation? Yes, he fucked me into oblivion and I swear to you if it wasn't for the gangster crap I would go back and let him tear my ass up, but he is dangerous with a capital deadly."
"Blue are you certain?" she asked not really doubting her friend, but she was sweet on Pauley and their conversation was like none she ever had with a guy before. She knew he was trying to pick her up, but he was casual about it. Not pushy like those boys at college who only wanted to bang her. Pauley was a man.
"Red I would not have told you if I was not 100% sure about what I saw. Did you tell Pauley where we lived? Did you tell him your last name?"
"No not really, I just told him we lived in an apartment on the Upper East Side. Do you think they would come after us? Do you think they saw you in the alley?" Laney's heart was beginning to race now.
"No I don't think so, but I just need to be prepared in case they do. Your last name Lanes, did you tell him?" The scene in the alley told her how dangerous Leo could be, and Max knew what men like that would do for what they felt was theirs.
Why did she have to say that her pussy was his? Yes it was his, but only for that moment. Maybe he would forget.
"No, but I did mention the ranch, and where we went to university."
"Ok, means we might still be in the clear." Max paced pensively calculating a way to protect them only to see her friend's eyes brimming with tears.
"Laney don't cry this will be fine. Do you want to go back to Texas?"
"Oh hell no, and haul hay all day. I came to New York for an adventurous vacation. Next time I'll have to be a little more specific to God about what my idea of adventure is. By the way, how did it feel to throw caution to the wind, and not plan everything out?" Laney grinned at Max.
"Level insane. I was so caught up in the moment he could have asked for my soul. I did not even suggest a condom. I'm sure all will be well but, I have officially used up all my grace, with that dumb move."
***********
The girls decided to get over last night by going out to Coney Island. Max had been there once with her father when she was five. She and Laney played all day, rode all the rides, and had some of Nathan's Famous hot-dogs. They stayed out on the beach until sun set, then made their way back home. It was a perfect day, a perfect distraction.
They walked into the building arm in arm talking so giddily about the day they had and the stuffed animals they did not win that they barely heard the concierge call them.
"Ms. La Costa." Rick called out several times before she heard him.
"Yes, Rick. I am so sorry. I did not hear you, or see you for that matter."
"Oh I saw you coming up the street and dipped in the back to get these," he said presenting them with two large bouquet of flowers.
Ah someone had an admirer.
He liked Max, she was always polite, stopped and talked to him and the other guys, never made them feel like part of the furniture. She was always looking out for his girls' education. Her parents were just the same, real salt of the earth people.
Max and Laney took the cards out of flowers and read them. They looked at each other and fell out laughing while breathing a sigh of relief. They were from Laney's parents. A not so subtle reminder for them to keep in touch. They immediately took out their cell phones and called their parents to check in. They chatted about that day's activities and Max's internship that was starting tomorrow. At the end of the conversations, both parental units were satisfied.
The look of relief on their faces was not lost on Rick. He wondered what was up, but the girls did not say anything, so he didn't pry. He did, however, make a mental note to check in with Señor La Costa at the end of his shift.
************
As Max waited for the elevator to reach the 15
th
floor of the law firm, she wandered what was she doing there. She wished now she had just decided to be a bum this summer for once in her life, but then again that was not her at all. She came from a family of high achievers. Her abuelo was a politician in Colombia; her uncles and aunts on both sides were engineers, doctors, home-makers, professors, and lawyers, and her cousin's weren't doing too shabby either. Her father, Antonio, was a businessman and spoke seven languages, and her mother, Tara, was a director for a non-profit and spoke three languages herself. Max looked at her pedigree as a source of constant intimidation and inspiration. She herself had mastered seven languages before leaving high school. In college she was not slouch either, Max enrolled in a five year master's program in Political Science and Women's Studies with a minor in Arabic.
She adjusted her blouse and skirt one more time before entering Mr. McCleary's office.
"Hello, Ms. La Costa nice to see you again." He extended his hand giving her a once over as he did so.
Max did not care for his lustful gaze, especially since she would be in his presence daily. So she stared right back to let him know that she knew where his mind went.
McCleary watched Max stare at him, not in that doe eyed scared way, but blatantly defying and daring him to try some shit with her.
