The Girl Behind the Counter

Chapter 7

"I'm sorry that went so terribly." Michael said in Maxie's front doorway. "What the hell do you mean? That was fine! I'd say perfect, but then dark Michael showed up." Maxie said while un-buckling her shoes. "I'm sorry, who?" Michael stressed the last word. "When you get into a bad mood it's like you turn into a different person. You become dark Michael. And since you're still dark Michael, I suggest you come in and shut the door before you wake up the neighbors." Michael slammed the door. "You have a term for when I'm in a bad mood? People get in bad moods sometimes Maxamiliana! Sorry that's just life! We can't all be perfect little duchesses!" He yelled. "Fuck Michael, how many royals do you know working in a shop?" Maxie sarcastically laughed. "I don't need this right now." Michael turned towards the door, but Maxie ran to get in front of him, sliding in her stockings on the wood floor a little bit. Michael had to work hard to not make that melt his heart. "No, you do need this."Maxie said while grabbing his hand and leading him to the couch to sit. "I'll spare you my hypothesis on the psychological reasons behind it, but you are moody. You, and I'm guessing many others in your family. The only reason tonight wasn't perfect is because you were being a jealous arse the whole time. And I don't know what you said to your mother at the start of the evening, but from her reaction it was uncalled for." Maxie scolded him. "Every man in that place was drooling after you and that fucking dress of yours Maximiliana! Sorry I got a little defensive!" Michael, coincidentally, was becoming defensive. "You drooled too! You just happened to do it in my entryway before the party."Maxie reminded him. "I'm the lad you're stepping out with, though, aren't I? And as for Polly, she had no right to talk about me being in jail." Michael's jaw was taught again. "You had already told me you've been in jail multiple times, whats the big deal?" Maxie shrugged her shoulders for effect. "The big deal is she was smiling about it! You wanna know what the real joke is? It's how she got me out of jail! She let a copper fuck her like a whore!" Michael yelled and the next sound that filled the room was Maxie's hand making contact with his face. "How dare you." She said between gritted teeth. "What the fuck?!" Michael held his cheek. "Your mother loves you enough to let a man have his way with her and you think that's funny? You think that's okay to threaten to bring up at a gala? What, do you think your mother walked in wanting to fuck? That copper took advantage of her cause of you! The mother that lost you as a child gave everything she had so she wouldn't have to lose you again!" Every word she said was crisp and precise and so sharp it cut Michael. He hadn't thought of it like that. He'd only thought of all the coppers laughing at him for having a whore of a mother. Of course she didn't ask for it. She just let it happen, for him. "I'm sorry I slapped you."Maxie whispered. "No, no you were right to." Michael admitted. "Your family really wasn't that bad Michael. Thank you for sharing them with me." She placed her hand on his cheek where she had just moments before slapped him. He leaned into her hand. "I'm sorry I wasn't ready to share you with them." He whispered Maxie.  rolled up on her tippy toes and gave Michael a quick kiss. The kiss was too quick for Michael who leaned down to kiss her again. "Michael?" Maxie whispered. "Hmm?" He made the sound while nuzzling her neck. "Would you like to stay the night?" She asked. Michael stopped, stood up straight and looked her in her bracing eyes. "Yes."