Not Letting Go

Chapter 18

When Max was quiet, when her tears stopped, only then did Kate loosen her hold. She got into the bed beside the brunette and took one of Max's hands in both of hers which she placed in her lap. Kate rubbed her top hand up and down Max's arm, all the way to the hand she held, then a few strokes there and said, "Tell me what happened."

Max first just watched her goosebumps form. The sight and feeling were very distracting. It was all too tempting to get lost in the moment with everything happening around her. She knew she was taking too long to answer though, so said, "Umm...h-he just was here at the door. I thought it was you and then he was inside, asking me questions...but I...just couldn't talk. It was like he was reading my mind...he knew I didn't want to get David in trouble, so he just told me what he was going to write down, like...he wrote my words for me...but...he wanted me to agree to it and I still couldn't talk...then he got mad. When I finally said yes, he acted all normal again and left."

"Sounds like a creep."

"He was the creepiest."

"But he wanted to help David too?"

"Yeah...said something about him being the same because he was in the military..."

"That's good though, right?"

"Yeah...I'm just...being stupid..."

Kate frowned. "Don't say that. I know it's hard for you. All these reminders...I understand Max. It's not stupid."

"I guess..."

"Of course it's not," Kate said as her fingers lightly grazed Max's cheek. Just as the brunette felt she would melt into her delicate touch, Kate suddenly realized what she was doing and returned her hand.

Max quietly sighed and Kate looked guiltily away before asking, "Anything else?"

"Yeah, actually...I think he is being paid off by the Prescotts."

Kate's expression turned slightly perplexed as she asked, "What makes you say that?"

"Well...he talked about powerful people not wanting David to be punished for doing justice or something like that. It's gotta be them he's talking about. I agree with him, but the Prescotts? With all that's happened it just feels so...wrong."

"Yeah, it does...So...now what?"

"I finish getting ready. That guy stopped me from showering. I probably smell as bad as I feel."

"You don't smell bad at all, Max. I mean, I'm sure it's fine, but um, go ahead if you want to now."

Kate looked a little flustered by her own words, but Max was too much in her own head to notice.

"Yeah...I guess I'll do that now ."

"I'll let you get to it then. But I don't want that jerk coming back and not be here to protect you."

"I doubt he'll go in the showers," Max said smiling.

"I should shower too anyways. So, meet you in there," Kate said with a smile and wink that shut down her brain. Max heard the door close and realized she had left.

Is Kate still flirting, even now? We haven't talked about what happened yet. It's like she can't help it. She...she wouldn't just walk into my shower...right? That's not something she would do...We're just going to do our own thing in our own stalls and then get dressed to leave.

Max couldn't help think of what else could happen, but dismissed the fantasies before they got out of control in her head.

She changed back into the towel and brought her shower toiletries with her in a bag. When she got to the showers and slowly opened the door, Max listened for signs Kate had gotten there first, but heard nothing. She wasn't sure whether to be relieved or not. Stepping into a shower stall, she hung up her towel and placed her things in a corner. Might as well get started, she thought. As she started the water going, Max heard the door open. She stayed silent and unmoving until Kate said, "That you in there?"