183 Back to the thinking spo (1/2)

Liz got out of the restroom in a daze and she walked toward Max with her head lowered.

Max noticed that Liz's mood if off. ”Are you OK?”

”Uhm… I'm not sure. I need some time to think.”, Liz responded absentmindedly.

Max was confused. What happened? Why is she saying this? She was fine only a few minutes ago. She wants to think? What does that mean? Does she want them to separate so that she can have some time for herself? She is not thinking of kicking him out for the night, is she?

He remembered that the last time when she told him that she wants to think, he took her to his powerboat.

”Do you want to go to my thinking spot?”, Max offered.

Liz realized that Max is talking about his boat. That vessel is a synonym for peace while all the drama is far away. With her emotions all over the place, Liz craves for solitude, with Max.

She nodded in response.

On the way to the marina, Max glanced at Liz who was silently gazing through the window at the darkness broken down by lights. Since she came out of the restroom in the hotel, she didn't say a word and with every passing minute, his concern grew.

Max told himself not to jump into conclusions. It was a long day and they are tired. Yes, that must be the case. Liz is tired. And even if Liz has something on her mind that is bothering her, he should not worry because she is with him, and she will tell him about it when she is ready.

Liz had troubles wrapping her mind around what happened in the restroom. The way Andrea approached her the first time in the event hall, the hostility, the arrogance… Liz was confident that Andrea is interested in Max and that Andrea sees her as a competition.

Liz didn't see this coming: Andrea is interested in her! What a miscalculation!

It is the first time that a woman made a move on Liz, and Liz was caught completely off guard. Now that she thinks about the situation in the restroom, it was embarrassing. She didn't even respond to Andrea.

Liz wondered, should she be flattered that an attractive and successful young woman like Andrea is hitting on her? Probably.

Liz remembered that until recently, she was convinced that Max is gay.

Well, that confirms it: her gay-straight radar is broken.

Other than blindly guessing what is on Liz's mind, Max remembered that he does not have food on his boat, and considering how late it is, he needs ingredients at least for a breakfast and maybe some snacks. He took a slight detour to a grocery store which is open at this late hour.

Liz was not interested in joining him, so Max went by himself and swiftly returned with two large bags which heaped from all the things he got.

By the time they reached the boat, Liz was alert, and she helped him keep the groceries.

”Why did you buy so much? Are we spending a week here?”

Max can't deny that he got a lot of food. ”I was not sure what you would like to eat, so I got a variety. Don't worry about it. We will eat what we feel like. As for the leftovers, what can't be kept in the freezer we will leave to the seagulls. They eat everything.”

Liz thought how that makes sense. She glanced toward the window and there it was: Tyler's boat.

”Are you sure that no one will come to disturb us?”

Liz didn't think much about security the last time they were here, but now she knows that guys like Tyler own boats and can come to the marina, and this boat does not look very secure. Anyone can climb on!

Max guessed her thoughts. ”It will take about fifteen minutes to reach a spot where we can dock safely for the night.”

Liz moved toward the end of the boat and looked at the ocean which is completely dark. ”Can you drive this at night?”

Max confirmed that he is very familiar with the destination and that with all the gadgets the boat has, it's not a problem.

He suggested Liz to go and shower, but she rejected his offer. ”We can shower later. Together.”

Max has no objections. The shower on the boat is smaller than the one in the apartment, and that means they will need to get closer. Max definitely has no objections.

Liz settled on the sofa on the upper deck with a glass of wine, and Max started the boat.

The screens and buttons of the controls were dark, and the boat was illuminated only by a few dim lights which are barely enough for a person to see the outlines of the surrounding.

As soon as they left the marina and the engines roared, Liz felt peaceful.

She smiled while her gaze moved from the diminishing Seattle's nightlights to Max whose figure from the back looks powerful, like he can defeat whatever comes his way.

…

”We are in a cove.”, Max explained when he turned to face Liz after anchoring the boat.

Liz glanced to her right, and she can see the lights from the mainland which are barely visible in the distance. Other than that, everywhere around them is endless darkness. If Max didn't tell her that they are in a cove, she would assume that they are somewhere random in the middle of the ocean.

”No one else will come here?”, Liz asked when Max took a seat by her side.

”No. It's is a private island. If anyone comes they will be trespassing.”

”Are we not trespassing?”