What We Deserve

Part 7: Fallout

After confronting Max and Georgia, I stayed away from the Dam for a day or two. I figured he would need the entire hospital as a safe zone to figure things out and if I were there...well— the fallout might be worse.

It took everything in me not to slap that woman back.

Every ounce of me wanted to rip her apart not just for myself, but for Max as well.

I know he knew it wasn't his baby.

But he needed to know the company Georgia kept.

Needed to know she tried to get his approval, but it didn't take.

Hell.

Maybe I made it worse because Mo is in fact dead and Georgia will have no one if Max isn't going to play father.

Fuck.

Maybe I made my life more alone and frantic on purpose.

It sure seems that way.

I pushed him farther into her reach.

I'm hope it's the opposite. I really do.

I hope he comes running to me- not for his cancer...not fully- but because he realizes I'm the better option.

I can love him the way he deserves.

.....

As I'm walking across the atrium this morning- after my two day strike from the hospital, I pass the farmer's market that Iggy requested and all the produce looks amazing.

"Good morning!" I say as I stand at the table and admire some apples.

The Granny Smiths look huge and tart which makes my mouth water.

"Good morning, Dr. Helen!" A young woman excitedly comes over and her smile is radiant. "Please, can I get you anything?"

"Absolutely. Your granny smiths look gorgeous. Might I have two please- and a golden pear for good measure." She beams and fetches a paper bag for me, placing what I asked for in it.

"6 even." She says and I hand her exact change that she deposits in her cash box. "Come again!"

"I most certainly will." Walking off with my bag, I make my way towards the administrative building so I can grab a coffee from Pain de Vie, when I turn the corner and bump into someone accidentally. "I'm so sorry...oh...Max."

He looks overly tired and pale this morning- his blue scrubs wrinkled and his hair a mess.

Did he just wake up?

Why is he so disheveled?

"Dr. Sharpe..." He lowly states and continues to walk in the same direction as myself.

"Um...may I ask why you seem so...um...you look tired." I say and we stop at the cafe.

"I've been here...working. Where have you been?"

"Finishing up my small vacation that got interrupted by a deadline." I smirk and look at the menu. His glazed eyes watch me curiously, but he doesn't make a snide remark.

He doesn't say anything at all.

The bomb I set off in his apartment two days ago must not have damaged anything- or I'm certain he would have said something by now.

Or.

Maybe it blew up so terribly that he's been avoiding Georgia at all costs by working extra on top of his normal excess schedule.

Either way.

He's tired and quiet.

"May I have two Red Eyes, triple triple." I say to Ella and she smiles and nods before fetching the drinks.