Who: Liz Ortecho & Max Evans When: Backdated: March, After Quarantine was lifted. Where: Liz's Apartment What: A Long Over-Due Dinner Date Rating/Warnings: Family Friendly Status: Complete
Liz had been looking forward to the end of the quarantine not only because it meant that she wouldn’t be quite so busy with work and that she could go places again, but it meant that her and Max could finally have their dinner date. It had figured that after they had finally confessed their feelings for each other something would happen that would keep them apart for practically a month. Luckily they had been able to talk on the phone and had even Facetimed once or twice, but neither of those compared to actually spending time with Max now that they were no longer dancing around the topic of their feelings.
Instead of going out to eat, Liz was making dinner, because she thought dinner at her place would be more private so they could talk and catch up and whatever without interruptions from waiters or other people. She had decided to make chicken enchiladas, which was one of her favorite foods and one of the first things her parents had taught her to cook way back when.
Of course, the PTB couldn’t let her have a normal dinner date with the guy she liked without giving her more dreams the night before that had included finding out that it hadn’t been Max who had killed Rosa but Isobel. She wasn’t entirely sure if she was going to bring that up or not, but either way it was extremely annoying the way the OC decided when they were going to have these dreams.
Knocking at the door, Max nervously cleared his throat, awkwardly juggling a bottle of wine and a bouquet of sunflowers. Somehow they seemed more fitting than roses. More...original. Still beautiful but warm, just like Liz.
“Hey,” he answered as the door opened, smile indenting. It always felt like he was seeing her for the first time, awestruck by everything about her. He felt like a total schoolboy.
Hearing the knock at the door, Liz’s pulse sped up slightly, which was silly since it wasn’t as if she didn’t already know Max, but somehow this just felt different. This wasn’t them getting drinks as friends; this was a date. They may not have been going out, but as far as Liz was concerned, it was a date.
Reaching the door, she took a deep breath to compose herself then pulled it open, her own smile mirroring Max’s as her eyes fell upon him and then on the flowers in his hand then back up to his face, “Hi. Come in.” She moved aside to allow Max inside, which was a strange thought; Max Evans was about to come into her apartment. “Did you find the place alright?”
“Yeah, not a problem.” The assurance was punctuated with the offering of flowers. “I thought I’d contribute a bit, to the decor and to the dinner itself.” Flowers and wine. “And I can already tell you it smells delicious.”
“That is so sweet, Max. Thank you.” She took the flowers , tipping the bouquet in order to smell one of the bright yellow flowers, “Sunflowers are actually my favorite.” Most girls liked roses and tulips, but Liz had always preferred sunflowers and lilies. “I’m making chicken enchiladas. Not to toot my own horn, but they’re really good.” Liz smirked and gestured for Max to follow her into the kitchen, “So, what have you been up to? I bet work has gotten swamped since the quarantine was lifted. Did you have a lot of backlog?” Work was one of the things they hadn’t really talked about the few times they had been able to talk during the quarantine.
“You’re welcome.” He could make some corny comment about beautiful flowers for a beautiful woman but Max had never really been one to go that route. Not to mention he was pretty sure that Liz knew exactly how attractive he found her.
“And yeah, a bit of a backlog. The courts tend to be booked for a few weeks in advance so having quarantine really threw a wrench in the works. Not to mention most cops book all of their cases on a single day so I’m sure the police force is overwhelmed too. Luckily I’m no longer a DA so that makes it a bit easier.” Thank goodness Isobel had asked him to come work for her firm.
“What about you? I’m sure your work is still recovering. How are you doing?” It seemed like she had been working 80 hour weeks.
Once in the kitchen Liz found a vase and began filling it with water for the flowers, “Things have settled down for me. We’re back to our regular schedule and sample testing.” During the quarantine Godfrey Industries had been doing their part to help in figuring out a vaccine, “Are you glad that you work with Isobel now?” She recalled how one of the first times they’d run into each other after Liz had moved back, Max had mentioned that he and his sister hadn’t been getting along.
“I am, yeah,” Max nodded. “Public defenders have a full caseload at the best of times. Working at a private firm makes it a bit better. Limited clients.”
As she filled the vase he undid the foil from the top of the wine bottle, opening a drawer that luckily held a corkscrew and filling a glass for her which he set down on the counter beside her.
“I’m glad that things have worked out for you and Isobel,” Liz smiled as she set the vase of sunflowers down near the window so that they would be bathed in the sunshine that came into the kitchen in the morning, “You guys were always so close.” Talking about Isobel reminded Liz about her dream and how it had been Max’s sister who had killed Rosa, but she was trying not to bring that up. She was sure that there was more behind it than that and she didn’t want anything to put a damper on their night.
She was also glad that Max had taken it upon himself to pour the wine and she picked up the glass he’d set down for her, “Thank you.” She tipped her head to look up at him, still smiling, “I’m also glad that we were finally able to do this.” It may have taken longer than she’d expected, but here they finally were.
“Yeah, me too. To both of those.” But especially to the second one. He had wanted to date Liz Ortecho for as long as he could remember and the fact that she was showing some interest in him finally….it was like a dream come true.
“And you’re welcome.” He clinked his glass lightly against hers. “And at the risk of sounding completely cheesy, you look amazing as always tonight.”
Liz’s cheeks flushed slightly at the compliment, which was silly because she was an adult and not a teenager, but he was Max Evans and she still almost couldn’t believe they were finally doing this, “You look good tonight too.” She smiled and took a sip of her wine just as the oven timer went off, “Sounds like dinner is done.” She smiled and set her glass down then grabbed a pot holder and went to take the casserole dish out and place it on top of the stove; the scent of melted cheese and chicken filled the room.
“Thanks,” he smiled, his own head ducking a bit bashfully. Thank goodness the timer interrupted them before he could say something really embarrassing.
“That looks about as good as it smells.” And he meant it. His mouth was almost watering. “Are we dishing it out here?” Or was she the kind to bring the dish to the table and dish out there?
Liz smiled, “Hopefully you think it tastes just as good.” She glanced to the side and gestured towards a trivet, “Can you get that and put it on the table?” She’d already set the small table in the kitchen with two plates and utensils, “Just right in the middle.” She turned off the oven and picked up the casserole dish again and waited for Max to grab the trivet.
“I’m sure I will.” Taking the trivet, Max placed it on the table, stepping back to allow Liz room to put the hot dish down. And then he waited a moment more for her to sit before he did, too.
“Guess I’ll have to repay the favor and make something for you next time.”
Liz sat once the dish was on the table and smiled at Max’s offer, “I look forward to that.” It may have been early in the evening, but Liz had a feeling that they would have many more nights like this in the future. Wanting to wait a few minutes while the enchiladas cooled off a little, Liz picked up her wine glass and held it out towards Max, “It may have taken a while, but we’re finally here having our first date.”
“I’m glad we did finally get here,” he answered, tapping his own glass against hers. “And I look forward to more.” He’d loved her a long time.