Chapter 378: Christmas Eve is upon us
Richard was in a much better condition the next day.
Was he embarrassed as all hell and wearing a turtleneck? Absolutely. Had he also pulled Maxwell aside to thank him and ask for more advice? Also true.
Andrew pretended to not hear a damn thing, for his own sanity, and for the sanity of Richard who was new to this world. He hadn’t really been getting down and dirty with anyone prior to this, and he was a private person in general. Especially compared to Rose, and even more so when compared to Andrew.
Andrew would introduce his ’friends’ to one another when he’d been out and wild. He had a feeling Richard would faint if he’d slept with two people and they happened to meet in passing at a party or something. It was best for Maxwell to handle this aspect of him becoming an omega, since Andrew didn’t want to hear it, and probably would laugh in the other man’s face.
So, Andrew turned a blind eye, shut his ears, and focused on breakfast, and his baking.
He’d probably gone overboard with the baking, but he was also treating it as handmade Christmas gifts from himself.
Large plates full of cookies, bars, and balls. All delicious, lacking in nutrition, and a perfect little wrap up for the holidays. Christmas was going to hit them quickly now that they’d had the major party. Only four days away for Christmas eve, so Andrew needed to get his bake on.
Thankfully, Richard was a happy helping hand now that Maxwell was gentling him through this new way of life for him, and Maxwell was a willing and ready taste tester. He was harsh, too. Often pointing out ones that Richard or Andrew made that weren’t perfect, just so he could steal them away.
Andrew knew it was completely because he wanted to snack, but neither Richard nor Andrew said a damn thing in complaint. Andrew because he loved the man dearly, and Richard because he didn’t want to start anything with the man who was helping him.
Also, Andrew wasn’t upset, so why would he get upset over something that was trivial?
All in all, the days leading up to Christmas eve were easy, relaxing, and fun. At least for Andrew. Richard got a slide slow presentation made by Maxwell about omegas and things that he needed to know, and why they were important to know.
Andrew was the guinea pig of the slide show, since he had also been a beta before, and Andrew was happy to help. Especially since this was similar to what Andrew had gone through only Richard hadn’t ended up having an ’episode’. He just ended up sleeping with someone and almost passing out the day after due to the stress it put on his body.
That was all Andrew needed to know, and all Andrew was willing to hear about the interaction.
Andrew did find out that Ellis and Richard were still speaking. Richard hadn’t ghosted him at the very least. Andrew had seen his phone screen lighting up with a text when they were baking and he had his back turned.
Andrew, being a little nosy, had snuck a peek and found that it was Eliis. Not even Mr. Newman. Ellis had messaged Richard. Well, it couldn’t have been that bad if Richard was still talking to him. Maybe that was why he was so embarrassed to talk about it with Maxwell and had needed the treat to speak about it.
Maybe Richard was embarrassed that he had let himself get into the condition that he had.
Okay. Enough thought about that. Andrew had bigger things to worry about.
~
Christmas Eve came quickly, and Kim and Jenny were exceptionally excited.
They had won rock paper scissors, and it worked out even better now that Andrew and Maxwell lived so close to them. Richard was going to his parents house, but had been sent off with several platters of cookies before a driver took him away.
Richard warned Andrew to expect a phone call, or even a video call as he was leaving and Andrew nodded, waving. They had provided Richard a car with a driver for two reasons. They had no problems with lending their own car, but they had a feeling Richard would drink and wanted him to be safe. There was also the added fact that he was staying with them right now, and they had some...
Interesting folk interested in them. Andrew, specifically, so it was a safety thing. Richard hadn’t batted an eye when Maxwell brought it up. He’d just nodded like it was completely normal to be offered a ride to his parent’s house that was also a protection detail. Andrew was glad that he wasn’t making a big deal of it.
Andrew and Maxwell weren’t taking a car, they were just going to walk. That meant the security team was going to walk with them, and Kim and Jenny were already briefed on the situation. They were super happy to accommodate them, and Jenny had already messaged Andrew asking if they would want some food as well.
Andrew was sure that they wouldn’t turn down Jenny’s cooking, and told her as such. For women as old as they were, they often used emojis and stickers. Andrew wondered if his Mom would be the same if she was still around, but it was something he would never know.
It wasn’t a sad thought for him, more of a thoughtful one, filled with fond memories.
Maxwell, bundled up like he was going out into -40 weather, not -5 was ready to go. He had his hands shoved into two pairs of mittens, a scarf, hat and hood on, and his face was covered. Andrew could barely see the man under all that he was wearing. He was so damn cute.
Thankfully, the guards going with them were happy to help carry the cookies, especially since Andrew had promised that a tray was for them. They had protested of course, but Andrew had been secretly feeding them ’scraps’ the whole week, so they didn’t really put up a fight.
Andrew could tell that they liked working with him. Andrew was sure part of it was because he gave them little treats here and there, but he also hoped that it was because he was a good guy. He wasn’t exactly friends with them, but he was glad to see that many of the guards that had looked after them at their old house were here with them again. There were a few more new faces, but that was also because this was a bigger house, and they were allowed to patrol the whole community perimeter.
Either way, Andrew was ready to walk over to Jenny and Kim’s house. He wondered if they had invited anyone else over for Christmas Eve. Were they going to meet Jenny’s family? Or Kim’s? Did she even speak to her family anymore? This was so exciting for him.
Maxwell was excited, just not for the first part of making it to Jenny and Kim’s house. He had, in a small bag wrapped around the thick arm of his jacket, a few bottles of wine that he had picked out. Andrew had told him that it was probably not something that he needed to do, but Maxwell had glared at Andrew and Andrew had minded his own business.
The man had also made one of the guards carry another bag full of non alcoholic fun options. He’d ordered some things online and they had arrived last week. He had then hidden them in the office, telling Andrew that they were for the Christmas holidays and that Andrew wasn’t allowed to look at them until then.
Andrew had backed away, letting the man do what he wanted. He knew that Maxwell wasn’t the kind of person to get him a bad surprise, and it might not even be for him. So, he let Maxwell hiss and snarl at him until the man realised he wasn’t going to poke around, and now a guard was carrying the bag so Andrew was completely separate from it.
Ready, Richard already gone, Andrew locked the door behind them and the group began to move down the road. Andrew and Maxwell’s house was at a higher elevation. A few houses away from Kim and Jenny’s, which was one of the older, lower elevation homes. It meant that walking up the hill later wouldn’t be as fun, but that was okay.
Andrew was just happy that things seemed to be going well. Well, Maxwell was freezing, even in his get up. He was shaking, shivering, and Andrew wished his hands weren’t full so he could cuddle the man closer to his body, but Maxwell had glared at him too.
"I can manage." He muttered, his teeth chattering, and Andrew was really concerned. This felt like it wasn’t a normal level of cold, and as if Maxwell could hear Andrew’s thoughts, he spoke up. "I’ve always been this cold. My parents had me checked out, and they couldn’t find anything. They even tried to have me gain weight, but nothing changed. This is just who I am." He chattered, and Andrew sighed.
Well, there were only so many things Andrew could do when someone as stubborn as Maxwell spoke that way. Andrew kept pace with the man, his shoulder rubbing against him. Offering comfort more than anything else until they got to Kim and Jenny’s.
Jenny flung open the door before they even got to the first step. She was illuminated from behind, music, pouring out from the doorway as she grinned, pulling the two of them into the house. Even the guards were ushered in out of the cold as Jenny hugged them both.
"Maxy, you look absolutely seasonal." Jenny told him, all smiles while Maxwell grumbled. Andrew laughed lightly, having the trays whisked away by Jenny and a few other helping hands. Andrew said nothing about the fact that Jenny and Kim had maids. Who was he to say anything?
The older houses were three times the size of the house that Maxwell and Andrew had bought. They probably needed maids to keep it clean. It was also probably something that Kim or Jenny were both used to. Maxwell had maids before he met Andrew, and sometimes they let someone else clean the house.
It was probably also very convenient for times like this, and Andrew was sure of everyone, Kim and Jenny treated them well.
The guards were ushered out of the doorway and into an area of the house that they were probably going to be more comfortable as Jenny gushed over Andrew and Maxwell, asking how they were doing. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, but Andrew was sure it was more out of excitement to have them in her home than an intoxication level.
It took Maxwell five full minutes to unwrap himself, even with Andrew’s help. Jenny kept them company the whole time, and Andrew was happy for it. He could tell that there were more people here then he thought, and he was glad to get some time with just Jenny before he stepped into a crowd that he didn’t know.
Maxwell, finally undressed, took Andrew’s hand in his and gave it a squeeze.
"Thank you for inviting us, Jenny." He said, now undressed and Jenny smiled at them warmly.
"It’s no problem, my dears. Now come. I have some people I want to introduce you to, and you can tell others to fuck off if you want." She said with a wink, and tugged the two of them into the living room. Andrew wondered what that meant, but had a feeling he’d find out shortly.