Chapter 398: He can watch us through the cameras
Andrew was glad that everything went off without a hitch. Be it to the bath that he shared with Maxwell the night before, to the bread, to getting the party ready for the next day.
Like Andrew had assumed, both May and Jenny showed up earlier in the day to help get the place ready for the afternoon. Thankfully, he’d gotten his legs back so he was able to ’clean up’ anything that he and Maxwell had left out.
He also hadn’t woken up Maxwell, but did leave him a message letting him know that Jenny and May were probably going to be in the house by the time he woke up. He’d also let Maxwell know that last night before they had gone to bed, but he had a feeling that Maxwell hadn’t been listening to him last night.
Maxwell had been a little preoccupied, and so had Andrew if he was honest. It was one of the last days that Richard was out of the house. Andrew had maybe gone overboard, especially in the face of how Maxwell had been treating him.
Andrew had to carry Maxwell to the bed last night, after Andrew had regained some of his leg strength back. Oops.
Either way, it was a good morning with the two women. Neither one would say it, but it was clear that they were competing with each other. Andrew couldn’t figure out what part they were competing over though. Was it over Andrew’s affection, or the place by Andrew’s side? Andrew had no idea, and he didn’t really want to be the one to make the final decision on that.
If they were thinking about Andrew getting married, he was just going to walk down the aisle with a photo of his Mom, because no one would be able to replace her. Not Jenny, and not May.
Andrew didn’t mind that they were trying to fight each other. They weren’t being rude, or mean. They were just trying to be there for Andrew, and it was clear that they didn’t dislike each other either. This wasn’t coming from a bad place, but one that wanted to support Andrew and Maxwell.
So, Andrew didn’t mind, and he liked hanging out with both of them. It was actually quite nice to have them both helping him, all three of them in their own aprons. Ford had dropped May off early, while Kim had walked Jenny over and helped her carry in the supplies that they had needed. They had stayed and chatted for a moment before they had to leave, and Andrew was reminded again about what he had left behind when he had run away from everything.
The chatting, the music, the way that this felt easy, without any push or pull. They were just willing to be with him, to help him, and to show that they would show up.
It was...another reminder that Andrew had been a fool to run away. Even if there were some parts that he had needed, like a city that didn’t know who he was, it still wasn’t nice that he had dropped all contact. He was going to have to make up for that.
~
When Maxwell came downstairs, still rubbing the sleepiness out of his eyes, he didn’t even blink at the trio in the kitchen. Instead, he headed for the fridge and pulled out the juice that was there. Andrew passed him a glass and he poured himself a big glass, put the juice jug back in the fridge and stood there, taking a deep gulp. The women watched on, curious at this interaction.
Once Maxwell had his fill, he pulled the glass away from his lips, licking them, and he glanced around the kitchen. Every surface was covered with a baking sheet, with food piled in the kitchen and in the dining room. A slow, sleepy smile touched his lips before he pushed his way towards Andrew proper and demanded a kiss.
Andrew was all smiles as he pulled away, and so was Maxwell. Maxwell tasted a bit like orange juice, and Andrew resisted licking his lips to chase the taste.
"Good morning." Maxwell rumbled, his voice still deep from sleep. Andrew chuckled.
"It’s almost afternoon, Maxy." He teased and Maxwell gave a shrug.
"I’m allowed to sleep in during the holidays, aren’t I?" He asked, clearly teasing him back. May chuckled.
"I’m honestly surprised that you’re able to do so." She said, and Maxwell gave a soft chuckle.
"Every once in a while I get tired enough that I can sleep in late." Andrew felt his face warm at the implication, while Jenny and May kept their thoughts to themselves, but Andrew could see them ducking their heads as they smiled.
"Maxy." Andrew said, a hint of warning in his voice and Maxwell laughed.
"What? It’s just May and Jenny, and it’s not like they don’t know what’s going on between us. Hell, we’ve already had a pregnancy scare, and they know that." Maxwell said warmly, not bringing up the fact that they were living through another one. Andrew groaned, but leaned down, kissing the man again.
"There’s fresh bread for breakfast in the dining room. I marked it with your name." Andrew told him against his lips and Maxwell was all smiles.
"Hmm. How kind of you. Thank you Baby." Maxwell said before he pulled away and headed for the dining room. May’s sigh behind him had Andrew’s shoulders tensing, but she waited until Maxwell was out of earshot.
"What did you do to the poor man that he almost woke up at noon?" She demanded and Andrew was almost angry that he was getting blamed for everything. It wasn’t like Maxwell was innocent!
Andrew turned, ready to defend himself when he caught the sparkle in May’s brown eyes. She was teasing. Jenny let out a heavy sigh, a twinkle in her eyes as well.
"May, come on dear. You know that Maxy probably egged Andrew on. He’s a good man, but sometimes you snap, don’t you? I’m sure you’re the same with your husband." Jenny, the other omega in this situation, smirked. May’s face went red and Andrew learned a little bit more than he wanted to.
"Ford isn’t an omega." May protested, trying to speak past her blush and Jenny laughed.
"When has that ever mattered? He probably knows what you like, and has catered to your needs as an alpha." May’s face was burning, and Andrew had to turn his back to that since he didn’t want to learn more.
Absolutely not.
"Jenny, we need to drop this. I don’t think Andy wants to be learning that kind of thing!" May hissed and Jenny chuckled.
"Alright, I’ll drop it, even though I know for a fact that Andy probably got his consideration from Ford." Jenny’s voice was full of mischief and mirth. May was clearly flustered, while Jenny was still chuckling.
There was a reason she was with Kim, after all.
Maxwell came back into the kitchen around that time, his hands full of snacks and orange juice. In fact, a pastry was balanced on top of his cup. He came over and put his finds down on a free spot of the counter before offering one up to Andrew.
"You’ve been neglecting eating, haven’t you? Come here, eat." Maxwell ordered, and Andrew forgot about what they were talking about in favour of swooning for Maxwell. Maxwell fed him, taking a bite out of his own pastry while Andrew chewed. It was a wonderfully intimate moment, and Andrew let out a wistful sigh when it was done.
Maxwell licked his fingers clean, smiling to himself before he gathered up the rest of his pastries.
"I’m going to try to catch up on some work. Let me know when you need my help to get the house decorated." Maxwell said and May chuckled.
"The kids are coming over to help, so you don’t need to force yourself, Maxy. You haven’t been working this week, have you?" May asked and Maxwell gave a noncommittal smile.
"I won’t leave them to do it by themselves. It’s a big house, and I’m a control freak." Maxwell said. Andrew grinned at his easy way of admitting it.
"Well, I’m glad you said it." Andrew told him and got a stuck out tongue for his cheeky response.
"Just let me know, alright? I’ll probably hear them, but I might have headphones in to focus." Maxwell repeated, and Andrew nodded. He disappeared towards his office and Andrew turned back to the women.
They were both staring at him like predators that had found prey.
"Now that we know he’s up and where he is, you need to give us details, Andy. When are you two getting engaged?" It was May, and Andrew realised that yes, they were here to help but this was the true reason that they had come over when they had.
They had wanted to ambush him. Find out how the next phase of their lives together was going.
Andrew’s bite mark burned under the turtleneck he was wearing. He couldn’t help it. He reached up and adjusted it so that it was laying nicer against his throat and May and Jenny watched his awkward movement.
"Guys, are you serious? He could still be in hearing range! He’s about as nosy as you two are!" Andrew hissed quietly, upset, and May smirked.
"My guess is the only reason he isn’t hounding you is because he has insider knowledge. You’ve been talking, haven’t you? When are you planning, Andy?" May asked again and Andrew hesitated.
"I’m not sure when yet, I just know it can’t be his birthday or birthday week." Andrew said carefully, and May’s gaze narrowed.
"When is that?" She asked and Andrew glanced at the doorway before the two women got the hint and stepped in closer.
"Maxy is a valentine’s baby, so it can’t be the second week in February." Andrew said carefully, and Jenny’s eyes widened as she gasped and May connected the dots as well.
"Do you have the ring?" She asked, and Andrew shook his head.
"Not yet. Almost." He said carefully, but he couldn’t stop the way his lips turned up in a smile. "I’ve been getting updated photos." Andrew told them and obviously the two wanted to see. Andrew made sure that a camera wasn’t pointed in their direction and there was no reflection around that he could see from before he showed the two some recent photos.
They were so impressed with his choices and Andrew was all grins. Big smiles, happiness in his bones as they approved of his choices.
"Oh Andy. It’s going to suit him so much." Jenny gushed and Andrew was happy to hear that.
"Thank you for saying that. It was a worry." Andrew said, making sure that the photo was tucked away and he wasn’t near it at all in his phone before he tucked it away again. They stepped back from each other, but May broke out in a wide smile.
"Oh, I’m so excited for you, Andy. He’s going to flip when he sees it." She gushed and Andrew’s grin was so wide he thought his face was going to break.
"I hope so. I want it to be a big surprise."