(BL)Alpha Made
Chapter 343: A trial run

Chapter 343: A trial run

Andrew did, in fact, let them know when dinner was ready. He stopped listening in on the two of them after a while, turning his attention back to the task at hand. Cooking a dinner that would make Richard happy, Maxwell happy, and Andrew happy that he had made it.

He could hear the two moving around the house, chatting, practically could smell them, but didn’t pay attention to it. When Maxwell came knocking on the doorway to the kitchen, letting Andrew know that the two of them were entering the kitchen.

Maxwell looked normal, confident, a little smirk on his face. Richard?

Hesitant. Scared. Unsure. Andrew just smiled, staying where he was behind the counter, making himself as unapproachable as possible.

"May we come in? I wanted to set the table for dinner. Richard thinks he might be able to stand eating with us." Maxwell said, but his eyes gave him away. He was joking, laughing at Richard, but hiding it from the man involved.

Andrew just smiled, nodding as he grabbed some plates to plate up the food he had made.

"Perfect timing. I’m just plating up dinner right now." Andrew said and Maxwell nodded. He gestured for Richard to dart through the kitchen, which he did, ending up at the dining room on the other side while Maxwell grabbed cutlery and glasses. He also grabbed a jug for water, filling it up before coming back to the dining room. Andrew could hear them speaking to each other, and Andrew’s heart warmed hearing them talk to each other.

Especially after the conversation he had overheard, where Richard said he wasn’t quite sure about how he was supposed to behave. He was glad that Maxwell and Richard were getting along as well as they were, and did wonder what they had talked about upstairs.

Even if they were talking about him, he was just glad that they were bonding, and that Richard didn’t move around the house like a frightened animal as much. Did that mean that Andrew wasn’t treating him that way? No.

Andrew was still treating Richard like he was an anxious animal, because he basically was. He probably would be treating him this way for a while. It was honestly a miracle that Andrew hadn’t really caught on to how Maxwell had been treating him the same way, until now.

Now that Maxwell was moving around the kitchen, grabbing the few things that he would need to help Richard set up the table, Andrew was now thinking back on the way that Maxwell had treated him, and how similar it was to how he was treating Richard.

The openness, the kindness, the soft way he was speaking. How Richard was still able to trust the man even after voicing how strange this situation was. Did...Did Maxwell have a talent for dealing with people going through the hardest changes of their lives?

Andrew didn’t want to dwell on that for too long, so he just pushed it to the side. He finished plating dinner, and Maxwell carried the plates into the dining room. Richard was as stiff as a board. The man looked like a statue sitting at their table and Andrew, being a bit of an asshole, took a picture and sent it to his parents and sister.

He let them know that Richard was slowly setting in, but he was a little stiff around the edges. Rose had sent a laughing emoji, and Ford sent a smile. May said he needed to eat more. Andrew grinned. It would be nice when they could visit him, hopefully soon. Andrew had adjusted to other scents fairly quickly, with Maxwell’s help, so Andrew was hoping the same for him.

Richard was a few seats away from both of them, and Andrew made no comment about that as he sat down. He just smiled at two very important people in his life and told them that he hoped they enjoyed the food.

It was silent, but not awkward as they ate. Maxwell made sure of that. He actually brought out his laptop to show Richard the plans they were working on for the house, which helped Richard since it gave him something to distract his mind from how nervous, fearful, and awkward he was.

Richard seemed really interested in the plans that they had for the house, but grew awkward when they spoke about the suite they were making for him downstairs. He clearly was getting in his head about it, thinking that he was being a bother. Andrew was pretty sure that he had to space out the ’you’re not a burden’ talks, otherwise they would go in one ear and out the other.

Andrew knew this, from years of experience. May and Ford had put in a lot of work on Andrew, but when his Mom was sick, it just became overwhelming. Andrew was hoping that he didn’t do the same to Richard now.

So, he let the two of them chat, adding his piece here and there, and then let Richard clear the plates since he wanted to, and watched from the doorway of the dining room as he asked questions and directions for putting things away.

He wasn’t being too shy, just cautious, and for good reason.

He was feeling so proud of himself, it showing on his face as he closed the door to the dishwasher, and then he drained of colour. He looked ill, and raced away. Andrwe could hear him taking the stairs two at a time, and he just stayed still. Frozen in place.

When he turned to Maxwell to ask him what was going on, Maxwell had a sympathetic look on his face.

"Is he okay?" Andrew asked, getting the feeling that Maxwell might have an idea what was going on. Maxwell sighed, leaning against the other doorframe as they both stared after the man who had run away.

"He’ll be okay. I have a couple of guesses about what happened, but none of them are for sure. I don’t want to embarrass the man when he isn’t even here, so I’ll keep it to myself. Just make sure to message him and let him know that I’m in my office if he needs me. What are your plans for the rest of the night?" Maxwell asked and Andrew shrugged. He had a few options, but he was pretty sure he was just going to settle on baking a few things to put in the freezer. Their backstock had depleted in the days coming up to the move, and after as well.

"I’m going to be in the kitchen, I think. Just baking." Andrew said, pulling out his phone. "You’re positive that isn’t a reaction we should worry about?" Andrew asked again, just to be sure and Maxwell gave him a soft look.

"He’s okay. He’s not convulsing on the floor, so I’ll take it. We both heard what we should look out for, you’re just being overprotective." Maxwell told him and Andrew pouted.

"Of course I’m being overprotective. That’s my brother." Andrew complained and Maxwell chuckled, shaking his head. He moved away from the doorframe, leaning in towards Andrew and catching his lips in a kiss. It was soft, tender, and made Andrew’s toes curl in satisfaction. He patted Andrew’s chest, his sweater slipping off of his shoulder and Andrew reached over and pulled it back up.

"Rose might take exception to that." Maxwell teased, his eyes warm. "I won’t tell Richard you’re such a worrywart, but I feel like he already knows. Now come here. Give me some more sugar before you start working with your hands." Andrew smiled into the kiss, enjoying the man thoroughly.

He did feel a little guilty doing so. Like they were a pair of parents sneaking around on their kids while they were asleep and quiet.

The thought almost made Andrew freeze. The thought hadn’t left him feeling...bad, or worried. He still felt uncertain about being a parent, but the fact that he was able to think that thought and not react negatively?

Andrew smiled down at the man in his arms, on his lips, holding him tenderly and couldn’t wait for the ring to be finished. He wanted a mark, a token to show that the man belonged to him. It wasn’t to show off that he could hold onto the man in his arms. It wasn’t like a leash.

It was more about showing the work his heart, and how Maxwell held it so completely in his hands.

"I love you." Andrew told him when Maxwell pulled away, and Andrew loved the way that Maxwell lit up every time that Andrew told him that. He didn’t mind that the other man wasn’t saying it back to him as much. He noticed that Maxwell said it more with actions, in different ways. That was okay.

Andrew didn’t need to hear the words all the time, not when Maxwell touched him so softly, looked at him like he was his alone. Andrew felt a small shiver of desire run down his spine.

"You should get going before I decide to get mischievous." Andrew warned, his gaze dropping further down Maxwell’s body and Maxwell’s expression shifted slightly.

"The only thing stopping you is Richard, isn’t it?" Maxwell asked and Andrew grinned.

"He’s not the only reason, but he is a big part of it." Maxwell grumbled, before he sighed, nodded, and took a step back. Maxwell sighed heavily.

"It sounds like we’ll have to put our mission to have sex in every room on halt for now." He sounded rather upset about that and Andrew laughed.

"Mmm, Richard has to sleep at some time. He’ll probably even nap." Andrew suggested and Maxwell smiled.

"You’re such a perv. Where do you want to go next?" Maxwell asked and Andrew laughed.

"We haven’t done the dining room yet." Andrew suggested and Maxwell nodded.

"Understood. You get to baking, and I’ll see you soon." He said with a wink and Andrew felt like the man had shot an arrow through his heart. He was too precious.