(BL)Alpha Made
Chapter 211: A private meeting

Chapter 211: A private meeting

Andrew sat there, nervously. It had been two days since he’d been confined to May and Ford’s house. Since then, he had read the letter that Maxwell had written, and now, two days later, he was sat in the same restaurant that he’d gone to by himself, waiting for the other man to arrive.

This time he’d gone the proper route, and had made a reservation. When he’d found out the name of the restaurant, he’d nearly fainted, but he still went through with it.

He couldn’t believe that he’d walked into a restaurant that was so well known not just in the area, but in the country and had gotten a table for himself without a reservation. The fact that the chef had come out and spoken to him was also incredible, and so now he wanted to pay it forward.

That, and they offered private rooms, and he wanted to share the good food with Maxwell, even if...things were a bit...

Andrew sighed, sitting in his nicely tailored clothes, a new phone in his pocket, and the feeling of May’s, Kim’s, and Maxwell’s Mom, Luis’ gaze on him.

They had insisted, not only on helping him get dressed, but also following him to the restaurant. They weren’t doing it because they were afraid that he was going to hurt Maxwell, or vice versa, they just wanted him to know that he had support behind him.

Andrew was terrified about what the outcome of this conversation would be.

The letter that Maxwell had written burned in the inner suit pocket he’d slid it into.

The ladies, especially Luis, had helped Andrew get ready. They had taken him to a tailor, where Andrew learned that most of his clothes that Thomas had gotten him had come from, with her help, and they had gotten him suited up. They believed, May included, that dressing was half the battle.

Maxwell needed to see that Andrew was doing okay, that he was okay, especially after how he had seen him last.

Andrew wasn’t as firm of a believer in their words, but Maxwell had seen him at a fairly low point, so he didn’t argue as the three of them had dragged him around from store to store, making sure he was all dressed up. They had also made sure he got a new phone, and had refused to let him pay. Andrew understood Kim and Luis, but he had truly put up a fight when May had refused to let him pay.

The other two came from wealthy families, while May was far more normal compared to them. It wasn’t clear to him that it was a pride thing until later, when her pheromones had raged and she had glared at Andrew with enough force that he’d been brought back to when him and Richard had gone out in the middle of the night without letting anyone know to go catch frogs.

He’d never heard May raise her voice like that since, and never wanted to again. Honestly, he should have over his behaviour in the last little bit, but she hadn’t. She’d fed, clothed, and made sure that he was okay. Ford was the same, and Andrew had felt...taken care of in a way he hadn’t felt in a long time over the last few days.

Either way, Andrew was dressed up, his hair taken care of, his glasses cleaned, and a new set being made, a new phone in his pocket, and he was wearing a nice, burgundy suit with a black dress shirt underneath. He felt like...he looked a lot better than when Maxwell had last seen him.

The restaurant manager when he had seen him come in with the three ladies trailing him had been quite surprised, especially since Luis and Kim were well known in the city. Andrew had then given his name for both reservations, and told them that he was waiting for one more man to join him.

The servers who seemed to mostly be the same from the other time he had been here about a week ago seemed surprised to see him rolling in with some very high class people, but the restaurant manager seemed...relieved? Maybe...assured? Andrew couldn’t quite place what emotion he had in his expression, but it wasn’t negative.

Andrew planned to not order any alcohol this time, and had instead ordered another ridiculously sweet coffee while he waited. He was early. Very early. The restaurant was nearly empty, which was how he could feel the gaze of the three women watching him. Even in the private room, it was mostly sound-proofed, not as much sight-proofed.

It was a relief, since it meant that Andrew could see Maxwell as he arrived.

If he arrived.

Andrew had been fighting that fear all day.

It was a valid concern. Andrew hadn’t spoken to Maxwell to make the appointment. He’d had Richard do it through Mr. Newman. Mainly because Andrew couldn’t remember Maxwell’s phone number, and he didn’t want to reach out as a random number to ask him out for dinner. He’d think he was a creep, and Andrew would hate to add that to the potential things Maxwell thought of him.

It was an unkind thought. The letter Maxwell had written...

Andrew took a deep breath in, held it, and then released it. The letter told him a lot about Maxwell’s feelings, and his thoughts. He had a feeling that May was right, that Maxwell was just terrible at expressing himself. Andrew, now that he’d had some time to mull with the idea by himself, could see it.

Maxwell was always perfect, always...turned on. Not sexually, though that was also true, but it felt like...he was always on a stage. The slip up had happened, Andrew and Maxwell had both not been in a good spot, and Andrew had shut him out. Maxwell, from Richard said, had not been doing well since.

Andrew’s chest ached at the thought. It wasn’t as if he stopped caring for Maxwell, and he’d also said some hurtful things. To imply that Maxwell only dated him out of duty was a cruel thing to say, and Andrew felt terrible about it.

A scent tickled his nose, and Andrew raised his head from where he had been staring at his hands. Andrew knew he was coming before he even saw him being escorted by the hostess.

Maxwell’s hair was slightly out of place, his eyes wide and deep, dark circles under his eyes. It was clear that he tried to cover them up, but hadn’t fully succeeded. His suit was perfect, but his tie was...askew. It was unlike him, and as Andrew scanned him, he found that his shoes weren’t shining. He looked perfect, anyone who saw him would think he was perfectly fine.

Only Andrew, and probably his Mother could tell that he wasn’t okay.

Maxwell’s gaze scanned the area nervously, his hands clenched at his sides. Andrew got to his feet before the hostess, who seemed a little shocked, opened the door. The relief that crossed Maxwell’s features upon seeing Andrew standing before him made Andrew’s chest squeeze. Maxwell stopped, frozen at the sight of him, his lips turning up.

The hostess seemed surprised, and stuck since she wasn’t able to slide past Maxwell. Andrew, nervously, grabbed Maxwell’s hand and tugged him gently into the room. Maxwell followed, his nostrils flaring as he inhaled Andrew’s scent. Andrew couldn’t deny that he was doing the same, but it was so strange to him to see Maxwell like this. Normally he was the one desperate for his scent.

Had Maxwell always been like this but had been hiding it?

"Thank you for escorting him here." Andrew told the hostess, who nodded, looking between the two of them, and fled, her face warm. Andrew watched her close the door, reluctant to release Maxwell’s hand, but also didn’t want to bother him with his touch so soon.

As soon as Andrew tried to pull his hand away, Maxwell’s grip tightened, and surprised, Andrew stared at the other man. Maxwell licked his lips, his skin more sallow and sunken in then Andrew had realised from a distance. Up close, he looked far too pale, and it was clear makeup was helping him regain some of his colour.

"S-Shall we sit down?" Maxwell murmured, glancing at the table. Andrew nodded, but didn’t release Maxwell’s hand. Maxwell shot him a relieved smile as they moved as one, sitting down a little awkwardly since they both only had one hand, but it seemed to calm, no, soothe Maxwell the longer he held his hand.

Andrew sat awkwardly, shifting in his seat awkwardly.

"This is...where I ate after we...parted." Andrew started, clearing his throat. "I wanted to share the food that I had here with you." Andrew told him and Maxwell glanced around nervously, nodding. He was shaking his leg, Andrew able to tell from the way his body was moving slightly. It was such an odd behaviour for Maxwell, he had no idea what to say. "Maxwell? Are you alright?" Andrew asked as they waited for their server to come check on them.

Maxwell turned his gaze to Andrew fully, and Andrew realised just how...anxious he was.

"You were right." Maxwell blurted suddenly, the volume of his voice surprising Andrew. "You were so right. I didn’t realise it, but I had never told you it before. I had been going over all of our time together, and I realised that of course you would feel anxious if you felt that I didn’t care about you the same way that you cared for me. I love you Andrew. Please don’t break up with me."