(BL)Alpha Made-Chapter 245: A dinner meant for family and friends

Andrew’s personal worry that he was going to break the marble countertops never came to pass. What did come to pass was Andrew having a great time with Jenny, Luis and May. May was the glue that kept everything together, since Jenny and Luis were new to Andrew’s life. It helped that May was able to play off of most people who came into her life.

Jenny and Luis were no different.

They were all in fairly social facing roles, and had started to form real friendships because of Andrew and Maxwell. That meant being around them, listening to them and speaking with them while they drank and Andrew consumed his non alcoholic beverage alongside them. The pasta was made, and at some point, he knew when Maxwell was nearby.

Maxwell came in, wearing Andrew’s sweater, and Andrew had to pause, aware that he’d practically frozen like a predator that caught scent of his favourite prey. Maxwell didn’t seem to notice, but he was sure that some of the others had. Kim had, and she wasn’t letting him live it down, and the other women were just as observant as Kim was.

"Is it time to set the table?" Maxwell asked, coming up behind Andrew and sliding his hands along Andrew’s waist, gripping onto his stomach from behind. Andrew held perfectly still, worried that if he inhaled too deeply he would disrupt this moment.

"Uh, May?" Andrew asked, turning his head towards her to find her watching the two of them, her gaze narrowed.

"Maxy, you know better." May said, a warning to her tone and Andrew felt Maxwell’s face bury against his back. Andrew flinched, his face warm and watched as Luis and Jenny took a sip of their drinks, hiding their smiles.

"It’s just a hug." Maxwell protested and May snorted.

"You know what you’re doing to him. Tell me, do you want Andrew to regret anything he’s ever done with you?" May asked a hard hitting question and Maxwell’s grip on Andrew tightened before it loosened considerably.

"No. I would hate that." Maxwell whispered and May nodded.

"So then don’t put him in that situation, alright? I know you are also vulnerable right now, but just get hugs from someone else right now." Andrew couldn’t see Maxwell’s face, but he could envision what he was looking at May like. Like a deer caught in the headlights. He’d never gone to his parents for affection. Andrew was pretty sure that Andrew was the only option for Maxwell. The list was very, very short.

"May, Maxy doesn’t go to others." Andrew said carefully. He wanted to comfort Maxwell, he did, but he didn’t trust himself. Maxwell’s sigh from behind him told him that he didn’t want Andrew standing up for him. Andrew winced.

"He’s right. I don’t. Andy’s the only one I go to." Maxwell confirmed, and Andrew’s eyes widened. Maxwell, admitting that he had a flaw? In front of so many people?

He should buy a lottery ticket.

"He’s been like that since he was a child. Never sought us out for comfort. Unlike his older brothers." Luis spoke up, causing everyone to turn to look towards her. May sighed.

"Well, that’s about to change. Come here." She gestured for Maxwell to go to her, and Andrew spun so that he could see his face. Maxwell looked tense, his expression tight as he stared at May. He clearly was uncomfortable, but Andrew saw this as a chance.

A chance for Maxwell to get used to affection. Especially if they were going to have kids at some point. Not that he thought Maxwell couldn’t show affection, he just wanted Maxwell to be a little more comfortable around people who he could trust, and who would respect him if he told them no.

"You should go. May gives good hugs. I promise." Andrew said quietly and Maxwell looked up at him. His eyes were big and blue, and all Andrew wanted to do was wrap him up in his arms, covering him in his scent and kissing his face all over until he relaxed. He swallowed. He wasn’t able to trust himself. He couldn’t do that.

Maxwell swallowed, meeting Andrew’s sad gaze, before he nodded and turned. He made his way towards May, who held out her arms and hesitantly, Maxwell reached out, wrapping his arms around her as she did the same. May held him, giving him a few moments before Maxwell pulled away. His cheeks were slightly flushed, and he looked rather uncomfortable. Andrew was proud of him. He lasted a full 20 seconds. That was a long hug for him, but was short by May’s standards.

"How was it? Awful? You can say that. I won’t be offended." May said and Maxwell came back with a reply that had Andrew turning red.

"I just...I’m used to having my face cushioned by Andrew’s chest so it was a strange feeling for me." There was a beat of silence before Andrew groaned and the girls started laughing. Maxwell’s ears were pink as he realised he’d spoken without a filter, directly from brain to mouth. "I’m sorry Andy. I didn’t-"

"It’s okay, Max. I’m not upset. Just embarrassed." Andrew muttered as May and continued to laugh.

"Oh goodness. That’s adorable, Maxwell. I can understand why you aren’t satisfied with anyone else’s hugs if that’s what you’re used to. If you want to expand your hugging portfolio, I am always available. Take advantage of me, especially if we are going to be around this weekend." May said, her eyes kind. "Now, like you asked, dinner is almost ready so we can begin setting the table. Do you want to get the others to help?" Maxwell shook his head.

"No. I can do it myself. Andrew showed me how." Maxwell said proudly, ever the spoiled rich boy that he was. Luis was proud of him, her eyes gleaming, while May had to keep herself together. Even Jenny was like Luis, proud of him for knowing how to do it on his own.

"Wow. Maybe you should grab the others and teach them." Jenny said. Luis snorted.

"It’s a lost cause, Jenny. If they didn’t want to learn when they were Maxwell’s age and younger, it’s too late for them to learn now." Luis said, taking a sip of her drink. May slid her gaze towards the living room.

"Ford!" She called.

"Yes Honey?" Ford shouted back.

"Help Maxy set up the table for dinner. I know he can do it on his own, but give him a hand, would you?" May was smug as her husband came in, no hesitation, and followed Maxwell’s lead as he showed him where everything was, and showed him how Andrew liked everything to be set up. Maxwell was a creature of habit, and liked things to be perfect. It was smart of May to ask for Ford’s help since it would have taken him twice as long to make sure everything was perfect.

The timing was perfect, as Andrew was beginning to plate the food with Jenny’s help just as Maxwell and Ford finished setting up the table. The others began to sit, Luis and Thomas making sure everyone had a drink if they wanted one, and May hovered and ordered others around as she saw fit.

Shortly, everyone was seated, Maxwell and Andrew were allowed to sit next to each other, and everyone had food. May raised her glass, a toast to the prospect of a happy couple, and then everyone dug in.

The food was good, the company better, and Andrew felt his emotions level out the longer he was around everyone. Even with Maxwell’s hand on his thigh, he was able to keep himself together. He didn’t feel like his emotions were a slingshot, and was grateful that he had decided not to drink at all.

Dinner a success, clean up was assigned to the others who hadn’t made dinner, minus Maxwell, as he helped the dinner crew bring some more comfortable chairs down from the second level they didn’t use and brought them into the living room so that everyone had somewhere that they could sit.

The team came back shortly, the kitchen and dining room cleared up, a few sweet treats on a platter from the cupboard of sweet treats. Probably Ford’s doing, and they laid them out on the coffee table. The mood was nice, everyone was relaxed, and it was time to talk about the game plan.

What were they going to do for the weekend, especially with Andrew being the way that he was?

May wasn’t surprised when Kim and Thomas brought up the fact that Andrew’s rut could be nearby. She had nodded along to what Kim said she had witnessed, along with Thomas and Ford, and added the way that Andrew had reacted when Maxwell was nearby. She too, was hyper aware of Ford when her rut was nearby, and Kim and Thomas agreed.

When all of the alphas in the house, another also being a true alpha said as much, Andrew knew that it was true. He trusted Michael and Maxwell, but these three had life experience behind their words. Michael was his Doctor, and friend, but he wasn’t around Andrew right now.

"We were planning to set up a few viewings on a new place to move to." Andrew told them, Maxwell sitting next to him, but not in his lap like both of them wanted. They were used to being on top of each other after their argument, and Andrew felt the loss of his body heat like a blow.

He was going to cuddle the shit out of him when they were sleeping. He’d wear a fucking chastity belt if he needed to. He was getting fucking cuddles today.

"You are planning to move?" Thomas asked, surprised. "Why? Is this house not big enough?" Andrew realised that Maxwell hadn’t told his parents, and when he turned his gaze towards him, Maxwell wouldn’t look at him. This man. He was so cute, and yet so hard to deal with sometimes.

"Yes. For safety reasons, not that the house isn’t big enough. We don’t even use the second storey, but Richard, my coworker and May and Ford’s son, made a good point. The person who harmed me probably knows where I live, and this is really close by. In case they find out that they succeeded with me, we should move. So that they have a harder time to do so. We’re thinking of a gated community, or something with security." Andrew told them and Thomas nodded, his expression tense. Kim blinked a few times, before she gasped.

"There is a place that just became available in our community. Why don’t I ask if you two can view it tomorrow? It’s just listed, and our security team is quite good. They also allow you to bring in your own if you’re worried. Lots of famous people live around us, along with the really wealthy." Kim said and Jenny’s eyes lit up.

"Yes! We moved there about 6 years ago and we’ve loved the neighbourhood. Of course, there are a few stuck up idiots, but that’s every little community. I’m sure you’ll love the house. They aren’t cookie cutter since most of them were custom builds originally." She gushed, and Andrew glanced over at Maxwell. When he met Maxwell’s gaze, he shrugged.

"You have the list. Mock it up, and we’ll see how many it checks off." Maxwell told him, handing control over to Andrew. It was clearly shocking to his parents, since both Luis and Thomas were staring at their son as if he had two heads. Andrew felt his chest fill with a warm, giddy feeling.

"Are you sure?" He asked and Maxwell gave him a stern look.

"I obviously want you to live in a place that you love, especially if we plan not to move for a while after this. I’m happy as long as I’m with you." Jenny awed, her hand over her heart and Maxwell’s ears and cheeks were burning, but he wasn’t backing down.

Andrew wanted to kiss the daylights out of him, but instead he sighed, reaching over and taking his hand in his own. He gave it a squeeze.

"Okay. I’ll make a list." Andrew whispered and Maxwell nodded, his cheeks flaming.

"I’ll call my realtor." Thomas said, Kim pulling out her phone as well.

"Me too. Let’s see what they can offer us."