What You Do To Me

Chapter 44: Maxwell's POV

It's been a month since Kimberly's birthday party and I'm glad Casey forced me to go.

And by forced, I mean forced.

He was very persistent and wouldn't give up until I gave in.

The party was fun, and we've all fallen back into our usual rhythm. Adrian has been letting me out at 6 instead of 8, so I get to see my friends again.

We meet for dinner at one of our houses, we eat dinner, we hang out. Maybe we go out instead of going to someone's house, but we always end up back at one of our house's.

Usually, mine. I don't know why, but they seem to love my apartment so... ok.

The only person who's house we never go to is Jax's. Which is ok, I mean we've officially adopted him into our group, but if he doesn't want to share his house just yet, we won't pressure him.

I won't pressure him.

I'm almost certain Brielle wants to see his house, see his bedroom.

If you know what I mean...

They've been on a couple dates so far, and by a couple I mean like once a week.

Brielle finished her paintings for the auction and earned like... money. Like a shit ton.

It was her first auction and she used all of it to pay off her mother's debt. All of it. She didn't keep a dime.

She was selling her art at her usual place, a corner store. She's good friends with the owner and he lets her sell her art, and keep the profits, as long as she helps him around the store.

It's a good deal and she met some famous guy, I don't remember his name, but he offered to do an art show. Well, it worked, and people came to see it, people besides her friends.

Casey was the only one who made it.

I still feel bad.

But people asked for the art, lots of people.

The famous guy gave her an idea. They could do an auction for her art, but she would need to produce a certain amount. She was way below it.

She went in a crunch and she finished in time, at the cost of not seeing us.

But we're all good now.

"Max, I need you to file these reports and make copies of these." Adrian says and I nod.

He's standing in the doorway to his office and wearing an award-winning smile.

I blush as my phone rings.

"Yeah I've got it!" I say and get out of my seat. I take them from his hand and turn away just as my phone stops ringing.

"Thanks." He says. "I'm going to be on my three-thirty call."

I nod. "No visitors. Got it."

"No one should be coming, but just to be sure." He says and I nod again.

"Ok, sir." I respond and he nods before closing the door.

I set the files down as my phone starts ringing again.

I answer.

"Hello?"

"Max?" A familiar voice asks, and I nod. Oh wait, they can't see me.

"This is."

"It's Callum!" The voice says and I smile.

"Where have you been? Are you alright? It's been over a month!!" I say excitedly and he laughs.

"Yeah my family and I went on vacation for a month, we went to the Bahamas."

"Oh my God! How was it?" I ask and blush, I sound like a 15-year-old girl.

"It was so amazing!" He says excitedly. "How about you? What's new with you?"

"Well I got a new job and my old job burned down."

"Wait the café? Awww..."

"Yeah I know right?? Crazy!" I say and I can feel him smiling.

"So, listen um... my father has to go away for a week, and I was um... I was wondering if you wanted to come over to my house? Y'know, to catch up? Maybe I could try that amazing cooking of yours?" He sounds so hopeful and my heart cracks.

"I uh..." I stammer. "Callum I'm with Casey now, officially."

He goes silent.

"Um... I mean I would love to! But only as friends I can't-I can't be any more than that. I'm sorry." I stammer. "If you don't want to have me anymore I-"

"I understand." He says softly and I almost let out a sigh of relief.

"Seriously! I would love to meet your mother and sis-"

"Don't bother." He says coldly and I flinch, hard. "Sorry, that came out wrong."

"I-it's ok."

"It's ok Max." He says. "I understand, I can't control who you like, and it's not me. If you ever want to give me a chance... I'll be here."

"Ok Callum." I say, although that will probably never happen as Casey and I are... pretty damn close. "I'll talk to you later?" I ask.

"Sure." He says in a tone that says no.

"Bye Callum."

"Bye Max."

I hear the click and look down at my phone. I bite my bottom lip and try to hold back tears as they well up.

I just feel so bad.

I understand I can't control other people's emotions but, I feel so bad. He really likes me and... and I'm with Casey.

And I love Casey.

I sigh and wipe my eyes.

Ok, come on. You have a job to do.

The next 3 hours pass in relative silence as I wrap up the things I had to do today.

I play music in my AirPods and work quietly and efficiently.

I glance at the clock every once in a while, but I don't mind waiting.

At 6 o'clock I stick my head into Adrian's office, but find it empty.

I shrug.

Ok I'll just head out.

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Part 1 of an apparently super late double upload.

-AN