Paint the town red

Chapter XLV

Tuesday passed relatively calmly: in the morning, Max and I talked a little, and he behaved as if nothing had happened. On the one hand, I was glad of this turn of events, but on the other hand, we never discussed his condition with him. I don't want to take any more risks and bring up this topic yet, so I'll leave it as it is.

After lunch, Liam wrote to me and asked how things were going with my partner, to which I briefly replied that everything's fine. He wanted to come in and talk, but I immediately cut off his idea, cause Max is here, and their animosity to each other has never changed.

In the evening, we went home together again, and it seemed that everything was back to normal. While we were walking home, Yuki called me and asked me to remind Max that he had and exam tomorrow, and that he needed to come not in casual clothes, but in official. "You're going to a prestigious place, not a fucking Subway," he said over the speakerphone, and Max and I laughed at his words.

When we reached our intersection, I hugged him, and he hugged me as if tighter than usual. I was pleased and calm with him, even despite his outbursts of aggression. I rested my head on his shoulder and allowed myself to relax a little in his arms, but his quiet voice seemed to bring me to my senses.

"I can't wait to see you in a suit."

"Have you already imagined me in a suit?"

"Not imagining, but I fantasized."

He caressed my back over the jacket, and I turned my head to the side and, smiling, first kissed him behind the ear, then with a bit of playfulness I bit his earlobe. Max flinched in surprise and I felt his arms tighten around me, literally pressing me closer to him. I smiled at his reaction and gently pulled away.

"Who knows, maybe you'll be the one to take off my suit tomorrow."

With a wink, I turned around and walked towards the house, finally playfully throwing "See you tomorrow!". Max stood in our place for a while, and then turned around and went home. Along the way, I received several vulgar messages from the Dutchman, because I knew perfectly well that I had provoked him a little with my actions.

At home, Yuki was going around the living room and read his speech from a piece of paper. He walked around the coffee table and repeated one sentence after another, as if memorizing the text by heart. I made him a very sweet tea, which was more like sugar syrup with a taste of tea, and made him drink it while he read the text.

"You think diabetes will help me?"

"Drink and read your speech, it's easier to remember. Well, that's what I've been told at school before the exams."

Yuki looked skeptically at the mug, but still took the drink and forced himself to drink it and read his speech. I decided not to embarrass him with my presence and went to my room.

Having prepared the suit for tomorrow, I took a shower and went to bed. I just picked up my phone and noticed a bunch of messages from Max. At first I was worried, but then I saw that he was describing his emotions after my actions at the intersection and jokingly cursed because of his fantasies after that. I sent him a couple of joking messages in response, and then reminded him not to forget to turn on the alarm clock. "I'd rather turn you on," I received a message in response, which made me laugh softly.

After wishing Max a good night, or maybe not quite a good night, I put the phone on the bedside table and surrendered to the power of sleep.

On Wednesday, I woke up at the exact time of the alarm, but even this awakening was easy for me, although it was usually quite different. Maybe it's because yesterday didn't end as bad as the last one and I finally got some rest?