"Hey Max? You home mate?" Dillon called from outside the door.
The relief was so instantaneous Max just wanted to collapse. Max wiped his eyes as he went to open the door. "Uh.. yeah, just, scared me. You're over an hour early…" Max added as his heart continued to beat like a drum. Jesus Christ… he really was becoming paranoid… seriously… what had he thought was going to happen. Still, he was missing food…
Dillon hesitantly walked in with a green shopping back, "You okay Mate?" Dillon glanced around with narrowed eyes, "Anyone giving you problems?"
Max's breath stilled… he'd almost, a tiny part of him, had really hoped Dillon had come by unannounced. "Uh, just, long day."
Dillon gently grabbed Max's shoulder, "Max, are you okay? Did something happen?"
Max bit his lip as he lowered his head, "I, I don't know. I, is, can we go?" Max didn't want to talk about it here. He wasn't even hungry anymore, he just wanted to leave. He could deal with a little food going missing.
"Okay Mate, I brought some bagels, we can have them at my place. Come on, need to grab anything before we go?" Dillon asked softly.
Max just shook his head, then nodded. Keys, wallet… he quickly darted into the bedroom and threw them in his backpack, along with his old computer. Just in case. Max quietly followed Dillon out.
Dillon watched Max out of the corner of his eye, but didn't continue to ask. "So, Jake and Jack will be there around eleven, wasn't really feeling the gym so just went on a jog around the lake. I sent a text, but reception is kinda shotty sometimes. My leave ends in two days, so wanted to unpack as much as possible."
Max just nodded along as Dillon kept talking. Slowly he started to relax, Dillon's chatter was comforting… especially after knowing someone else might have access to the apartment.
As they pulled into the parking log Max tensed when Dillon turned the car off, but didn't unbuckle himself. After a long moment of silence, where Max was sure he'd be questioned again, Dillon took a deep breath, then started getting out of the car.
Max hadn't realized he'd been holding his breath, but he let it out as he silently followed Dillon past security and to his apartment.
"So… do you like bagels?" Dillon asked as Max set his bag down, head still baod as if Dillon wouldn't ask if he just refused eye contact.
"Uh, yeah. Bagels are good." Max agreed quietly, honestly how was he supposed to ask, Hey! Its an awesome apartment! But, is it haunted? Or is there some creep who sneaks in the reason you're practically giving it away? He might have thought a critter made off with some of his food if the banana peel hadn't been in the garbage bag, or his phone not back in the cup.
"Coffee good or something else to drink?" Dillon asked turning to the freshly brewed pot.
Max hadn't even noticed the smell, but now that he did he breathed it in. "Coffee would be great." Coffee, that's what he needed. Maybe… maybe he'd been so caffeine deprived he'd started sleepwalking. That made more sense than someone breaking in to wake him up while he was bathing.
"A man of good taste, I just add a little cream, how do you like yours?" Dillon asked winking over his shoulder as he pulled out two starwars mugs.
"Um, cream is great." Max agreed as he eagerly awaited the elixir of life. How long since he'd had coffee? Days? More than a week already. He felt like Gollum as he accepted the steaming mug. Closing his eyes, Max breathed in the smell, then took his first scaldingly glorious sip.
Dillon tossed three bagels into his toaster oven as he pulled out a pan, "I was going to be lame and just have it with cream cheese at your place, but since we're here, I'm thinking bagel sandwiches, I like my eggs over easy, how do you want yours Max?"
Max hesitated, "Uh, whatever is easier." Max saw Dillon stiffen for just a moment, but he didn't turn around.
"I like runny egg yolk, otherwise with bacon it's a bit dry, but I know a runny egg anywhere near Jack is a declaration of war. I can cook it all the way through or soft yolk, it's all the same for me Max." Dillon offered as he slid six large, thick cut slices of peppered bacon on the pan. Using a spatula to make sure they didn't stick as the pan quickly heated over the open flame.
Max hesitated, "Uh, soft then, anything I can, uh, do in the mean time?" Max glanced at all the empty boxes along the walls. He could start breaking them down, or unpacking more.
"Chill Max, I'll put you to work soon enough. Its sacrilegious to do anything before the first cup of coffee." Dillon teased, "Grab a seat, if you've got some music for background noise that would be great."
After a glance around, Max pulled the rolling countertop away from the wall, opened the ledge and found a soft rock playlist. All mostly older songs. Max mostly listened as Dillon kept up the chatter, occasionally offering opinions or his own small stories.
The bagel sandwich was amazing, crispy bacon, fried egg, a slice of ham, thick cheese all on a perfectly toasted bagel. After their second cup of coffee which led to debates on the best brands, they started unpacking more.
Max emptied the dishwasher then loaded freshly unpacked dishes. Soon they fell into a good rhythm, Max handwashed easier dishes, folded laundry, and broke down boxes while Dillon decided where all his things would go.
When Jack and Jake arrived Dillon ran down to escort them in. They were both in almost identical outfits again, overalls, bandanas, boots, but no gloves today. Max greeted them happily, it was nyce to see their gruff but familiar faces.
Jack stilled as he locked eyes on Max, after kicking his boots off he walked to stand directly over Max. "What happened?" His voice had a low growl as he narrowed his eyes, looking Max over repeatedly. Soon Jake was doing the same.
They were towering over Max as he stiffened, then remembered what happened at his apartment… had Dillon said anything?
"You're tense, why?" Jake asked looking for any evidence of violence.
Max stiffened, "I'm, uh, fine, really, just, I just scared myself."
Dillon shoved his shoulder into Jake, who in turn stumbled into Jack. "Relax boys, give him some room. Let's get those shelves up first. That way we can get the books out of the boxes and make some room in here." Dillon pushed the two larger men half playfully.
Jack glanced over his shoulder but moved as directed, "Are you hurt?"
Max baod his head as teers threatened, damnit, he'd finally convinced himself he was just forgetting things. Like maybe he'd put the phone back before he turned the shower on and just forgot about it because he was so tired.
Jake came to a halt, moving around Dillon to squat down in front of Max. "Did someone hurt you Max?" His voice was quiet, but not in a gentle way, more like a suppressed angry way.
Max shook his head, "I'm fine, really." He added looking up at Jake. He couldn't hold the stare as he baod his head again to look at the box he was breaking down. "Really, I just, I just scared myself."
"Jake, Jack, don't hound him." Dillon's voice had lost a bit of his playfulness as he nodded his head to the shelves. "Let's try and wrap up early." He added sternly as he moved to grab his tool bag.
Jack stared at Max for a moment longer, then followed Dillon to set the shelves up. Jake ruffled Max's hair, then followed.
Dillon started talking again while the rest of them mostly listened. Soon Max was responding about. Finally learning that Dillon was a software engineer who'd just been promoted to leed his own team was really cool. That's why he'd finally decided it was time to move into a bigger place.
Max was a little surprised to learn Dillon had been dumped, but the other two only snorted at him.
"Dumped implies dating." Jack snorted with a grin as they moved the third bookshelf up against a wall. It was pretty close to the spare bedroom door so Dillon would have to be careful leaving.
Dillon gave a dramatic sigh, "I told her I wasn't ready for a relationship! Just friends with benefits! But not even a month later she was introducing me as her fiancé… like hold up! We weren't even dating! I only stayed over twice!" Dillon complained as he started shoving books on the shelves. He'd organize them later. He waved them into the office area where his computer desk lay in pieces.
Jake rolled his eyes, "You bought her flowers…"
Dillon looked aghast, "It was her birthday! Tons of people bought her flowers! I just took her to a dinner… I'm just saying, dating is going to have to wait."
Jack shook his head, "One day someone will lock you down."
Dillon shrugged, "Not today, besides, at least I get out, you two act like every woman on earth is a scourge." Both Jake and Jack scowled.
"I don't do casual." Jake scoffed as he started grabbing pieces of the table.
"Have you met Wella?" Jack asked with a shudder, causally dating a girl like her was just asking to get castrated… she'd already kicked half a dozen men hard enough they'd gone to the ER. Not taking that chance.
Dillon rubbed his nose, "Oh, well, uh, anyway, dating isn't in my plans for at least another year. One project and I'm off grid for two months. Who wants to date someone who's only occasionally available?" Jack turned to Max inquiringly.
Max shuffled in with the table legs, "Uh, probably no dating, um, at least, not for a bit." He murmured thinking of Arianna… he'd really loved her. He'd just proposed a couple of months ago. He still had the ring… he should probably see if he could still get a refund, he needed every penny since his job search wasn't looking too good.
Jake and Jack stiffened as they turned to stare at Max, their gazes heaving with inquiry. Max sighed as he glanced at the three men.
"Uh, my ex… uh, she cheated on me… and wrecked my car… that, uh, why I needed a new start." Max explained trying to sound nonchalant, but of course he was anything but. The silence was deafening.
"It's fine, I've, moved on. Just don't want to rush, ya know?" Max added as the silence continued.
"Oh hey! I know a gal who runs a call center, was just talking to her the other day, you still looking for a job Max?" Dillon asked trying to change the subject.
Max perked up, "Uh yeah, where at?" As much as Max needed a job, he couldn't afford taxis everyday. If it wasn't on the bus route or within a reasonable walking distance…
Dillon snagged his phone, "I'll send you the address, it's about a forty-minut walk from the apartment, but it's close to the Market, about eight minutes from a bus stop. I used to work there when I first moved to the area."
Max used maps to pull up the address, ten minut walk from his apartment to the bus stop, twenty minut ride, then another eight on foot. This would be a godsend. "How, uh, how'd you like it?"
Dillon grinned, "Not gonna lie mate, the hours were ruff. But, lots of overtime helped me finish my degree, they also offer school assistance and work with your schedule for tests. But Donna was an awesome reference, she's actually the one who helped me score my new gig. I'll shoot her a text, maybe we can swing by tomorrow? If you don't have anything going on?"