He opened a container of bacon and fried that up, too, its crackling pops filling the comfortable silence. The bread finished toasting. Max buttered each slice, then grabbed the orange juice.
Scott sauntered through the door a heartbeat later. “Morning, Max. Good God, that smells amaz—” He stopped dead in his tracks the second he saw Sean. Then those big, brown fucking eyes of his flared wide. “Sean. Wow. Hey.”
Sean smiled. “Morning.”
Scott looked back at Max and lifted his brows, as if he didn’t want to ask the question out loud. Or rather, the stream of questions Max saw gleaming in his gaze. Did you fix things? Is shit cool now? Are you two good to go?
Max fought back a smirk and decided to leave him hanging. For now. “Perfect timing… as always.” Scott’s nose kept him prompt for every meal. Max slid two eggs onto Scott’s plate, then piled on toast and bacon.
Scott grinned, clearly reading him despite Max’s efforts, but honestly, it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure shit out. There was one reason and one reason only that Sean would be sitting in that kitchen. Smiling. As Max cooked him fucking breakfast.
“Here.” Max handed Scott his food. “Now scram.”
“Nice. Eggs and bacon.” Scott took Max’s offering and poured some juice.
“You always cook the meals?” Sean asked Max, looking amused.
“Nah.” Max shrugged, loading Sean’s plate up next. “Mainly just dinner.”
Scott nodded, grabbing a fork. “Yeah, he rarely makes me breakfast.” He turned toward the door, but then paused and looked at his food. “Although…” He smiled warmly and glanced at Max. “Bacon and eggs was the first meal you ever made me.”
Max met his eyes. Scott still remembered. After all this time. He cleared his throat—way more moved than he’d ever let on—and smiled a little, too. “Yeah, well… you needed it.”
Scott held his gaze. “I really did.”
And in that silent communion between friends, Max heard Scott loud and clear. That he’d never forget what Max did for him. That he loved Max and would always be there for him.
Max’s chest tightened. He gave a nod and got back to work. “Let me know if you want seconds… You eat like a horse.”
“Okay,” Scott chuckled, returning his focus to Sean. His smile ebbed a little. His expression turned appreciative. “I’m glad you’re back. You look good in this kitchen.”
Sean’s lips curved. “Thanks. Look even better on your roommate.”
Max coughed.
Scott laughed and headed for the door. “I have no doubt. Thanks again, Max, for the food. I’ll catch up with you guys later.”
He disappeared down the hallway.
Max slid Sean a look. “You shouldn’t encourage him.”
Sean grinned. “I know.”
Shaking his head, Max carried over their plates and grabbed a stool next to Sean at the island.
“Thanks.” Sean picked up his fork.
Max watched him, unable to help it. Because in truth, this was all still so hard to believe. That he was doing this. That Sean was there, eating the breakfast Max just made for him, after the most soul-wracking night of Max’s life—and he’d had some doozies, so that was saying a lot.
How had this happened? How’d they end up here? It was like they’d crossed a bridge that Max hadn’t known existed. Or hell, maybe it hadn’t, and they’d built it last night together. When he laid his heart at Sean’s feet, and Sean made the decision to forgive him. And to take him back, even though Max didn’t deserve it.
Sean bit off some bacon and smiled at him. “You’re staring.”
“Mmhmm. Do you mind?”
“Shit, no. But it does kinda make my dick hard.”
Max’s lips curved. “Caitín, your dick’s always hard.”
“Not always. Just with you. You’re like a friggin’ aphrodisiac.” Sean bit off another bite and studied him suspiciously. “You sure there’s no Greek god in your DNA?”
Max tamped down a laugh and picked up his fork. “Pretty sure.”
Sean eyed him a little longer, his playful smile softening. “I’m gonna miss you today… I don’t wanna leave… Afraid I’ll wake up and this’ll all be just a dream.”
Max’s heart clenched. Because, yeah, he knew exactly how Sean felt. “Then don’t leave. Come to work with me... You can be my teacher’s aide.”
Sean stilled, face lighting. “Can I bring my camera?”
“Yeah,” Max chuckled. “You can bring your camera.”
“Then, fuck yeah. I’d love to. Got a change of clothes already and everything.”
“Right. In your rucksack.” Max smiled. “How convenient.”
“I know, right?” Sean dunked a corner of his toast into an egg yolk. “Funny how shit works out sometimes.”
Amazing how things work out sometimes.
Max took a bite, too. “Awesome. And then you can come back here to crash again tonight.”
Sean paused mid-chew. “I can, yeah. Absolutely. Although, I do have to talk to Jonah first. But that shouldn’t take too long. Maybe an hour or so at my apartment. I’ll come over right after, though, and…” He paused again, his blue eyes turning straight-up smoldering. “Tonight’s the night, right? When you’re gonna let me… do that stuff to you?”