Drink Devinemay not exactly have been Max’s usual kind of hangout spot, but Max had to admit that it actually wasn’t all that bad. Terrible wheatgrass shot aside, Max was enjoying his berry juice. But even more than that, Max was simply enjoying hanging out with Channing again.
I left it too long.
Channing is great.
Any man would be lucky to have him…
However as the conversation progressed, Max suddenly noticed a difference in Channing.
It was as if the mention of Max’s problems had spooked Channing a little bit. This was confusing for Max. His problems were his own, not Channing’s.
‘Is everything good?’ Max said. ‘All of a sudden you seem… on edge.’
Max paused and waited for a response from Channing.
Max thought back to how his older brother used to give him the time and space to speak about his feelings. Trey had been the best big brother a young boy could ask for and Max missed him more and more as the years passed.
Sadly, Trey had died when Max was starting high school and it had impacted Max’s life in the most significant way.
Trey had been a guiding light in what was often a chaotic and challenging upbringing. With Trey’s stability and attention gone, Max had found himself often looking after his own interests.
To do this at such a young age wasn’t ideal, and Max had made the decision at that point to simply focus on himself and having as much fun as possible.
Needless to say, this approach to life came with many benefits. However it also came with downsides too. And it seemed like recently, the downsides were beginning to very much outweigh the upsides.
Still, Max was enjoying being with Channing again.
Max just had to find out what was suddenly bugging him…
‘It’s okay. If you’re regretting allowing me to stay, then I can haul my ass out of your place. No problems at all,’ Max said, wanting to show Channing that he wasn’t some down and out freeloader. ‘You know me, Ineveroutstay my welcome.’
Max stopped talking and cast his eyes over Channing.
Channing still looked so young. Channing may have been well on the way to developing an impressive career, and he was also clearly putting the time in at the gym too, but to Max he still had the same fresh-faced look he always did back at college.
Max felt nervous as he waited for Channing to reply. It was certainly possible that Channing might tell Max that he had to leave. After all, Max had hurt Channing in the past and Max wouldn’t have blamed Channing for holding a grudge.
Fortunately though, whatever it was that was on Channing’s mind wasn’t enough to make him rescind his offer…
‘No, no, you can stay,’ Channing said, smiling a little nervously. ‘It’s just… work stuff on my mind. Nothing to do with you, Max. It will be a pleasure to have you around. It’s beenwaytoo long, right?’
Max smiled. Channing may have been trying to act all mature and self-assured, but Max knew that there certainly was something going on that Channing wasn’t revealing. What that thing was, Max didn’t know. But right now all that mattered was that Channing seemed happy enough for Max to stay at his place.
‘So how about I get us a couple more juices?’ Channing said, standing up from the chair. ‘We can get them to go, then head back to mine?’
Max nodded in approval.
There was a moment as Channing smiled back at him that Max felt a surge of electricity between them. It was the same feeling as earlier. Some things would never change, no matter what life threw at Max and Channing. But Max knew that right now he was in no place to be putting the moves on anyone, he was simply grateful to have such a good guy as a friend.
The boy’s got love in his heart.
He always did.
I’m lucky to have him in my life…
* * *
Back at Channing’s place, Max was enjoying the feeling of spending the evening relaxing on a supremely comfortable couch rather than the cramped confines of his car.
