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OLIVER FLETCHER

PAST
JUNE 2019

Max was packing his things up from his university house, we hadn't really spoken about where he was going to live after this. If he'd move back home or find a place to rent somewhere nearby, but I didn't want him moving far.

I still had two years left of university and I couldn't bear the thought of not seeing him, especially when he'd drop by with snacks and cheeky kisses. That is what I lived for, that is how most of my paintings were completed on time.

Moral support.

Max asked for me to come over, I knew how busy he was this week getting all of his things packed, tidying the house so that they got their deposit back. Knowing those boys, they'd be trying to get beer stains out of the carpet and mould off the bathroom walls.

When I reach his front door it takes no longer than a couple seconds before it's opened, Max was topless and wearing a pair of black shorts. My eyes shamelessly roams his chest and stomach, flicking over his tattoos for a moment.

"Hey," I say with a smile before stepping forward to press a kiss to his lips.

"Hey," he responds before guiding me through the house.

Everything was everywhere, boxes and bin bags. But Max doesn't stop in the living room or the kitchen, he takes me outside where the sun was just about peaking out from a cloud. We perch on the patio step as I watch him, something wasn't right.

"What's going on?" I furrow my eyebrows as Max rests his wrists onto his knees, keeping his eyes firmly trained on the fence in front of us.

"My nan passed away," he says instantly.

My mouth opens to talk but then I shut it again, desperately not trying to say anything stupid. "Oh Max, I'm sorry." I say as I shuffle in closer to him, enough so our legs were just about touching.

Max shakes his head. "She died a week ago," he explains. "I only just found out now."

"Oh," I frown as I drop my chin to his shoulder. "What happened to her?"

"She passed away at the hospital," he breathes out.

I pull my head away, my eyebrows creasing in the process. "And they only told you about it now?"

"No," Max shakes his head. "My dad only just told me now."

What an asshole. I think in my head.

"Were you close with her?" I question quietly.

Max sighs and looks up at the blue clouded sky, a pair of birds floating through the air. "Not really," he admits. "We saw her on holidays like Christmas and Easter but not much more than that."

I lower my head back down to his shoulder. "I'm still sorry," I mumble out quietly. "Are you going to go back home?"

He scoffs instantly and rakes a hand through his hair, my heart beats in my chest at his sudden reaction. "I'm not stepping foot back in that house ever again," his hands begin to shake.

"Has he said something to you?" I ask, my concern showing clearly.

"My nan left me and my sisters some money, inheritance." He starts, keeping his eyes trained on the floor. "My dad rung me to explain that she had passed, that she had left some money for us."

I purse my lips, waiting for him to carry on before I rudely interrupted asking a million questions.

"My dad said that if I wanted the money I'd have to find myself a girlfriend," he grumbles out before dropping his head into his hands.

My eyes stare back at him in shock, the middle of my spine turning numb as I push myself away from his shoulder to look at him properly.

"He can't do that," I interject. "If it's been given to you in her will, with your name. Then it's yours, your dad cannot claim it and then blackmail you into it."

Max turns to look at me for a brief moment. "What am I going to do? Ring the police and say he's stealing from me?"

My mouth falls into a slanted smile. "I guess not," I sigh out. "So what are you going to do?"

I could hear my heart beat violently in my chest, sometimes the validation from your family can make or break you.

"My dad can shove that money up his ass," he growls out as he turns to me with hooded eyes. "I'm not going to be coerced into breaking up with you for money, you make me happy. Being without you and a tad bit richer would make me fucking miserable."

My lips curve up into a smile as I press a kiss to the edge of his shoulder. "Fuck your dad," I mumble out.

"I wouldn't trade you for all the money in the world Oliver," he turns to me seriously, his eyes flicking between mine like he was trying to convince me.

"I know," I nod back at him. "I know Max."

He closes his eyes and drops his head to mine, feeling the warmth of his body spread through mine. Just from touching foreheads.

"So where are you going to go now if you're not going home?" I question after a few moments.

"I'm gonna crash at Jeff's parents for a little, then find somewhere to rent after that. Just need some time to find my feet," he explains as he straightens out his spine and exhales sharply. "My mum messaged me asking if I was coming back home but I can't bear looking my dad in the eye."

"He sounds like a narcissistic dickhead," I comment as I grip onto his arm and lower my cheek to his bicep.

Max chuckles lowly. "That's exactly why I don't want to live with him again," he says. "Growing up I was always terrified of him."

"You were scared of him?"

He hums and clasps his hands together in front of him. "He did some not so nice things to me because he was angry, frustrated. Took it out on me, I don't think I've ever been able to forgive him for that."

I chew on my lip for a moment, my eyes wandering over Max's face. "What kind of things?" I ask gently.

In a way I wasn't expecting him to answer but I didn't know much about his home life, I had no idea if he had spoken about it with anyone. Whatever he had been through.

"Verbal abuse mostly," he nods after a while. "But sometimes he would hit me, push me around. He thought that I could take it because I was the only other male in the house, he'd never lay a finger on my sisters."

My lips flip into a frown but I don't say anything, watching him carefully as he looks back up at the sky. "He thought he could dictate my life, when I said I wanted to go to art school he lost his shit. But I was old enough by then to defend myself, not so much when I was thirteen or fourteen."

"Did your mum not witness this happen?"

Max hums. "She did but I guess she didn't really think much of it. Tough love probably."

"Max, that's not okay," I continue to shake my head, pressing a kiss to his arm once again.

"What is done is done," he shrugs.

"No," I say instantly. "He shouldn't get away with that, treating you like a piece of his property."

"I agree but I'm glad that I can block him out of my life now," he turns to me, a look of sadness in his eyes. "People may say family are all you've got, but I'd rather be alone than with my parents."

"You have me," I breathe out quietly. "I'm not going anywhere."

Max turns to me with a small smile. "I know," he agrees. "Just being with you keeps me going, reminds me that life isn't so bad."

"Life isn't bad when we're together," I say as I lean forward to press a kiss to the corner of his mouth. "But things will get better, once you get your own place and you've settled. You're doing something you love. You won't think twice about your dad."

His lips curve up at my words. "That is very true," he nods before kissing my lips again. "You want to help me pack away my wardrobe?"

"Most definitely," I grin against his lips.

PRESENT
MAY 2021

My friend Abel invited me for a night out with a few of his work colleagues from the restaurant. I couldn't say no to a good evening out with Abel. We'd laugh and chat for hours without getting bored. I could tell him anything without feeling like I'd be judged.

He was the best kind of friend to go out with.

Both of us necked far too many tequila shots, his friends from work were the worst influences. Ordering drinks left, right and centre until I physically couldn't see my face.

My eyes look at the screen on my phone, it was last 2AM. The night had gone by in a flash.

"I-I think I'm gonna head home," I slur to Abel as I sling my arm over his shoulder.

His brown eyes turn to me. "No!" He extends. "The night has only just started."

I shake my head as I push myself off the stool, feeling the floor wobble beneath me. "I-I'm tired, need food." I say with a lazy smile.

"Okay well order an Uber and text me when you get home," he says, our eyes meeting for a second to prove how serious he was.

My head begins to nod. "I will," I agree before pulling away to look at his friends. "It was so good meeting you all! See you sometime soon."

Abel's friends turn to wave and smile, wishing I get home safe. I barely manage to get around my stool without face planting the floor but I laugh to myself, pushing my way to the front of the bar and leaving.

My eyes look around the high street, the sky was pitch black and the air slightly chilly.

I glance at my phone in my hands and attempt to unlock it multiple times, looking for the Uber app. Then I curse to myself, remembering I deleted it for storage.

"Fucking Candy Crush," I grumble out as I begin to walk in the direction of home.

My chest heaves out a sigh and before I knew what I was doing, I was ringing Max. He probably would be asleep but I wanted to hear his voice. Especially after such a nice evening, it would make it all the better.

"Hey," the line cuts and Max's sleepy voice flows through the phone.

I bite down on my lip and smile. "Did I wake you?" I slur.

"No," he was lying. "Where are you?"

"Oh," I say with a hiccup. "I'm just walking home."

"What?" Max's voice becomes louder.

"I've just been with Abel at a bar," I say slowly, trying hard to pronounce the words. "But now I'm walking home."

"Turn around," he demands.

"Huh?"

"I said turn the fuck around Oliver and go back to the bar."

My eyes widen for a moment, my feet stopping instantly. "But I need to get home," I say quietly.

"You don't walk home at 2AM Oliver, that is the stupidest thing I've ever fucking heard. Don't you have Uber?"

I grunt for a second. "I deleted it for storage."

Max curses under his breath. "Send me your location and I'll get an Uber to you," he says.

"You don't have to do that," I shake my head.

"Oliver, I didn't fucking ask, I'm telling you to send your location. Now."

My eyes blink back at his sudden demands, hating that his protective side was sending my stomach into a frenzy. "Okay," I say in defeat, lowering the phone to drop my location to his number. "You're so bossy."

Max doesn't say anything for a few moments as I slowly stroll back to the bar. "It'll be with you in one minute. It's a blue Toyota Pruis. Licence plate starts with LCV8."

"LCV8," I repeat back to him as I keep an eye on the road, not that I knew what a Toyota Pruis looked like. "I see it."

"Good," he says. "I'll keep an eye on the journey on my phone but I'll meet you when you get back to mine."

"Back to yours?" I repeat as I approach the car.

"I'm not letting you go back home alone," he clarifies as I open the door and slide in.

"Hello," I smile at the driver, my eyes beginning to burn from the endless tequilas I shotted. "Okay, well I guess I'll see you in a bit."

"I'll be waiting outside," he says instantly.

"Bye," I nod before cutting off the call.

The journey went by quickly, considering it was late at night the roads were empty. My stomach growled loudly and I chuckle to myself, earning a look from the driver in the rear mirror.

My head began to spin and my body turning numb, I definitely drank far too much.

Too late now.

The driver pulls up outside Max's apartment where he was already waiting, I thank him about three times before I even manage to get out. Max holds the door open for me, his eyes watching me carefully as we walk up to his apartment.

Silence.

He was annoyed. So clearly annoyed.

He pushes his way into his apartment, letting me in first. The bright lights were not what I needed right now as I attempt to shrug off my jacket.

Max sighs from behind me and I turn to him. "You're pissed off with me." I state as my feet stumble before I stabilise myself on the edge of the sofa.

"Yeah Oliver, I am." He says instantly, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I'm here now though," I shake my head to him.

"You still tried to walk home whilst you were drunk, that is not okay. Like at all. What if something happened to you?" His voice raises harshly before he turns and looks at his roommate's door.

"I'm sorry," I say as I purse my lips, noticing how hard my heart was beating.

"Sorry won't be enough when you're lying on the floor, beaten or mugged, or fucking kidnapped." Max's jaw clenches as he takes a step forward, his eyes building with frustration.

I have to force myself to take a breath because the tension was killing me. "I won't do it again," I tell him honestly.

His protectiveness was making me shudder, I found him so unbelievably attractive when his tone turns and I feel like I'm being told off. Holy shit. I was far too drunk.

He looks over my expression and nods for a moment. "Did you have a good night?" He questions.

"Yeah, really good," I nod one too many times. "I'm hungry."

Max's lips crack into a small smile. "Why am I not surprised?"

He walks around me and towards his fridge, opening up the freezer and looking through the drawers. "I have chips," he says as he picks up the bag.

"Do you have cheese?"

Max smirks and turns to me. "Trusty cheesy chips, ey?"

"You can't deny they're the best," I gush as I approach him. "They are fucking amazing!"

"I know," he laughs quietly to himself. "You used to tell me all the time."

Max prepares and puts them in the oven as I waffle on about my night, my mouth not stopping for a second to take a breath. I felt like I needed to get all the alcohol out of my system and talking felt like the best way.

When the oven dings, Max removes them and places them into a bowl. Beckoning for us to move into his room, clearly cautious of making too much noise that his flatmate cannot sleep.

I hum in satisfaction as I place one of the cheesiest chips inside my mouth. "Wow," I sigh. "This is exactly what I needed."

"Your head is gonna hurt a little in the morning," Max says as he leans back on his bed.

My neck turns towards him with a slant of my head. "Don't remind me," I grumble out like a child.

I managed to scoff the rest of the chips in record time, even Max looked surprised but my stomach does not lie.

"Where do you want me to sleep?" I ask as I stand from the bed and remove my t-shirt.

Max's eyes looks at my chest for a moment before my face, swallowing harshly. "You can sleep in the bed with me," he says after a second.

I nod and strip down to my underwear as Max turns and does the same, both of us climbing underneath the sheets. I could feel the heat radiate from his legs but I forced myself to breathe so I didn't have a heart attack.

Max leans up to turn off his lamp, the room swarming in darkness. He rests his head into the pillow, listening to our quiet breathing.

My head rotates towards Max. "Will you cuddle me?"

"Yeah," he says like he was waiting for me to ask.

I shuffle my body towards his, he wraps his arms around my torso and presses his chest to my back. Our skin flush against each other gave me goosebumps, Max's lips pressing to the back of my head gently.

My eyes close in content, parting my lips to heave out a breath. Max's heart beats through my back, sending shivers down my spine.

Everything inside my body was telling me how exhausted I was but I wanted to fight to stay awake just to remember this feeling of being held by Max. "I love it when you hold me like this," I mumble out.

Max's hold on me tightens, shuffling in impossibly closer.

"You make me feel so safe and loved," I say, my tiredness almost taking over my body but I could feel Max's thumb flick over my forearm.

I scrunch up my nose and sigh. "I love you Max. I love you so much."

My mouth opens to talk again but sleep swarms me, floating off into a state of content.

. . .

Read up to chapter 29 on Patreon
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Hello my loves! Sorry this chapter is late, December is a crazy month for me!

Wowza I adore this chapter.

Oliver said that he loves Max, I am not over thissssss

Also how much of an asshole is Max's father?

Are you guys enjoying the story so far? Hope the past and present isn't too confusing!

See you guys on the next one, love Sav x

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