Chapter 340: Picking up Richard
When Andrew heard Maxwell’s footsteps down the hallway, he quickly worked to turn off his computer, and was already pulling on his coat before the door even opened.
Maxwell walked in on Andrew, half dressed, his inside coat still on over his partially put-on outer coat and took a second, before he burst into laughter. Dr. Cox was still at her desk, as was Dr. Piper, and both ladies burst into laughter as well. Mr. Newman was beside Maxwell, holding open the door as he took in Andrew’s embarrassing display.
"He’s fine waiting a few minutes as you finish your day, Andrew." Maxwell told him warmly. "I know you’re worried, but Richard will be fine. He’s in our hands, isn’t he?" Maxwell told him carefully, calmly, and that was what he needed to hear.
He needed to hear Maxwell telling him that he was being silly. That he was overreacting. It felt a cold shower over his shoulders and Andrew took his glasses off, rubbing the bridge of his nose for a second.
"Yeah. You’re right." Andrew agreed. He took a deep breath in before he let it out, sighing and Maxwell came over and placed his hand on his shoulder.
"It’s fine to be nervous, but I really want you to not overstress yourself, alright?" Maxwell told him. "I don’t need two recently manifested people losing their minds in my home. Especially since I can’t take care of one the way that I can take care of the other." Maxwell said and Dr. Piper began coughing. Everyone turned to look at her, but Andrew hadn’t put his glasses back on so she was blurred. He narrowed his gaze.
"Are you alright, Dr. Piper?" He asked and was pretty sure he got a dismissive hand wave in response.
"Peachy." She croaked, coughing a few more times. "Went down the wrong pipe." She said and Andrew nodded. He slid his glasses back on, giving his head a shake as Maxwell patted his shoulder. Andrew slowly slid his arms out of the coat, before he took off the coat he wore for work, hung it up, made sure his computer was properly turned off, and then pulled on his coat again.
Maxwell was holding it open for him, helping him as he got into it. He even buttoned Andrew in, pressing down the lapels of the coat so that everything lay flat and when he was done, Maxwell looked quite satisfied.
"Even so anxious, you look very handsome." Maxwell told him and Andrew felt his face warm. Maxwell said it with such pride, such happiness that there was no way that Andrew wasn’t going to pull him in for a kiss. He just begged that no one would kick up a stink as he did it. Even Maxwell seemed surprised as Andrew pulled him in, pressing his lips against his own.
He didn’t fight him though, wrapping a hand around his neck and pulling him in for a deeper kiss. Andrew was the one who restrained himself since they had company, and Andrew kind of knew that he shouldn’t have provoked the man.