The next morning, the sunlight filtered through the thin curtains in Liam's apartment, gently waking him up. The dinner with Max, Mei, and Eva the night before had been unexpectedly cathartic. Laughter had loosened the tension, and for once, things had felt simple again—at least, as simple as they could be with Max devouring everything in sight.
Liam stretched a slight smile on his face. He hadn't slept this well in weeks. He glanced at his phone and saw a message from Max.
Max:
"Bro, last night was epic. I feel like I reached level 99 in food consumption! We should do it again soon. Btw, did I tell you about the surprise I've got planned? Keep your schedule clear this weekend. #YoullThankMeLater."
Liam rolled his eyes, laughing. When Max used hashtags in real life, it was impossible not to find it funny. Whatever this surprise was, Liam knew it was bound to be something either ridiculously elaborate or plain chaotic. He couldn't decide which.
He had barely put his phone down when another message came through. This time from Eva.
Eva:
"Morning! Last night was fun. Max definitely has some... unique talents. Thanks for making sure I didn't lose my fries. ;)"
Liam grinned. The playful tone in her message made his heart skip a beat. Maybe things really were getting better between them. He quickly typed a reply.
Liam:
"I was ready to wrestle Max for them if I had to. But yeah, it was great. We should do it again—without the wrestling part, though."
As he hit send, he felt the stir of hope. Perhaps this was the start of a new chapter for him and Eva. But before he could daydream further, there was a loud knock on his door. He wasn't expecting anyone. He quickly pulled on a shirt and opened it, only to find Max standing there with a huge grin on his face and an even bigger box in his arms.
"Morning, sunshine!" Max announced, pushing his way into the apartment without waiting for an invitation.
"Max? What are you doing here?" Liam asked, baffled.
Max placed the box down with a dramatic flourish. "I told you I had a surprise, didn't I? Well, here it is! It's called 'Project Bromance.'"
"Project… what now?" Liam raised an eyebrow, already sensing this was going to be one of Max's harebrained schemes.
Max waved his hands as if revealing a grand plan. "It's simple. You, me, and this box are going to spend the weekend doing everything we used to do before life got all serious. Video games, junk food, and, most importantly—no adulting allowed."
Liam couldn't help but laugh. "You seriously came all the way here for that?"
Max put his hand on his heart in mock offense. "Liam, you wound me. Do you not see the importance of this? The bromance must be rekindled before it fades into the abyss of adult responsibilities. And besides, I brought snacks."
He opened the box to reveal an assortment of chips, candy, and soda that could rival a convenience store. Liam shook his head, chuckling.
"Fine, fine. But I'm not eating all of that," Liam warned.
Max smirked. "Oh, don't worry. That's why I'm here."
The two of them settled into the couch, loading up an old video game they used to play in university. It wasn't long before they were shouting and laughing, caught up in the nostalgia of their college days. Max, of course, dominated most of the game, his usual trash talk in full force.
"I've still got it, man," Max bragged after yet another victory. "You're losing your edge."
Liam threw a chip at him. "You're just cheating as usual."
Max dramatically gasped. "I would never! It's all skill, baby."
As they battled through the game, hours slipped away, and for the first time in a while, Liam felt a weight lift from his shoulders. It wasn't just about the game; it was about reconnecting with a part of himself he'd lost somewhere along the way—thanks to Max, of course, and his ridiculous antics.
At some point during the afternoon, Liam's phone buzzed again. He glanced at the screen and saw another message from Eva.
Eva:
"What are you up to today? I was thinking of checking out that art exhibit we talked about. Wanna come?"
Before Liam could reply, Max peeked over his shoulder and saw the message. "Ooooh, is this a date? Don't leave me hanging, bro."
Liam swatted him away. "It's not a date. She just asked if I want to go to an art exhibit."
Max crossed his arms, giving Liam a mock-serious look. "And that's not a date? C'mon, man. Art exhibits are prime romantic territory. It's practically designed for eye contact and meaningful conversations."
"Or, you know, just appreciating art," Liam replied, rolling his eyes. "I can do both, Max."
"Sure, sure," Max said with a wink. "But just in case, wear something nice."
"Yeah, because my fashion advice is definitely going to come from you," Liam teased, pointing at Max's mismatched socks.
Max looked down, shrugged, and then stretched out on the couch. "Hey, comfort over style, man. You know my motto. But seriously, text her back before she thinks you're ignoring her."
Liam grabbed his phone, hesitating for a second before typing back.
Liam:
"Sounds great. I'll meet you there in an hour."
He hit send and immediately regretted it. Was he overthinking it? Was this actually a date? Before he could spiral into over-analysis, Max tossed a pillow at him.
"Dude, chill. It's just an art exhibit. Worst case, you see some weird sculptures. Best case, you get to flirt with Eva over fancy paintings."
Liam groaned. "How are you so good at oversimplifying everything?"
Max grinned. "It's a gift. Now, go get ready. You're not gonna show up in your video game sweats, are you?"