chapter 4

It was funny how Max and Kaley settled back in to their routine after Hannah's visit, albeit, minus the gym and healthy eating. Max had rediscovered his passion for food now that Kaley was cooking proper meals and when Kaley could see him packing on a bit of his old weight, she knew Max was on the mend. It was great to cook for someone who enjoyed his food so much, and the return of Max's cute little paunch felt like a manifestation of how well Kaley could keep him happy. Within three months, Max seemed to be carrying even more weight than he had when he moved in six months ago; his t shirts now starting to fit awkwardly around his middle and Kaley could see the waistbands on his drying underwear looking a little stretched and tattered. Max was definitely happier though; Kaley had never seen him so care free and relaxed in the whole time she had known him. Nor had she felt more in love with him, as much as she hated to admit it to herself. Max was someone she could never have; he was a decent guy and there was no way he would even contemplate a romantic relationship with his ex's old best friend.

'I've got a huge batch of your favourite leftovers from the restaurant here!' cheered Kaley merrily as she came home, awkwardly carrying the tray. 'It needs eating tonight though,' she warned. Kaley was very conscious about food safety.

'No problem!' smiled Max, standing up and taking the tray from her, placing it on the table and picking at it all with his fingers. 'Mmm, this is incredible!' he enthused whilst scoffing and licking his fingers. 'Every time you make it, it just gets better and better!'

Kaley smiled. It made her so happy to see Max enjoying her food. That was, after all, how she ended up getting into the catering business in the first place. She owed her entire career to Max's great appetite. 'Well, I'm glad you love it. You deserve it!'

Kaley found she was still enjoying going to the gym, even without Max by her side keeping her company. Lots more guys were coming up to her wanting to chat her up, now her imposing friend wasn't with her. But Kaley really wasn't interested. For the first time in her life, she felt really happy with her home life. Max made a great companion at home and she was determined to enjoy his company for as long as he was willing to stay. She just had to make sure the prospect of staying on at the apartment with her was as tempting as possible. She cooked up all of Max's favourite foods and made sure to make them look appealing and tempting. It really was fantastic how much a big, tall guy like Max could put away.

A couple of weeks later, Kaley started to think about Max's birthday and what she wanted to do for him. What would a man like Max like for his birthday? He enjoyed watching some sports on tv, but wasn't massively into gaming or, as she had found out, exercise. He did like his food though. She thought back to the huge cake she had made for his wedding to Hannah all those years ago. Max had never stopped talking about how it was the best cake he had ever eaten.

Kaley got all of the ingredients she needed and looked online for decoration ideas. Kaley was a chef and appreciated the flavours of her food, but decorating cakes was never her best skill. Nor did it interest her all that much. She decided it would be five tier cake, with as much colour as she could manage. She pre baked for days on end, secretly assessing which cakes Max seemed to appreciate the most and he happily guzzled them all down, providing valuable feedback for her mission, not that he knew it.

Max was off visiting his friends for the afternoon when Kaley set to work baking, letting them cool and then starting to decorate. Max's birthday was tomorrow and he probably wouldn't be back until late that evening, meaning she could hide it under a box she had wrapped to look like it was one of his presents. She carefully piped icing of multiple colours all around the five tiers, a painfully boring job, especially for Kaley who had difficulty concentrating on tedious tasks like this. Suddenly she heard voices outside the door to the apartment and the lock was turning. Kaley ran to her box to cover the cake when Max came running in to the living room backwards, there was Phil, his old football buddy from college at the door holding a football and getting ready to throw it to Max. It all seemed to happen in slow motion as Phil threw the ball, Max running backwards, arms outstretched but his foot tripping on Kaley's handbag on the floor; down he went whilst the ball sailed above his head, landing, splat, straight into Kaley's cake.

'Shit!' Phil whispered from the door. Max brushed himself off and stood up. Kaley stared in horror at the ruined cake she had just spent the last five hours constructing.

'Kaley, are you ok?' asked Max, standing up and walking over to her. 'I'm so sorry. Rule number 1: no ball games in the house. What can I do to help?'

Kaley shook her head, still unable to speak. Phil looked around awkwardly. 'I might, you know, head off...' he mumbled, not able to look at the devastation on Kaley's face. 'Nice to see you again Kaley,' he finished awkwardly, giving a little wave as he headed out of the door.

Kaley still couldn't speak. 'It's not too bad,' tried Max, pulling the football that was torpedoed in the cake; wincing as the top two layers collapsed on to the lower layers as he did so. 'Yikes. Well, maybe we can save the bottom layer at least,' he suggested.

Kaley shook her head. 'I'll just have to start again,' she announced, feeling strength returning to her voice again.

'Do you have time?' asked Max, looking at the clock. 'When do you need it for?'

'...Tomorrow,' Kaley answered, looking confused. What a stupid question. 'Your birthday is tomorrow, remember.'

Max looked at the cake, taking it in as if for the first time. He gasped. 'You mean this whole cake is for my birthday?' he marvelled, circling it. 'I thought it was for some super plush wedding in the city!'

'No, it was going to be your birthday cake,' Kaley sighed. 'But never mind. If I head out now I should be able to get everything I need to start again before bed. I can ice it in the morning.'

'No, don't do that! I love it as it is!' Max protested. 'I can't believe you did this for just my birthday!'

'There are all your favourites inside,' Kaley went on, a little more cheery at how impressed Max was. 'Chocolate, lemon, red velvet, Victoria and carrot sponge,' she reeled off, pointing to each layer in turn.

'Those are all my favourites!' Max cheered. 'Thank you so much!' Then, to Kaley's surprise, he reached in and started picking at the cake, grabbing fistfuls and guzzling it down, murmuring his appreciation. 'This is amazing!' he laughed.

'It's had a dirty football in there!' laughed Kaley. 'It's probably covered in germs by now!'

'I don't care,' laughed Max. 'It's too damn good! I don't care what it looks like. Only how it tastes!' he mumbled, guzzling the cake.

Kaley laughed hard, looking on admiringly at the handsome man devouring her cake like it was an eating contest. Why had Hannah ever let this amazing guy go?