Page 3 of Perfect Night

“Are you still working tonight?” Jason whispered.

He was the only one who knew of Charlie’s side hustle. The others would go ballistic.

“Cancelled, but hopefully I can get something else tomorrow,” said Charlie.

“Okay, well, you look like you’ve had a shit day. Shall we go out, get wasted, and find some burly bears to pound away our trauma?”

Charlie cracked up laughing. Jason could always cheer him up.

“I’ve got a date with the sofa and all this,” he replied, holding up two bags of junk food.

“At least eat something proper first,” grumbled Langdon.

“Of course, oh wise one.”

Langdon smiled and went back to cooking his delicious tuna pasta salad.

“What you got?” asked Jason, snatching the bags and pulling out mountains of chocolate, biscuits, sweets, and crisps. “God, how bad a day was it?”

“I think I need to get a new job,” said Charlie, his voice cracking.

Jason immediately dropped the bags on the counter and marched Charlie over to the gigantic corner sofa they had, which could fit all five of them comfortably if they were having one of their movie nights.

“Tell Mother all about it.”

“Mother? You’re the youngest one here.”

“Age is nothing with my wisdom.”

Charlie cocked a brow, causing Jason to laugh. He was still holding on to Charlie. He’d always been the tactile type. Ithad only amplified since he’d moved back to London. Langdon appeared with a large glass of sauvignon blanc for each of them.

“My hero,” said Jason, accepting the glass and taking a large gulp.

Langdon shook his head, smiling, and went back to finishing dinner.

“Where are the others?” asked Charlie.

“Gregory is still in the office. Said he was ‘in the zone,’ and we know what that means.”

“We’ll have to drag him out for Sunday brunch. Where’s Paolo?”

“He’s with his sister. The God-botherers are at some Bible camp praying for his soul, so he’s spending the weekend with her.”

“And they allowed that?”

“His auntie is looking after her and you know how she dotes on him.”

“Just the three of us tonight, then?”

“I’m at work at eight,” said Langdon.

“Just us two, then.”

“Which is why you should come out with me,” whined Jason. “You don’t want some brute of a man taking advantage of me, do you?”

“I think it’ll be the other way around. I just want to veg on the sofa and watchTheBiggest Loserreruns, feeling hypocritical as I stuff my face with crap, knowing I’m still the skinniest one in the room.”

“Please.” Jason pouted, fluttering his eyelashes.

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