by H P Steven
“Yeah I know, I couldn’t help it,” I said.
“Wow,” Susan said while taking another sip. Putting her glass down she turned to me. “You really are a dick,” she laughed.
“I’m kidding,” Susan quickly added.
We stayed for another couple of hours, luckily the wine wasn’t cheap so the maitre’d didn’t mind at all. Leaving I knew that I had spent the night with a great couple and I couldn’t be happier to stand up next to one of my oldest friends on the big day. I said that as I was walking back to the tube stop. Shaking hands with Cam and kissing Susan on the cheek.
“I can’t wait to stand up there beside you on the big day bro. See you all soon,”
Cam patted me on the shoulder. “Yeah man, get home safely, and thanks for being my best man. Couldn’t think of anyone better.”
“Thanks for coming out tonight Phil,” Susan replied. “Good luck with Anna.”
“Thanks Susan, I’m gonna need it.”
“See ya next time Margaret.”
Just as Margaret gave me a massive hug, the breath was squeezed from my body it was so tight. I saw both Cam and Susan smile as I glanced over Margarets shoulder. Finally, turning and heading down the street the down the stairs at Green Park tube station. Luckily catching one of the last trains, unfortunately I had to catch a bus once I got to South Kensington as the District Line had stopped for the night. Though staring at the last message, I got from Anna, I had a smile on my face all the way home.
13
The Last Time I saw Them
Waking up the next morning I checked the time on my phone and answered it.
“What, the hell bro!” I yelled.
“You up?” Cam said. “Just making sure you got home safely.”
“I guess I’m up now. What’s going on?” I asked.
“Was thinking bout popping over later after work. What’s for tea?” Cam asked.
“Ah… roast bro, with the works,” I said.
“Ah sweet as bro, I’ll be there before seven,” Cam replied.
“Yeah um, is that all. I might go to sleep for a couple more hours.”
“Yeah bro, catch you later,” Cam laughed.
“Yeah man sounds good, see you later.”
Hanging up the phone and setting the alarm for ten and going back to sleep. I rang Cam back at ten just after my alarm went off. “Hey bro did you ring earlier?” I asked.
“Yeah I’m coming over for dinner. Hannah and Devin should be back around 7:30pm so I might pop home and grab some gear and crash at your’s bro, is that all?” Cam asked.
“Oh sweet as, did I say what we’re having?”
“Yeah dick, a roast with the veggies from narm,” Cam laughed.
“Oh right, sounds good, pick up a carton and I’ll see you later man,” I said.
Hanging up and throwing my phone on the floor and going back to sleep.
Finally waking up and getting out of bed around two pm. I jumped in the shower and headed down to Somerfield’s and then a bit later Waitrose’s. Luckily everything’s in the oven around four pm, then sat down on the couch, and flicked on the TV. Just a lazy hazy day, the book is where I want it to be. Anna’s just about to board her first flight and Hannah hasn’t said anything about Kalliope today, well so far anyway.
“Oh crap.” I laughed aloud as my phone started vibrating on the coffee table.
“Hello.”
“Hey bro what beer do you want?” Cam asked.
“Ah hey Cam. Um, don’t care, coldish.”
“Ah cool, too easy. Be there soon,” Cam insisted.
“Yeah no worries I’ll text you the code to the gate the doors unlocked,” I said.
“Yeah man Awesome,” Cam replied hanging up.
Checking dinner, I grabbed a beer then it hits me, the best book ending I could’ve ever thought up. Jumping behind the computer, I quickly started typing it out as Cam arrived.
“Hey bro just in my room, chuck the beer in the fridge I’ll be a few minutes’ bro,” I yelled out.
“Yeah man. What you up too?” Cam asked.
“Just finishing this book!” I yelled out.
“Holy shite mate bout time, hang on,” Cam replied.
“What why?” I asked as the idiot came into my room and snaps off a few pics.
“Dude that’s not funny,” I remarked.
“You all done man?” Cam asked.
“Hang on,” I said typing.
Then it faded to grey and we never stood there together again, though tomorrow never had us scared. Holding hands knowing I’d always know I could close my eyes and she’d be there.
I typed.
“Yeah bro, all done, beer time,” I said. Getting up from the desk and high fiving Cam.
“Ah what’s going on bro. Where’s Susan tonight?”
“Mum-daughter time man, so I’ve got a rare night out,” Cam announced.
“Ah nice one,” I laughed just as Hannah and Devin walked in.
“Hey you two, just in time for tea.”
“Oh nice and a roast, great call Phil, Devin said.
“How’s it going anyway douchebag?” Hannah asked.
“Yeah good thanks, have fun at work on Friday,” I replied with a cheeky smile on my face.
“Oh crap how bad is it?” Hannah asked.
“No idea,” I said.
“Yeah man Greg was telling us. I rang him and Linda yesterday to wish Iva a belated happy birthday,” Devin said.
“Do you want me to say anything to her?” Hannah asked.
“Um, I’ll think about it and get back to you, but grab a beer and let’s have some dinner.”
“Sounds good,” Hannah replied.
“Aye Cam start cutting up the roast bro. I’ll sort the gravy, vegetables are still in the oven, nothing better than a good roast dinner aye guys.”
“Yeah, man been hanging out all day for this roast bro,” Devin insisted.
“Yeah Phil. I’m just gonna have a quick shower,” Hannah replied.
“Cool, gravy done and the veggies are sorted, come help yourselves guys,” I announced.
“Mean, way to go Phil, this looks bloody good” Cam declared finishing up cutting the roast.
“We all sorted, hey Devin grab a beer mate,” Cam added.
“Yeah bro, let’s get stuck in.” I laughed.
“Oh that reminds me man, congrats to you and Susan, where is she?” Devin asked.
“Out with her mum bro, Cam didn’t get the invite,” I joked.
“Ha, brilliant.” Devin laughed.
“Easy on, we all set for tomorrow morning so should be sweet. Meeting up with them both a little later but will sort itself,” Cam insisted.
“Oh cool. What time we having to head off tomorrow?” I asked.
“Probably just after eight man,” Cam said.
“Oh cool so peak hour as well,” I replied, shaking my head.
Enjoying the roast as Hannah re-joined us after grabbing a plate and a beer.
“Oh congrats Cam, how’d you do it?” Hannah asked.
“Ah took the mother in law out for lunch and asked for her permission then took Susan out to dinner. Before heading over here,” Cam said.
“Oh nice, well done,” Hannah responded as we all sit there enjoying dinner. I got up to grab another beer. Standing next to the fridge I turned to the others. “Hey who wants another beer?” I asked.
“Yeah bro, I’ll go another,” Cam said followed by Devin and Hannah.
“Awesome dinner bro,” Devin insisted, as I passed him a beer.
“Yeah thanks Phil,” Hannah agreed.
“So what’s the better half doing on her mother-daughter night out man?” I asked Cam.
“Ha no idea bro.” Cam laughed.
“Ha there’s your beer man,” I said.
“Cheers bro,” Cam replied.
I sat back down to enjoy the beer and dinner. It didn’t take too long to finish up and drop my plate into the sink before Hannah said,
“Hey Phil, don’t worry about the dishes these two can do them.”
“Yeah I was thinking the same thing.” I laughed.
“Yeah no worries,” Cam said.
“Hannah, do you want another beer?” I asked.
“Yeah sounds good, how’s the book coming?” Hannah asked.
Handing her another beer I told her, “I think I might have just finished it.”
“What really?” Devin asked.
“Yeah just wrote the ending as Cam walked in tonight,” I said.
“Here you two, take a look at these,” Cam remarked showing Hannah and Devin the pictures of me finishing off my book.
As we all started laughing at Cam. “Ha, you’re a dick aye, I’ll have a look tomorrow at some stage and see if it needs to be re-worded but that’s basically it. Can’t wait to not tell you lot about my next one.”
“Yeah can’t wait to read this one,” Cam said
“Just be careful with the criticisms you might end up in the next one,” I laughed.
“Yeah no worries just change our names,” Devin insisted.
“Ha, too easy bro, but those dishes aren’t gonna do themselves,” I said.
“Yeah and no cheating. Give them a scrub down and finish them in the dishwasher,” Hannah snapped.
“Yeah all right, I’ll get started on them,” Cam said. “Hey, do any of you want another beer while I’m up?”
“Yeah man sounds good,” I replied, sitting on the couch.
Joined by Hannah who got up and grabbed another two beer from Cam and came back into the lounge to sit next to me. “Hey we spoke to Linda and Greg, it’s not your fault,” Hannah said.
“Thanks Hannah.”
“So what are you going to do?” Hannah asked.
“I’m not sure about Kalliope aye, but Anna’s back on Friday and we’re going out for dinner,” I said.
“What really wow. You’re a dick!” Hannah yelled, punching me in the arm.
“Ha, that didn’t hurt,” I joked back to her as she lines one up and punches me in the arm a little bit harder. “Okay that one hurt a tiny, tiny bit,”
“Good, wow. You’re useless with women,” Hannah laughed.
“Well, I’ve never thought of myself as a ladie’s man and I wasn’t really expecting to meet Kalliope,”
“Well, I think I’ll just leave that one alone for a bit,” I added.
“Yeah can’t wait to run into her at work, I’m gonna tell her you were crying when we saw you tonight,” Hannah joked.
“Wow that is terrible,” I laughed.
“Hey, what are you two talking about?” Cam asked.
“Guns, bitches and stuff bro,” I replied as Hannah punched me again. “Ha I think that one might actually bruise,” I joked to Hannah.
“Good, you deserve it,” Hannah teased.
“Yeah you’re probably right,” I sighed. “So what do you think I should do?” I asked Hannah trying not to laugh at me but failing miserably..
“Well, I’d like to see how it goes with Anna, let’s be fair you’re not a player cause you have absolutely no game,”
Before adding
“Hey Cam, Devin. Does Phil have any game?” Hannah hollered, pretty loudly.
“No,” Cam replied, a little quicker than either of us expected.
“Seen more game in a sea turtle,” Devin laughed.
With the two of them doing the dishes pissing themselves laughing and splashing water everywhere.
“Wow, way to have my back guys” I yelled trying to hide the smile from my face, cause in a way I knew they were right.
“Hey do you guys want to pop out to a bar tonight, it’s still pretty early? I’m feeling pretty good after my shower and having something to eat,” Hannah asked.
“Um, we could if you guys want to,” Cam agreed.
“Yeah sounds pretty good,” Devin added.
“Cool, where you thinking Hannah?” I asked.
“Let’s go to the Boat house, can’t be bothered walking to the Temperance,” Hannah suggested.
“Yeah sounds good,” Devin agreed.
“Yip, I’ll chuck a shirt on then we can hit it,” Cam replied.
“Yeah let’s hit a few other bars on the way there aye,” I suggested.
We all got ready to have a fairly large night in no time. As we’re heading down towards the Fox and Hound. I suggested stopping for a quick pint. Which went down well till we walked in and I noticed one of Kalliope’s flatmates.
Luckily Brett hadn’t seen me so I knew we wouldn’t be bothered and he’d let me and my friends have a quick pint. Without disruption. Only giving me a filthy look once or twice, when he noticed we were in there. I shook it off and took no notice till Hannah asked me who that dude is.
“Oh it’s one of Kalliope’s flatmates,” I told her.
“Do you want to leave?” Hannah asked.
“Yeah after this pint,” I replied.
“Fair enough,” Hannah shrugged.
Just as we’re leaving, Brett approached me pretty drunk and looking for what seemed like trouble. “Hey you!” Brett yelled.
I stepped in front of my friends and said back, “Hey Brett, how’s it going man?”
“Dude, do you know what you did?” Brett asked.
“Yeah I forgot to put in a random number on my friend’s phone and their mate and brother thought it would be funny to press redial,” I replied calmly.
“What you told them, were some pretty disrespectful things,” Brett said as he moved to square up towards me. Hannah stepped forward to say something but I stopped her. Devin and Cam try and stand behind me. But I told them all to go outside.
“Hey Brett I really liked Kalliope, I don’t talk about my relationships to anyone in that detail. If my friends are lucky I might tell them I’m seeing somebody,” I replied, again calmly.
“Nah that’s not good enough I should kick your ass,” Brett said through gritted his teeth.
“Dude I’m out with my friends tonight. I’m in no mood for my shirt to get wrinkled. Just tell Kalliope you kicked my ass, she might believe you,” I replied, starting to get annoyed.
Talking with a straight face I can see that look of anger on Brett’s face. I’m not surprised when he throws a punch towards me. I’m more annoyed that Cam runs back in and tried to grab him.
I quickly turned and stopped Cam from doing anything and tried and push him back outside as I felt a couple of punches hit me in the back of the head. Just as I told Cam to, “Stay the hell outside, I’ve got this.” I turned back to Brett, catching a straight right punch heading towards my nose.
“Dude, you got in a couple of blows. My shirts not wrinkled go home and tell Kalliope you kicked my ass,” I insisted trying to turn around to leave. I had to turn back quickly as I heard.
“Nah fuck that!” From Brett, and he goes to punch me again.
Just as his friends run over and tried to pick him up. Luckily one of them is his boyfriend that heard most of the stuff I had said and apologised, “Sorry man Brett’s pretty drunk and little protective of Kalliope,” he said.
“Well, I thought she was awesome too, have a good night man and try and get Brett home safely,” I replied leaving the bar, I turned to talk to Cam, “Hey bro way to have my back, not that I needed it aye.”
“Yeah bro who was that?” Cam asked.
“Oh that was Kalliope’s flatmate sticking up for her. Wasn’t gonna let the dude hit me three times though aye,” I replied.
Devin turned around as we were walking away and said, “Yeah man holy shit, I’d hate to see you angry.”
“See we should have just left,” Hannah commented.
“Nah it’s all good Hannah forget about it,” I answered. Taking out my cellphone. “We should probably head to the boathouse now though,” I added.
Texting Mike to see what he’s doing tonight and tell him we’re all heading to the boat house.
“So where’d you learn to punch like t
hat?” Devin asked.
“Older brother’s bro,” I joked. “I’m sure Cam’s holding back a few moves as well. After Drew must have roughed him up a few times growing up.”
“Ha,” Cam laughed out.
“Anyway let’s go get a beer. Hey Hannah do you want to share a bottle of wine or are you out boozing with the boys tonight?” I asked.
“Ha, Natalie might be there tonight she’s on a date out here with that guy,” Hannah said.
“You’re only telling us now?” I teased.
“Wow, so best behaviour?” Devin asked.
“Yeah no redialling,” Hannah laughed.
“Wow, too mean Hannah, way to mean,” I joked trying hard not to laugh. “So that wine?” I added.
“Yeah sounds good, as long as you promise not to hit anyone,” Hannah insisted.
“Yip, sure done,” I replied just as my phone starts vibrating. I take it out of my pocket and check it.
Hey bro sounds good be over soon, I like beer, lol
Mike
“Hey guys looks like Mike’s gonna meet us there as well,” I said.
“Bags not telling him about Natalie,” I added.
“Bags not,” Cam and Hannah said together faster than Devin.
“Unlucky bro,” I laughed.
“Hey she’s Hannah’s friend and she might not even be there,” Devin said.
As we just arrived at the boat house Hannah looked up and we could see a blonde woman waving at her. I walked up to Hannah. “Jesus, she’s hot,” I remarked.
“Wow and I’ve met her,” Devin teased.
“I’m trying not to picture it,” I muttered, laughing past Hannah and heading inside straight to the bar.
“Hey best behaviour,” Hannah remind me.
As we’re both at the bar and grabs the beers for Cam and Devin. While I bring the glasses and the bottle of wine over to the table. Cam and Devin have scored for us all.
Just as Mike walked in, Devin jumped up to quickly talk to him as Natalie walked down the stairs and over too us to say hello. Hannah gets up to welcome her over and introduce us all as Devin and Mike walk back over.
“And this is Mike and Devin you know,” Hannah said.
“Hey good to see you again,” Devin declared.
“Yeah, nice to see you again aswell, nice to meet you Mike,” Natalie said smiling. “So why are you guys out tonight?” Natalie asked.
