Only meant to have a couple. Three or four tops. Met Simon for a few to take the edge off the week. Told him all about my date with Jadyn. How I made her a sandwich. Didn’t mention I ended up eating it myself.
A couple down, I said my new nineteenth floor crew were out in All Bar One. Asked if he fancied meeting them. Her. He wasn’t keen at first. Didn’t think it was a good idea.
“We’re too young to spend every night staring at the loser fucking regulars in The King! Come on, you cockwomble.”
He still didn’t look convinced, so I downed my pint. Then I downed his. Stood up and walked to the door.
“For fuck’s sake, Jolon. I was drinking that!” But he followed me out. Knew he would.
The gang was all there when we arrived, huddled round a couple of high tables pushed together. They looked like they needed some life injecting into their evening.
I went straight in with my wrong-Simon story. Simon rolled his eyes. Someone nearly choked on a crisp. Jadyn was there, watching me. Laughing along. I gave her a mouthed “hello, you” and a smile while others were still recovering.
Someone got up to get a round in. Asked me if I was staying. I told her I was and asked for a double Hendrick’s and Tonic. But only if they have cucumbers. If not, I’ll have Sailor Jerry and Coke Zero. Double. The guys had started talking about the pens on the nineteenth. Said they never had enough.
“You, I mean we, work in absolute cunting luxury!” I mimed punching myself in the forehead with a stapler to demonstrate the state of the seventeenth-floor stationery. The whole table erupted. I howled with them. Bent double, face red hot with joy. People loved it. For a little while, I was the absolute centre of the universe. And I loved it.
Simon was fussing over me. Kept trying to hand me glasses of tap water. Telling me to pace myself. He put a hand on my shoulder like a disappointed dad. Patronising twat. He just couldn’t handle me having an audience for once.
I was trying to get a private word with Jadyn, but she was sitting between Martin and Beefy. We shared a few more glances and smiles before I had to go to the loo to break the seal. And powder my nose. It was one of those wanky pissers with mirrored walls. Nearly got into a fight with myself when I blocked the door I was trying to open.
Being the better man, I stepped back to let myself pass. Slipped on a wet patch and went down hard. Bruised my elbow on the toilet bowl. Dragged myself back up like a champ and wiped myself down. Put my game face back on. When I got back to the table, half of them had called it quits already. Others were making excuses to leave. Lightweights. Jadyn and Simon were still there, though. Sat together, deep in conversation.
I left them to chat about me for a bit. Spotted Martin at the fruit machine and went to talk about the review project, but he said he was on his way out. I told him everything was under control anyway. Gave him a wink. Patted his arse as he walked off. He didn’t like it.
Then it was just me, Simon, and Jadyn. We found a little table near the back and settled in. Simon bought a round. Jadyn asked how long we’d known each other, which neither of us could answer properly. I said it was definitely before he’d gone grey and podgy. She thought that was hilarious.
They got on well. Simon’s good with people when he isn’t trying too hard. Jadyn told him about the cactus. He told her I once argued with a squash referee for ten minutes. Even though I’d won.
“It was a league match,” I said.
“He was 15!”
More laughter. I was having one of those nights where everything lands. Every story. Every little comment. Was disappointed when they called last orders. Or maybe it was Simon that called it. He opened up Uber and asked Jadyn where she lived. Turns out they’re practically neighbours.
“We can share a ride, if you want?” he said. “I’m more or less on your way.”
Jadyn looked at me. “What about Jolon?”
“Jolon is heading in the opposite direction,” I said.
Simon offered to drop me somewhere, but I’m not going to make two people drive halfway across town for me. Not while my legs still work.
We milled about outside for a couple of minutes while waiting for the car. Still giggling over the night. Said our goodbyes as a Tesla pulled up. “That’s us,” said Simon. He gave me another pat on the shoulder and told me to drink some water. I told him to stop flirting with me. Another laugh.
Jadyn hugged me. A proper hug. Both her arms wrapped around me. Butterflies.
“Get home safe, Jolon. See you Monday.”
I looked into the cab window to wave them off. Simon was in the front, Jadyn in the back. I walked home feeling about nine feet tall. Woke up this morning with a bruised arm, a broken phone, and sick on the rug.
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