Ray stuffed the remains of his (first) brownie in his mouth, heaved a sigh before heroically giving one to Adam, and headed over to his shitty little coffee-pod machine. “What are you in the mood for?” he said, rummaging through the small wicker basket full of pods they kept alongside the machine.
A good cup of coffee. I’d make do with Nespresso. “Surprise me.”
After he’d quickly filled the water bowl he kept here for whenever he babysat Phil and set it on the floor, he fussed about making coffee. Adam rattled away at the keyboard of his laptop, and I took myself over to the crockery cupboard, found a plate, and arranged the rest of the brownies on it.
I carried it over to the table and pulled out a chair.
“What’s Kevin up to today?” Adam said, eyes still on his laptop. He tapped another couple of keys decisively, and closed it. “Gym?”
“He got that done at six this morning,” I said, disgruntled. I’d missed out on my Saturday morning snuggling. I was still relatively new to it, and was indignant at the loss. “No, he’s working on the garage. Now that he’s finished reflooring it, he’s started building the shelves.”
Adam laughed. “What are you going to do when he’s run out of things to fix?”
“Start breaking stuff. Unless you’ve got a job for him?”
“I might.”
“Oh?” I’d been joking. Adam and Ray had renovated their house a couple of years ago. “Time to redecorate already? Thinking about another extension?”
“No. I’m in talks with a client who wants me to design and build an earthship on the land he’s rewilding. It’s a big project and they want to hire local. When I get the contract, I’d like to get Kevin in to consult, and probably head up the construction crew. What do you think?”
“Earthship? I mean…he’s amazing and he can do anything he sets his mind to, but I don’t think he’s built a…ship? Before?”
“Don’t be fooled. It’s not a ship. It’s an eco dwelling. Very sustainable. Solar power, recycled materials, blends with the landscape. It’s why I want Kevin. I know he’s into that.”
I stared at him.
“Think Hobbiton,” he clarified. “If the hobbits were hippies.”
“Pleaseget the contract. Kevin would lose his shit if he got to build a hobbit hole.”
“I’ll give him a call, then.”
I frowned at him.
“Or not?” Adam said, lifting a brow.
“No, no. Definitely call him.”
Brows still lifted, Adam gestured at my frown.
“You’ve spoiled my fun. I brought a special present for you as well as brownies for Ray, and now I’m regretting it, because you’re being nice.”
“I’m always nice.”
“You can be mean.”
“Only on special occasions,” Adam said. Ray dropped a cup heavily on the counter. Even from behind, I could tell he was blushing. His ears were red.
Adam’s lips hitched in a lazy smile.
“Here you go,” Ray said, setting a coffee in front of me and bustling off to make another, standing patiently while the Nespresso machine pretended to brew it properly.
I opened the messenger bag I’d set on the empty chair beside me and pulled out a stack of old photographs.
Adam’s gaze went to the photos, bounced over to Ray quickly, and then narrowed on my face.
Now it was my turn to smile.
