Page 83 of A is for Aftercare

“Yes. But I have to babysit on Monday evening.”

Hamish raises his eyebrows.

“Which means I won’t be able to stay after work,” I add. “I’m sorry.”

“No need to be sorry. It’s good that you help out with your niece.”

I smile and wonder when a good time would be to introduce Hamish to Blake, Corey, and Lexi. Okay, so Corey has already met him, but it would be good for them to have a proper introduction when Hamish is wearing more than a leather kilt. Soon.

We look up as our food arrives, both thanking the waiter. I settle into an evening of good food and fine wine in the company of the sexiest man alive.

20

Hamish

“This is a nice pub,” Archie says as we go towards the bar.

We met at my house and walked here, hand in hand.

“Pint of Stella?” the barman asks me.

“Aye, thanks.” I look at Archie, eyebrows raised.

“Rum and Coke? Thank you.”

I stroke his hand as the barman pours our drinks. "Nervous?"

“About meeting your friends? Yes, a little.” He glances around. “Does everyone know you here?”

“Not everyone, but the landlord and bar staff do.”

We get our drinks and go to the window booth the guys and I normally sit at. They're not here yet, which will hopefully give Archie a few minutes to relax. Right now, he looks like a rabbit caught in headlights.

“They won’t bite, you know.”

Archie sips his dark drink. “Your friends?”

I laugh. “Who else?”

“I know. But it’s still kind of nerve-racking. What if they don’t like me?”

“Why wouldn’t they?” I adore Archie, so I can’t see my friends being anything less than enchanted by him. Of course, I’m also heavily biased.

“I guess we’re about to find out,” he says as Gabe and Calvin walk in.

They wave and then go straight to the bar, joining us a few minutes later.

“Archie, isn’t it?” Calvin asks, holding his hand out. “We met briefly at Hamish’s party.”

“Briefly,” Archie says. “Before you whisked my brother away.”

Calvin laughs and sits opposite Archie and me.

Gabe slides in beside him. “Hmm…I hope this doesn’t feel too much like an interview panel. Spence will have to sit on that side when he arrives.”

Archie smiles timidly. This is a side to him I haven't seen. While he can be very subservient, he's generally self-assured.

“What has Hamish told you about us?” Gabe asks.