Page 4 of Kicks

Never going to happen.

They were all sipping coffee very tentatively. Eddie and Tyler were bookending a very rough-looking Scott.

“I needed that,” Scott said, settling his head on his pillow. “God, I don’t feel good.”

“Me neither,” Tyler replied.

Eddie didn’t usually suffer from hangovers. It was nothing a McDonald’s breakfast and Fanta orange couldn’t cure.

“I’ve never been so embarrassed in all my life,” Scott wailed.

“Calm down,” Eddie replied. “You absolutely have. Loads of times.”

Tyler giggled. “I’m not sure that’s helping.”

“I’m just trying to give a little perspective,” Eddie said. “So you puked up? Hardly anyone saw.”

“Lucky Kat had that old T-shirt in her bag.”

Scott buried his head in his hands. “I could have died. Me walking into The Grand wearing a T-shirt sayingPleasure Seekers. Coming on your aisle.I want to crawl into my own skin.”

Eddie and Tyler were silent. Eddie suspected his friend was struggling to keep it together, like he was.

“It was a very successful campaign,” Eddie offered.

He was rewarded with a slap on his thigh from Scott.

“I don’t know why you’re worrying,” Tyler said. “Brad made far more of a fool of himself. He’ll be the topic of conversation on Monday.”

“True,” Scott replied. “What a prick. I don’t know how you work with him every day.”

Scott had opened all the skylights. It was a beautiful day out there.

“This is ridiculous,” Eddie announced, making Scott and Tyler jump. “We’re youngish men. I’m not spending all my weekends getting wasted and recovering.”

Scott and Tyler turned to him, aghast.

“What do you intend to do then?” Scott asked.

“I don’t know,” Eddie replied. “How about getting fit?”

“Sounds good,” Tyler said. “Danny is so fit and he does it all at work. Easy peasy. Not like us who sit on our arses all day.”

Eddie got off the bed and walked over to the skylight. If he stuck his head out, the sea could be seen off to the right. It was sparkling.

“We’re starting on Monday,” he declared. “Meet me at lunchtime and we can power walk or something.”

“It’s Saturday,” Tyler said, with a laugh. “Why not start this weekend?”

Eddie flopped down on the end of the bed. “Let’s not be hasty. We’re still very ill.”

Scott nodded. “Now that I can get on board with. Anyway, imagine dating a gym bunny. How boring would that be?”

Eddie put his hands behind his head. He hadn’t dated anyone for ages and had no intention of changing that.

“I think I’m safe,” he replied.

TWO