To my astonishment, he laughs loudly. “No, he’s my flatmate. He’s far too happy for me.” He looks sideways at me. “I like them older and surlier,” he says slowly and no less brutally effectively. I feel my cock stir under that clear brown gaze and leap into evasive manoeuvres.

“Hello.” I smile quickly at Charlie and ignore Jesse. “Do you want to give me that? I’ll hang it in the back of the car.”

He smiles and it’s seriously like an angel has descended. God knows how he goes about his normal life without his way being littered with smitten bodies. “Thank you. Bloody coat hanger was hurting my fingers.” He hands it over and reaches out to hug Jesse who’s still smiling curiously at me. “Have a good time,” he says happily to Jesse. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

“That actually doesn’t leave me with a very wide field. While the saintly existence seems to suit you, I can’t say I’m gagging to live it with you,” Jesse says. “I’ll deal with things my own way, thank you.”

“Badly then,” the blond man says sadly, surprising a laugh out of me. He smiles at me. “Have a good few days,” he says cheerfully. “Try and keep this one in order.”

“I don’t think I have that level of power. I’m not exactly sure who does.” We smile at each other and I turn to find Jesse staring at me. For once there isn’t a trace of a smile on his face and it looks wrong somehow. He has a face that’s built to display his warmth and charm. I wonder if he’s having second thoughts.

“You still okay to go?” I ask hesitantly. His expression clears and I contain my sigh of relief when the smile appears again, poking at the corners of that wide mouth like the sun around a cloud.

“Of course,” he says. He hugs his flatmate. “You going to be okay?” he asks somewhat anxiously, and I watch them curiously.

“Of course,” Charlie says. “Don’t worry.”

“I’m not worrying exactly.” I tilt my head slightly. Even I can hear the worry. “I’d just be happier if Misha was around. Not that you need him, but you’ve had quite a few episodes lately.”

Charlie steps back, his face closing down slightly. “He’ll be round tonight. He’s got the week planned.” Jesse’s shoulders sag, and his friend smiles. “I’m an adult, Jess. I don’t need to be treated like a–”

“Like a child,” Jesse fills in, smiling wryly. “I know the tune, and I know the lyrics.”

“Well, sing it properly, then,” Charlie advises happily, and, smiling at both of us, he turns and heads back into his flat, oblivious to the woman who nearly walks into a postbox as she stares at him.