He raised his hands. ‘It doesn’t matter that it was a CV, Chris. It only matters that it was an official document and that the company went to the police and insisted they press charges. I thought it would just blow over, but it looks like I’m going to court.’
‘For a slap on the wrist.’
‘Or a prison sentence.’
Sarah returned, her cheeks glowing, resumed her position on the bed.
‘I’ve had to engage a lawyer,’ Zac said, ‘and I don’t know what I’m going to say to my new boss. I’ve only known her for a couple of weeks. Anyway, yeah, so now you know – that’s my news.’
‘Pretty bad, isn’t it?’ Sarah said, frowning, eyes sparkling.
I looked at Zac. ‘Well, I appreciate you telling me, man. You could have mentioned it sooner, though.’
‘What, so you could make jokes at my expense?’
‘Yeah, mainly that. But … Listen, seriously, I have to go, Biddy’s waiting.’
‘Of course. Could we keep this between us for now?’
‘You want me to lie to Biddy?’
‘It’s just really embarrassing or whatever.’
He’d said the same after telling me that Mel thought I was boring on drugs – asked if we could just keep it between us. A couple of nights later, she’d phoned to ask if I had any MDMA I could spare. I’d said no and hung up. Within minutes, unbidden, Zac had texted: OMG, can you believe her cheek, dude??? I’d texted: Yeah, some friend!
‘Have you told him the other thing?’ Sarah said. ‘About your apartment.’
‘Fucking hell,’ I said, ‘there’s more?’
Why hadn’t Sarah debriefed me already? Why were they in such fucking cahoots?
‘Ah, yeah. So, I’ve been kicked out of my apartment because Marcus’s brother is coming to stay with him.’
‘Oh, perfect timing,’ I said. ‘Although, that guy’s a concern, going by his decor, so it’s probably for the best.’
Sarah said, ‘He was wondering if he could stay with us again.’
‘Just for a week or whatever.’ Zac raised his hands. ‘Until I find something else.’
‘Yeah, of course, man. Mi casa es tu casa, as always.’ I hugged Sarah, hugged Zac, got my bag onto my shoulders. ‘Let’s talk more about this tomorrow. I really have to go.’
‘I’ve told Zac we could be character witnesses,’ Sarah said.
‘Yeah, of course.’
Zac nodded, sat on the bed next to Sarah. They looked comfortable together, like they belonged.
* * *
Biddy and I chained our bikes near the Gasometer, took off our helmets, held hands, waited for a break in the traffic, ran across the road.
‘It’s just that Sarah has to rearrange her plans constantly for us,’ I said. ‘Everything you and I do together relies on her being home with the kids. She’s got exams soon.’