I let out a breath through puffed-out cheeks. “Well. A lot, actually. That he has not only a love of classic literature and seventeenth-century French poets, but he also loves Yaoi graphic novels. I didn’t know that before tonight.” I met Merry’s gaze, then Angus’. “To be honest, I’d been worried that he might turn out to be different when he was with you guys than he was with me. My ex would be like two different people. You know, the guy who he was in public and the guy who he was with me, and it used to bug me. But Jordan’s not like that. The Jordan I’ve spent time with alone is the same Jordan he is with you guys. I’ve learned he has a spectacular sense of humour, that there’s minimal rambling when he’s completely comfortable. He’s really smart, and I learned that he has some pretty amazing friends.”

Merry and Angus both smiled, but said nothing, just as Jordan came back from the bathrooms and slid into his seat. “Am I interrupting anything?” he asked, looking moderately scared.

“Your friends were just giving me the interrogation test,” I said, unable to stop the smile.

He shot them a look of horrified surprise. “They better not have. I gave strict instructions. Strict instructions in point form. It wasn’t difficult. There was only one instruction. No interrogation. We. Are. Not. ASIO.”

I snorted and Merry rolled her eyes at him. “Oh relax. He passed.”

“He did?” Jordan asked.

“I did?” I asked.

Merry nodded and Angus gave us a sly smile. “Yep. Flying colours and all that.”

Jordan visibly relaxed and turned to face me, his hand on my thigh. “I hope it wasn’t too bad. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have left you alone.”

I laced our fingers on my leg. “It was fine, really. Glad I passed though.”

“Are you ready to go?” he asked.

“Yeah.”

He smiled all shy-like. “Did you want to… come back to my place?”

“Oh yes, please.” Angus leaned back and patted his belly. “I need to take off my pants.”

Jordan’s mouth drew into a thin line and he turned back to me. “Or we could go to your place, perhaps?”

I laughed. “Sounds great. Why don’t we cab it? We can drop everyone off at their places on the way.”

And that’s what we did. We dropped Angus off first, then Jordan and I went to my place, and we left some cash with Merry for the final drop-off. We waved her off and Jordan sighed up at the night sky, his breath billowing in the cold night air. “So, it wasn’t a complete disaster.”

“Are you kidding?” I asked, opening the gate to my townhouse. “Your friends are great.”