“I sorted you out loads of stuff last time,” Tito whined.
Marge narrowed her eyes. “And then you appear to have strewn the remaining stuff all over the place. It needs tidying.”
“I can do that when I get home.”
“Not with my supervision,” she replied. “In there. You will learn this if it’s the last thing I do.”
Tito’s shoulders dropped. “Looks like I’m busy.”
Noah caught Jonas’ eye and they burst out laughing.
“You’re amazing, Marge,” Jonas said.
“I’ll go for a run on my own,” Noah added. “You’re doing much more important work here.”
“Be here for two,” Marge said. “This one will have finished his chores and I’ll serve up for you.”
“Perfect,” he said before turning to Tito. “Now you be a good boy and listen to everything Marge tells you.”
He patted him on the head and followed Jonas out onto the landing.
“I guess Carmine is working,” Jonas said as they walked to the main door.
“We don’t live in each other’s pockets.”
Jonas frowned. “Everything okay?”
Was everything okay? On the whole, he supposed yes it was.
“I guess. It takes a bit of time getting used to being in a couple.”
“You can say that again,” Jonas replied. “Try instantly being a stepfather too.”
“How is that going?”
The cold air hit them as they walked outside. Roll on summer.
“It’s fine. She’s adorable and I love seeing Adam with her. It’s just…well not what I thought I was signing up for.”
This was the first Noah had heard of trouble in the idyllic world of Jonas and Adam. The thought scared him. They were perfect for each other.
“Do you want to talk?”
“Maybe at some point,” Jonas replied. “You go and pound those streets and I’d better get moving. Rain check?”
“Of course.”
Noah watched Jonas stride off to his car. He didn’t like the sound of that.
He couldn’t help them at that moment. Instead he had a few miles to get under his belt. He might even add a couple so he could enjoy Marge’s culinary delights properly. He had no doubt the food would be excellent.
In the end he added another five miles to his run. Noah had discovered lots of different routes on his running app when hecame to Brockton. On the whole, most people left him alone. It wasn’t a rarity to see Brockton players in the town.
By the time he got home, he was buzzing. The exercise had blown the cobwebs away.
Halfway round he’d texted Carmine to see if he fancied a movie night. He did.
Noah glanced at his watch. It was coming up to two. He had time to grab some food with Tito and Marge and get in a nap before Carmine arrived.
