“Can I do anything to help?” she asked.
“It’s all under control,” said Dylan. “You just relax while the men finish off in the kitchen.”
Michael gave a little roll of his eyes. “He’s acting like he’s Gordon Ramsay when all he’s doing is helping to heat up what I cooked yesterday.”
“And most of that was bought pre-prepared from the supermarket,” said Layla, joining them at the table.
“Layla! Don’t give away all my culinary secrets!” joked Michael. “Can you sort out some drinks for you and Poppy, please, sweetheart?”
“On it.”
Poppy came over and sat next to Carrie as Dylan and Michael began bringing plates of food out.
“I really am grateful to you for helping us get through this,” said Michael.
“It’s our pleasure. For future reference, we are always available to help eat up yummy food, aren’t we, Poppy?”
“Definitely,” said Poppy solemnly. She was taking the task very seriously.
Layla rejoined them laden down with various bottles. She sat on Poppy’s other side, much to the little girl’s delight.
They all tucked into plates of burgers, sausages and salads.
“What a wonderfully impromptu evening,” said Michael, sitting back in his chair with a contented sigh, a clear plate in front of him. “Dylan just popped by after work to help Layla with her laptop. He works in computery things,” he said, teasingly.
It was Dylan’s turn to roll his eyes. “I’m an ethical hacker,” Dylan explained. “Companies hire me to try to break into their servers.”
“That sounds . . . complicated,” said Carrie.
“It is a bit,” Dylan admitted.
“When you said you’d made the bookshop’s website, I thought that’s what you did for a living.”
“No, I just help friends out with stuff like that occasionally.”
“Which reminds me,” said Michael, “my website’s still playing up, and you mentioned checking it for bugs?”
Dylan raised his drink in acknowledgement.
Once Poppy had finished eating, Layla took her into the house to watch a Disney movie and the grown-ups continued to chat outside.
“So, just how did you two end up being best friends?” Carrie asked Michael and Dylan. “I mean, you’re not exactly similar.”
“You mean I’m attractive and charming, and my dear friend Michael is a bit of a mess?” said Dylan.
“No, I did not mean that!”
“We’ve known each other since we were babies,” Michael said. “Basically, I’ve been putting up with him for so long that I’m used to him.”
“Thanks, mate.” Dylan raised his glass.
“He’s a very good friend,” said Michael with a smile. “And he’s seen me through some rough times as well as good ones.”
“As you have me . . .” Dylan added.
“It sounds like you’re very lucky to have each other,” Carrie said.
“Have you still got friends from when you were tiny?” Dylan asked.
