Dinner at Mine by Chris Smyth

and went back to the cupboard in the hall, where he kept his small bag of tools. Charlotte started laughing as he came back in clutching
an adjustable wrench.
    ‘I’m guessing you don’t entertain very much.’
    Matt yanked at one of the nuts, hoping Charlotte couldn’t see how much effort it took to loosen it. He felt pricks of perspiration form on his forehead as he manoeuvred the panel into
place.
    Charlotte laughed. ‘What I would have done . . .’
    An electric buzzing interrupted her advice.
    ‘Was that the bell?’
    ‘Yes, it was,’ Matt said, tightening the last nut.
    ‘Oh.’
    Matt thought she sounded disappointed. He got to his feet and wiped his hands on a tea towel. ‘I’ll go and get it, shall I? Can you put the stuff back on the table? Make sure you
give me the Donald Duck cutlery.’
    With derisive laughter in his ears, Matt went into the hall and buzzed open the door without bothering to ask who it was. While he waited for the lift to ascend he noticed a stray tennis ball in
the corner, and kicked it back into the cupboard.
    He opened the front door in time to see Justin get out of the lift and look left and right a couple of times before realizing Matt was watching him.
    ‘Hello, Justin. Barbara not with you?’
    ‘No, she’s coming separately . . . I’ve been at work. She’s not here, then?’
    ‘No.’
    ‘Oh dear, are we late?’
    ‘No, you’re the first to get here.’
    Justin looked at his watch. ‘Well, everyone else is late, then.’
    ‘Do you want to come through?’
    Matt led him into the flat, pausing as he passed the door to the kitchen so that Charlotte couldn’t avoid being seen.
    ‘Hi, Charlotte! Great to see you again,’ Justin said.
    ‘Yeah, hi.’ Charlotte gave him a reluctant kiss on the cheek.
    ‘I’d better finish off in the kitchen,’ Matt said. ‘Charlotte, do you mind getting Justin a drink?’
    ‘Oh, lovely. I’ll have a glass of white wine, please.’
    Matt reached over to the fridge for the bottle and handed it to Charlotte in one smooth movement. ‘Great. You can take some crisps out as well if you’re hungry.’
    Charlotte gave Matt a look of shocked malevolence as she accompanied Justin into the living room.
    Matt took his time tidying the worktop. Then he began to re-lay the table. It had been quite fun with Charlotte, actually. She was a good laugh. Well, let’s see how it goes. It could be a
long evening.
    Matt lingered over the place settings. He had no desire to go and talk to Justin. The lamb was browning nicely in the oven. About twenty more minutes, probably. The paella could go on simmering
indefinitely. He wouldn’t plate up the ceviche until everyone was here. So it was time for a glass of wine. Matt poured one from the bottle of red he had opened earlier. Pretty good.
Charlotte had probably topped herself up. He certainly wasn’t going into the other room to check.
    Charlotte charged back into the kitchen and slammed the door behind her. ‘Bastard!’
    ‘What?’
    ‘Leaving me in there with him like that. Jesus, that man is boring.’
    ‘You’ve only been in there five minutes.’ Matt put his wine glass down on the worktop.
    ‘It felt like a decade. I can’t believe you just palmed him off on me like that!’
    ‘You were about to do the same to me.’
    Charlotte considered this. ‘True.’
    Matt leaned back against the sink. Now that the table had been expanded, it was a bit cramped with them both in here. ‘How did you get away, then?’ he asked.
    ‘Oh, I said you had some cashew nuts. Do you have some cashew nuts?’
    ‘No.’
    ‘Never mind. I’m not going back.’
    They looked at each other. ‘Have you got some wine?’ he asked.
    ‘I’ve got some in there, but I can’t go back for it now.’ She stared at him.
    Matt poured her another glass. He’d have to wash up one of them before the others arrived.
    ‘Need any help with anything?’ Charlotte asked without enthusiasm.
    ‘Nope, it’s all