Dolphin-san: Hey there, here's the latest chapter for all you lovely people out there in fan fiction land.

Chapter 8

'Verity and I are throwing a small party this evening.' Bruce popped his head around the door of the back room, where Max was on his knees unpacking stained-glass lampshades. 'Nothing elaborate, just a spur-of-the-moment thing –'

'You'd like me to look after Jason for a couple of hours?' Max looked up from his sea of bubble wrap.

'No, no, Jason's staying at a friend's house,' Bruce assured him. 'That isn't why I mentioned it. Actually, we wondered if you and Hiro would like to come along. Seven until ten, drinks and canapés. Nothing elaborate, just a friendly gesture,' he explained, 'to welcome our new neighbours.'

Since discovering last night that their new neighbours were a bank manager and his accountant wife, Bruce had decided a welcome party was definitely in order. It never did any harm to be on excellent terms, socially, with a bank manager.

'Well?' he prompted, wondering why Max wasn't saying anything. 'Is that a yes?' To encourage him, Bruce added, 'We haven't seen Hiro for a while.'

You're not the only one, thought Max, breaking into a light sweat.

Still, maybe this was the opener he needed. Bruce had to know sooner or later, and Max had been having palpitations wondering how to announce it.

Oh, by the way Bruce, I've been dumped.

Max licked his lips. Bruce was still peering down at him.

'Bruce, the thing is, Hiro and I aren't together anymore. We've . . . um, separated.'

There, done.

Oh bugger, thought Max, as his eyes filled with tears.

'Good grief.' Bruce took a step backwards. Tears weren't his thing at all. 'Why?'

'Oh, you know,' Max mumbled. 'Things just weren't working out.'

'Well, I'm sorry to hear that. Can't . . . er, be easy.'

It was Bruce's turn to nervously lick his lips. We must look like a couple of cannibals, thought Max.

'I'll be okay.'

Bruce shifted from one foot to the other.

'Do you . . . um, want to talk about it?'

Alarmed, Max shook his head.

'No, no, really, it's fine.'

Bruce was hugely relieved. To him, emotions were a minefield best steered well clear of.

At least he'd offered, he told himself. When Verity pressed him for the gory details tonight, wanting to know who'd left who and if Hiro had run off with another man, he'd be able to say, 'He didn't want to talk about it.'

'So.' Bruce's tone was hearty; he rubbed his hands together in a let's-change-the-subject way. 'How about that little get-together tonight then? You'll still come, won't you? You and Verity could have a good old chat –'

'Thanks,' Max blurted out, 'but I'm not really up to it at the moment. I wouldn't be much fun. Another time, maybe.'

Bruce put on an understanding face. At least he knew now hwy Max – certainly no slouch in the looks department – had been looking so pallid and puffy-eyed of late.

'Of course,' he assured Max. 'Don't worry about it.'

'But . . . um, if you ever need a babysitter I'd be happy to do it.' Max knew he was gabbling; still, now seemed as good a time as any. 'As much babysitting as you like, actually.' May as well be upfront about it. 'The thing is, I could do with the money. Oh, I'm not asking for a pay rise,' he went on hurriedly, intercepting the look of horror on Bruce's pudgy face. 'It's just paying the rent on the flat is going to be a bit of a tight squeeze. So any extra work I can do . . . well, it'll come in handy.'

'Right, I see.'

Bruce's tone was guarded.

'I'm not looking for another proper job,' Max rushed to reassure him. 'I love working here.'

True. Well, fairly true.

Anyway, changing job now would mean he wouldn't be entitled to any maternity benefits.

Bruce visibly relaxed.

'Okay, I'll let Verity know. I'm sure we can work something out. And you get on well with Jason,' he added encouragingly. 'That's a plus.'

It was more than that, it was a downright miracle. According to Hiro, if Bruce and Verity wanted to earn themselves a quick buck they should cart their beloved son along to the headquarters of the nearest condom manufacturers. Feature Jason in a series of adverts for their product, Hiro had declared – often – and condom sales would go through the ozone layer.

'If you don't get one of these,' he had intoned, dangling an imaginary condom from his fingers then affecting a look of horror, 'You'll get one of these.'

And I had laughed, Max remembered.

Well, it had seemed funny at the time.

The trouble was, it wasn't actually funny at all.

Bruce left the back room and Max went back to unpacking lampshades.

Bundling a mountain of bubble-wrap into an empty box, he forced himself not to think about Hiro.

Two minutes later he lurched back on his heels in shock.

God, how could I have been so stupid? How could I have offered to babysit for Bruce and Verity? he thought desperately.

Bruce was alright, he never noticed anything.

But stick-thin, eagle-eyed Verity was another matter altogether, Max realised with a sinking heart.

One look at my stomach and she'll be onto me like a shot.

Oh help, I need to sign up for Creative Bluffing classes, he thought helplessly. I'll have to tell Verity I've joined Overeaters Anonymous.

Dolphin-san: I know, I know, short chapter. But I have a slight headache and it's all I could come up with right now. Though I am pleased that I managed to write a whole chapter in one day. Anyway I hope you enjoyed reading and also hope that you will review. It's what drives me to create another chapter.