Page 5 of Unrequited Sloth

“Not at all. It’s going to take a lot of research to build the case. I won’t be putting the formal letter in until we’re ready.”

“You?”

Daniel smiled. “How do you feel about working directly with me on this one?”

“Fuck!”

Daniel laughed. “I’ll take that as a yes?”

“Absolutely,” said Bobby, just as their drinks arrived.

“This is obviously a pro bono case, but if we’re successful, there’s a fifty per cent bonus in it for you.”

“No pressure then, bossman.”

“I know you’re working towards senior associate as well, and this will definitely help with that.”

“You’re just adding that pressure on, aren’t you?” he joked.

“I wouldn’t have asked for your support if I didn’t think you could do it. This one is really important to me.”

Bobby nodded, knowing what Daniel was saying. It was simple: they had to win this case.

The week had passed in a blur as he started working on the Rainbow Futures case, as well as his existing caseload. Daniel had asked him to think about passing on some cases before his wedding because Rainbow Futures would take up a lot of his time when he got back. Some clients wouldn’t have an issue with a change of representation, but others would, so they would need to be handled delicately.

Thankfully, Bobby’s direct manager, Janine, was awesome, and she’d been fully supportive of the opportunity. Daniel had spoken to her first. Working with the big boss, and on something so important, was another thing he was loving about his life right now.

It was Saturday, and he was meeting his brothers for lunch, but not at Knights Corner. Ryan didn’t want to eat where he worked, as he’d be tempted to go into the kitchen if they messed anything up. Martin was complaining about how much marking he had, so they’d headed west to meet near the university campus at a pub on the River Thames. Bobby could eat anything, so he didn’t care, but he lived in South London with Alex, so the journey was a bit of a ball ache. When he met Alex two years ago, he was sharing a flat with his best mate, Dillon, and two other guys in North London. A year ago, he’d moved into Alex’s flat, and the plan was for them to buy a place together once the wedding was out of the way. He was hoping she’d want to move to a different part of London, but she loved being near her family.

“You’re late,” grumbled Ryan as Bobby approached the table.

“Only five minutes,” he said, looking at his watch. “You’re on the district line and Martin lives around the corner.”

“Keep me out of it,” said Martin, as the classic middle child.

You wouldn’t think it to look at him. He was thirty-seven, but dressed like a professor in his fifties. If only he’d let Bobby help him with his style, he’d have a boyfriend in no time. His brothers both had dark hair like their mum, but Bobby was a doppelgänger for their dad. Ryan was ten years older than Bobby. He was a beefy guy, but it meant he gave great bear hugs, which is what happened after the grumbling about his timekeeping. Bobby might have been a “happy accident” as his dad had described him, but his brothers had always been supportive, even if they liked to rib him a lot.

Given that he was the youngest, Bobby was the most successful brother in terms of career and relationships. Not that he’d say that out loud, but he knew he earned more than them, and he was getting married. Come to think of it, he wasn’t even sure when his brothers had last had boyfriends. Everyone needed to have their person, didn’t they?

“Are either of you seeing anyone?” he asked.

They both looked at him in that way only older siblings can.

“Do not set me up with someone,” said Ryan.

“I don’t know anyone to set you up with,” replied Bobby.

“What about that numbers guy you tried to set Martin up with?”

“He was an academic; I thought they’d get on. Especially as he doesn’t like any of my colleagues.”

“I’m not dating a lawyer who’ll lord it over me because he’s charging billable hours and I’m marking essays for a quarter of what he’s earning,” said Martin.

“That kind of money is partner level. You probably shouldn’t aim that high.”

Ryan snorted. Martin glared at him, but Bobby knew he wasn’t really annoyed. He’d learnt over the years to give back to his brothers as much as they gave him.

“What are we having for lunch?” Bobby asked Ryan.