The Reluctant Assistant - Book One

Moving Day Part 27

"Jackson! You are not moving in!" Raymond stated, looking through blreary eyes at Jackson standing in front of him with a grin and another suitcase in hand. As it was, he already had a suitcase that he'd previously left at the flat. In his other hand though, was a massive bucket of wings. 

"Hello to you too." Jackson leaned in for a kiss and moved past him suitcase in hand. If Raymond didn't want to move in, then he will just have to wear him down. And one way to do it, is to make sure that they were always around each other.

When he entered the living room, Tilly and Hector were already looking as if they were slightly hammered. How is it that these people's livers are able to withstand this amount of drinking?

"Jackson!" Hector shouted excitedly. "Our wingman!" he held up a shot glass in toast and tossed it back. For the rest of the evening, they kept drinking progressively more. Raymond had half emptied the bucket of wings to the great displeasure of the other two. Jackson sat next to him, on the floor, watching as they animatedly argued like children. To pacify them, he had a glass of wine in his hand, that stood on the table untouched. He really only had eyes for Raymond, most of the night. This was the lighthearted Cook that he had met before, an easy smile on his face and those grey twinkling eyes. Granted the twinkling at the moment came from the beer, but he couldn't help but laugh and smile along with him. He found himself looking at Raymond, realizing how goofy he actually was with his friends. Raymond had always been very reserved around him, but Jackson realized that there was much more to him

"Buddy, you're not drinking." Hector pointed toward Jackson, his eyes narrowed to keep him in focus. "The house rule is that you need to drink, or leave the building." he smirked, while Tilly snorted in laughter.

"Can I fire them?" Jackson leaned toward Raymond who was just about to take another shot. He didn't seem drunk at all. Jackson supposed it was the wings.

"Ha! Tilly shouted, "If you think of firing us, we'll tell Raymond, then your days will be numbered." She gigled while Hector nodded in agreement, opening another beer for her.

Hector looked over at Raymond. "Do you mind if I crash here for a few days?" he was still swaying, but opened another beer.

"His girlfriend threw him out. Again." Tilly nearly fell back with laughter.

"Pornhub?" Raymond snorted at Hector, but before he could answer, Jackson stepped in.

"You should let him stay here Cook. Look at the state he's in." he kept his face as expressionless as possible, knowing that this was a means to an end.

"My flat is already too small. Now I have to share it with an oaf and a whiney kid?" he rolled his eyes, "Not likely."

"Come on Ray, it's just for a couple of days." Hector begged while Tilly held him steady. "Nobody else will let me stay, you're the last one I can ask, please?" he kept drunkenly begging. 

"Come on Cook, even you can't be this hardhearted? Jackson threw his penny into the fountain.

"It'll just be for a couple of days.  You won't even know I'm here." Hector trailed off, refilling Raymond's glass in hope, with a sad smile on his face.

"Stop that!" Raymond yelled at him, picking up the beer. "At least you have the decency to ask me last." he grumbled while thinking things over. He couldn't say no to Hector. The three of them had come a long way and they always helped each other. But then he would have to get rid of Jackson . There was not enough space or hot water in his flat where you couldn't even swing a cat.

"Okay, but just for a few days," he clarified as Hector grabbed his hand to kiss it, which earned a suprised Hector a slap on the head from Jackson. "But, then you have to move out." Raymond pointed at Jackson.