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I did suggest it, but that’s because I have a nefarious plan to make you buy me drinks and then I’ll mug you

I smiled despite myself. There was nothing wrong with talking to Charlie, anyway. Was there? If he and my sister liked each other, it was my duty to get to know him better.

I didn’t even believe myself, but nothing would’ve stopped me from replying.

Me:

You’d mug me AFTER I spent all my money on drinks? Doesn’t really seem like a great plan

Charlie:

I admit it needs some tweaking

Me:

How about we agree not to mug each other? A temporary truce

Charlie:

I guess I can agree to a temporary truce. Where do you want to go and when?

Me:

Have you been to Hyde Park?

Charlie:

Yeah, but I’m happy to go again

Me:

OK. We can ride our bikes there if you want

Charlie:

You’re not planning to drag me into your bike mugger gang are you?

Me:

I’m choosing to ignore that comment. Bikes? Or Tube?

Charlie:

Meet at the park with our bikes? We can ride through the park?

Me:

Yeah. When?

I ignored the fact that this had started with a jokey comment about going to the pub again, and now we were planning to meet up to go cycling in the park, like it was an actual fucking date.

Charlie:

What time are you back tomorrow? Today I guess. Fuck it’s 3 am. I’m doing some extra shifts in the week so I don’t know when I can fit it in otherwise

Me:

I should be back by lunchtime

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