Bonus story : More than just colleagues : Part 20 : A Friend of the Group

Lucas: Hey Emma!

Until now, Lucas had always messaged her in the group. On the rare occasions when he needed information that concerned her directly, he went through Aldric or waited until he saw her during one of their outings.

“Do you know what he wants?” Aldric asked.

“Not yet.”

Lucas: Are you doing anything Friday night?

“Ah.”

Aldric turned his head.

“What?”

“He’s asking if I’m free on Friday.”

“For what purpose?”

“I don’t know yet.”

Emma: I don’t think so. Why?

Lucas: I was thinking of going out for a drink with Patrick and Karim. If you feel like coming, you’re welcome to join us.

“He’s inviting you.”

“Yes.”

“That seems logical.”

“You don’t find it unusual?”

“Why?”

“Usually, you’re the one who tells me when they’re planning something.”

“That’s true.”

Emma: I’d love to 😊

Lucas: Perfect! I’m not making another group or Patrick will kill me 😂

Emma burst out laughing.

“What did he write?”

She showed him the message.

“That decision seems reasonable. The existing group is sufficient.”

They reached the intersection where their paths separated. Aldric was heading toward the metro, while Emma had to continue on foot.

“Are you coming Friday?” she asked.

“Lucas hasn’t asked me.”

Emma took out her phone and opened The Extreme Movers group chat.

No message had been sent about Friday yet.

“Do you really think they’re going out for a drink without you?”

“It’s possible.”

“That’s adorable… There are still some things you haven’t figured out.”

Before he could answer, Aldric’s phone vibrated.

Lucas: Drinks after work Friday? And Emma will be there HEHE.

“I told you.”

Aldric: Yes.

“Your prediction was correct.”

“Thank you.”

They continued walking until the next intersection. When they reached the crosswalk, Emma slowed down and pointed to the street on their right.

“I’m going this way.”

“Very well.”

“See you Friday, then.”

“Yes. Have a good evening, Emma.”

“You too, Aldric.”

The light turned green. Emma crossed the street, giving him one last wave before continuing on. Aldric returned the gesture, then waited until she had turned into the next street before resuming his walk.

Friday came quickly. The workday was quiet, allowing the team to finish a little earlier than expected. At around five thirty, Patrick closed the truck doors and placed the keys on his desk.

Lucas checked his phone.

“Meet at seven?”

“Works for me,” Patrick said.

Aldric picked up his bag.

“The same bar as the first time?”

Lucas smiled.

“No. We’re evolving.”

Patrick raised an eyebrow.

“Where did you choose?”

Lucas looked at his phone.

“I have two options.”

Karim sighed.

“So you haven’t chosen.”

“I’m maintaining strategic flexibility.”

“You’re using that term correctly this time,” Aldric said.

“Thanks. I think…”

They went their separate ways at the depot before meeting again at the bar. Patrick was already sitting on the terrace while Karim looked over the menu.

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Lucas arrived at almost the same time.

“Is Emma already here?”

Aldric looked around.

“No.”

A few minutes later, she arrived.

“Sorry, I had a client at the last minute.”

Lucas checked the time.

“You’re three minutes late…”

“You’re criticizing someone for being three minutes late?”

Lucas raised his hands.

“I’m carrying on Aldric’s traditions.”

“I wouldn’t have mentioned three minutes in this context,” Aldric said.

“You just abandoned me…”

Emma laughed as she sat down.

“Serves you right.”

Lucas handed Emma the menu. Patrick asked whether she had already eaten. Karim told her that Yanis was still talking about his new bedroom and had moved the knight figurine twice to find “the best position.”

Emma smiled.

“Is he happy?”

“Very.”

“Then it was worth it.”

“Yeah.”

The waiter arrived. Patrick and Karim ordered beers, while Lucas chose the same thing after studying the menu for almost two minutes. Emma ordered a non-alcoholic cocktail. When the waiter turned to Aldric, he set down the menu.

“A lemonade, please.”

“Still…”

“Yes.”

“You never want to try something different?”

“I like this drink.”

Patrick smiled.

“Solid argument.”

When the drinks arrived, Lucas picked up his glass and raised it.

“Well…”

Everyone turned toward him.

“Why are you making that face?” Emma asked.

“I’m trying to think of something to say.”

Karim took a sip of his beer.

“You’ve never had that problem before.”

Patrick burst out laughing, and Lucas shot him a look.

“I was trying to make a toast.”

“For what occasion?” Aldric asked.

“There isn’t one,” Karim said.

“In that case, a toast isn’t necessary.”

Lucas lowered his glass.

“You really ruin all my moments.”

Patrick finally raised his own.

“To nothing, then.”

Karim smiled and followed suit. Emma did the same, and Lucas seemed to regain his enthusiasm when he saw the glasses raised around the table.

“There we go…”

Aldric looked at the four glasses held out in front of him before raising his lemonade as well.

“To nothing.”

“It sounds even better when you say it like that,” Emma said.

The conversation shifted to a story Lucas told about a client who had asked him the day before whether he could move a piano by himself. Emma turned toward Aldric.

“And I’m guessing you could.”

“That depends on the piano.”

Lucas rolled his eyes.

“That’s exactly why I don’t ask him that question anymore.”

“He’s right. Some of them are really heavy,” Patrick said.

Lucas continued his story. The client had eventually decided that the piano could stay in the room after learning how much specialized movers would cost.

“So the problem solved itself,” Emma concluded.

Aldric shook his head.

“It wasn’t solved. The objective was abandoned.”

Lucas looked at him.

“You know, sometimes in real life, that’s the same thing.”

“No.”

Karim smiled.

“He’s right.”

“Not you too…”

The conversation continued from one subject to another, with none of them remaining the focus for very long. Karim talked about an outing he had planned with Yanis on Sunday. Emma recommended an exhibition suitable for children. Patrick explained that he had received a positive response from the insurance company regarding the repairs to his father’s house.

“Finally,” Lucas said.

“They approved everything?” Emma asked.

“Almost. They’re covering the main repairs. There are still a few documents left, but the hardest part is sorted out.”

Aldric nodded.

“So the administrative strategy was successful.”

Emma burst out laughing.

“You could say that.”

“Without you, I’d still be buried in paperwork…”

“I’m still here if you need anything.”

Lucas raised his glass.

“Emma, Destroyer of Bureaucracy.”

“That title seems appropriate,” Aldric said.

Patrick and Karim followed suit, and Emma eventually raised her glass as well. All five glasses met in the center of the table with a clink before everyone took theirs back.

“By the way, I hope you didn’t mind me messaging you,” Lucas said.

“Why would I mind?”

Lucas shrugged.

“I don’t know. Before, I mostly asked Aldric.”

Patrick smiled.

“That’s because at first, she was his friend. Now you’re our friend too.”

“Yeah, exactly,” Lucas said.

“I feel comfortable with you guys too.”

“Even if Aldric couldn’t come one evening, we’d still invite you.”

“That seems logical,” Aldric said.

Emma turned toward him.

“You’re not upset?”

“Friendship is not an exclusive resource.”

The conversation continued for a while about what they usually did outside of work, then shifted to everyone’s weekend plans. When Patrick mentioned the work he had done at home a few days earlier, Emma immediately looked up.

“You know, one day you could call a professional before tearing apart half a wall,” Emma said.

“I know what I’m doing.”

“That’s exactly what people say right before they call me because they’ve broken something in their apartment.”

Lucas raised a hand.

“I can confirm.”

“You’ve never repaired anything in your life, Lucas,” Patrick said.

“Exactly. I know my limits.”

“And you, is your apartment still tidy?” Emma asked.

“Perfectly…”

Patrick, Karim, and Emma exchanged a look.

“Why are you all making that face?” Aldric asked.

Lucas raised a hand.

“They refuse to believe I’ve changed.”

“There were three T-shirts on your couch when we stopped by to pick something up yesterday.”

Emma burst out laughing.

“They were clean!”

Patrick shook his head.

“The couch is starting again.”

Lucas looked at Aldric.

“Traitor.”

“You never said that information was confidential.”

They ordered a few plates to share, and Lucas insisted that Emma try a particularly spicy sauce, only to discover himself that it was much hotter than he had expected. He grabbed his beer.

“Why didn’t anyone warn me?”

“You’re the one who ordered it…”

Lucas took another sip.

“That’s not an answer…”

Aldric examined the small container of sauce.

“The color already suggested a high concentration of chili peppers.”

“You knew?” Lucas asked.

“I considered the possibility.”

“And you didn’t say anything?”

“You seemed confident.”

“Was that a joke too?…”

“Partly.”

Emma raised both hands.

“He’s doing it again.”

“He’s becoming dangerous,” Karim said.

Lucas grabbed some bread to ease the heat.

“I preferred the old Aldric.”

Later, they talked about going to the movies. Lucas suggested an action film, which immediately drew protests from Emma.

“Not with Aldric. I want to actually hear the dialogue.”

“We could forbid him from talking,” Patrick suggested.

“Would that rule be absolute?” Aldric asked.

Lucas placed a hand on the table.

“See? He’s already negotiating.”

“One comment every twenty minutes.”

Aldric shook his head.

“A significant error may occur more frequently than that.”

“Two comments.”

“That does not seem sufficient.”

Lucas turned toward Patrick. The evening continued until Patrick finally noticed the time.

“It’s almost eleven.”

“Seriously?” Lucas said.

“I’m going to have to head home,” Karim said.

Emma picked up her bag.

“Me too.”

Outside the bar, Lucas turned toward Emma.

“How are you getting home?”

“By metro.”

“Which line?”

“Line 4, from Saint-Germain-des-Prés.”

Lucas nodded.

“I’m going the same way for two stops.”

“Okay.”

Karim said goodbye to everyone before heading toward his station. Patrick had to walk a few more streets before reaching his car.

“See you tomorrow,” Aldric said.

“See you tomorrow,” Lucas replied.

“Good night, Aldric.”

“Good night.”

He watched them walk away together toward the metro. Aldric then headed in the opposite direction.

The next morning, Lucas sent a photograph taken the night before in which Patrick appeared to be sleeping with his eyes open while Karim was talking. Patrick immediately protested:

Patrick: I wasn’t sleeping.

Lucas: Of course.

Emma: Your eyes were closed for thirty seconds 😂

Patrick: I was thinking.

Karim: Very deeply.

Aldric: His posture was indeed consistent with sleep.

Patrick: Thanks, Aldric.

Aldric hesitated for a few seconds. By now, he understood the group’s conversations well enough to realize that Patrick’s thanks were probably not entirely sincere. Nevertheless, he selected a smiling emoji, and a few seconds later, Emma reacted with the same one.

On Sunday afternoon, a new conversation started in the group. Patrick sent a photograph taken from a tree-lined trail, with several hills visible in the distance.

Patrick: Would you guys be up for doing this next Saturday?

Lucas: What is it?

Patrick: A hike.

Lucas: How many kilometers?

Patrick: About 12.

Lucas: I take back my question.

Emma replied with a laughing emoji.

Karim: Could be fun.

Emma: I’m in.

Aldric studied the photograph. Twelve kilometers would pose no particular difficulty.

Aldric: Yes.

Lucas: Fine… if everyone else is going, I’ll come too.

Patrick reacted with a thumbs-up.

Emma: It’s decided then 😊