The Evening

You need a shower before you change and return to the main office. There you spend the next few hours reworking your document. You tighten the writing, finding informative and pithy statements. By the time the day is over you’ve got the core of the document on the page.

You head to the kitchen for dinner. Gloria’s on Dinner Duty. She’s not a good cook, but she knows that and has reigned in her ambition. This evening she’s stuck to chicken pieces roasted in the oven with a couple of shop bought sauces. To go with that she’s done potatoes and an assortment of steamed veg. It won’t win the best meal of the month award, but its tasty and edible which is the main thing. The girls flit in and out, kissing you when they arrive, kissing you when they leave, all with their own plans for the evening.

You’d sent a message to the household chat informing everyone that you planned to watch the latest episode of the newest streaming sensation that evening. That is one of the problems with living with 10 others, organising so that everyone is on the same page. You aren’t beholden to strict TV schedules, just to the desires of those you live with and their own schedules.

For most streaming services the household has 2 accounts. One belongs to you and is the one the TV in the lounge is usually signed up to. The other is for the girls and is commonly used for the TV in the relaxation room in the west wing. This is loaded with programmes the girls are interested in but you’re not, like Love Island, the Great British Bake-off, and Strictly Come Dancing. That way their tastes don’t influence your recommendations.

Some of the girls also have their own accounts, for programmes they want to watch but the others don’t. These they use on their tablets or laptops or occasionally one of the TVs. It can get confusing at times. The point is you are in control of the main account and it’s rare for this to be used when you’re not present.

Only a handful of the girls turn up. “Where’s Lucy? I thought Lucy was watching this?”

“She said she had work to do,” Anna tells you. You’re pretty certain Anna’s not that interested in the programme, she’s only here because you are.

“That girl works too hard.”

“I’m sure you’ll find a way to reward her,” Sybil smirks.

You take the central sofa and then gesture that Anna and Sybil should take the seats either side of you. The other girls there, Melody and Niemira, look disappointed, but occupy armchairs either side of the sofa.

Just as the opening credits finish Sarka slips in. “I haven’t missed anything?”

“No, no, it’s just starting,” Anna tells her. She smiles, looks around at the empty seats and finally picks one on the second sofa.

“I didn’t know you were watching this?” you ask.

“She’s only just started,” Sybil whispers in your ear. “So, she can spend more time with you.”

“Like you then?”

“If it allows me to sit next to you, I’ll watch anything.”

You can’t quite tell whether she’s joking about that. But then the action starts, and you’re soon absorbed in the screen. After a while first Anna and then Sybil cuddle up to you, placing their head on your shoulder. You wrap your arms around them, pulling them closer. Kisses and cuddles are the most sexual acts allowed in the lounge.