"You see the good in everyone."
☆

Jude proceeds to remove his crisp white shirt, which now had a splash of red claret spilt up it. "Tash, you really need to control that dog of yours, I'm going to be late now!"

"He has a name, don't you my beautiful Jojo." Tashen scoops up the beloved dog and begins to shower kisses over his head, with Jojo wriggling a little in the hold.

Jude just stares in disbelief at the sight. "He's got you wrapped around his little paw."

Tashen continues to molicodle the dog "We have a connection. I don't expect you to understand." That Jude didn't!

He begins to rummage again in his closet for a replacement shirt, finally pulling out two choices, which he holds up for Tashen's approval. "So...?"

Tashen looks at the two shirts. One navy, with red polka dots and the other a small black and white check. He sucks his tongue around his teeth in thought before he deliberates with Jojo. "What do you think Jojo? That one...or that one?" The dog seems to bark on cue, with Tashen responding. "I agree. We think the spotty one." 

Jude nods at their choice, popping the rejected shirt back in the closet.

Tashen sets the wriggling Jojo on the floor, who pads out of the room before Tashen sits in the centre of Jude's double bed, adorned with a satin cream cover which thankfully the red wine had avoided. He sits up, hugging his knees into his body and asks. "So, Milo...is it?"

"Yes. Milo Macdonald, the music teacher from work." Jude replies, buttoning up the fresh shirt. 

"What? Not the one you were complaining about being grumpy!" Tashen questions with a half laugh.

"I misjudged him!" Jude says defensively. "He just gets tired, I mean it's stressful... teaching, you know."

Tashen lets out a snort. "Only you Jude. You see the good in everyone." 

"Well I'm struggling to see the good in Jojo right now." He complains, picking up the 'ruined' white shirt. "You are paying for my cleaning bill."

"Yeah yeah." Tashen rolls his eyes. "You know you could have borrowed one of my Gucci shirts." He offers. 

"Now you tell me." Jude huffs, grabbing his jacket, wallet and keys from the dresser. "I'm going to be even later if I don't leave now." Jude leans over the bed, planting a platonic kiss on Tashen's lips. 

"Go get him." Tashen calls after Jude as he hears the apartment door click closed. 

***

"And you are sure you have the right time?"

"Yes Hessy, it's only half an hour later that what we planned, he should be here by now."

Milo had been standing outside Rigalettos, looking up and down the street. Jude still hasn't shown.

"Just come back. We can order a pizza and..."

"Oh I can see him. Gotta go." Milo ends the call and stuffs his phone in the back pocket of his smart jeans.

Jude is walking towards him at a fast pace, his face looking a little flush from rushing around. "Sorry....so sorry. You wouldn't believe..." He begins out of breath. 

"It's ok. You're here now." Milo smiles, then nervously leans in to kiss Jude on the cheek. 

"Oh!" Jude says in surprise, not expecting Milo to be so bold. He lets out a nervous laugh. 

"S...sorry. was that um... it's been a while." Milo stammers, getting flustered. 

Jude smiles, returning an equally nervous kiss on Milo's cheek. "It's fine." He smiles. 

Milo clears his throat. "Ok...shall we go in?" Trying to stay cool, calm and collected, though that kiss had just knocked him for six.

He holds the door for Jude, who enters the Italian bistro first, with Milo following behind. The suited waiter takes them to a small intimate table in the corner near the back, leaving them with two menus and time to choose. 

Milo looks over the choices, remembering how Hester had told him to avoid spaghetti at all costs, especially on a first date, due to the embarrassing mess factor and considering how Milo was a human food vacuum cleaner. So he'd already decided a pizza was the safest bet.

"There's so much choice." Jude comments wide eyes glossing over the menu. He looks up at Milo who was presently looking at the wine list. "What do you think you will have?" 

"Pizza." Milo says decisively, as if answering a quick fire quiz, not even looking up.

"Wow. You know what you want and go straight for it." Jude replies with a chuckle, now feeling like he should get a move on and make a decision fast. He looks down at the menu again. "Uuum..." he picks the first thing he sees. "I'll have the pasta verde." He subconsciously breaths out as if it was a race he'd run. 

It isn't long before a Quattro Stagioni and a pasta Verde had been ordered along with a bottle of house wine. Jude now feels like he can relax a little. He laces his hands together as his elbows rest on the table, he smiles at Milo who was smiling back, hands hidden under the table. "So tell me." Jude begins... "Why did you say yes?"