“I have to say something.” Rafe took a swig of his Midori sour. “Why do you use that word? It’s a really badword.”
“You mean cunt?” Heath asked, the word rolling off histongue.
“Yes. Thatword.”
“You don’t use it back in the states?” Eamonn drank hispint.
“No! It’s an incredibly offensive word. It’s not like asshole or fuck or shit, which are more common.” Rafe dropped his voice when he used those words. Old habits. “Why is the c-word your expletive ofchoice?”
“It just is,” Eamonn said. “It’s so versatile. You can use it for anything. Those Americans are cunts. The Budweiser beer they’re drinking is a cunty choice ofbeverage.”
“We’re not getting drunk. We’re getting cunted,” Heathsaid.
“I love Jennifer Lawrence, but she’s a tad cuntish,” Louisa (Louisa!)said.
Eamonn: “Semi-cuntish.”
Heath: “A solid two-point-seven on the CuntScale.”
Eamonn: “And Prince William! He’s just cunting all over theplace.”
Each use of the word was a tiny jab at Rafe’s flesh. He couldn’t help it. It was his American upbringing and feminist tendencies rejecting that word. When he was in sixth grade, a kid in his math class called a girl that, and he was suspended for three days. Here, he’d probably get extracredit.
“I’m glad y’all got that out of your system,” Rafe said, trying to keep a straightface.
Eamonn let out a hearty, loud laugh that boomed above the din of the pub. He wrapped his arm around Rafe and pulled him closer. It was an “I’m just messin’ with you” bro-ish hug, but Rafe liked it all thesame.
A little while later, Heath and Eamonn darted over to an available snooker table, which was like pool but with different colored balls. Eamonn and Heath quickly got into the zone, and Rafe could admire Eamonn’s serious game face all day. He could also watch Eamonn bend over to take a shot all day,too.
Louisa and Rafe enjoyed another round of Midori sours at thebar.
“So what’s the deal with you and Heath?” Rafeasked.
“No deal,really.”
It seemed like a dodge by Louisa. Heath scored a shot and talked smack to Eamonn. It naturally included the c-word, which Heath said at an extra-loud volume while looking at him. Louisa smiled a bit longer at his antics than Rafe, and it reminded him of the reaction of Eamonn to his naïve grocery comments atAsda.
“At the end of last year, we said we were just going to be friends. We’ve always worked better as friends,” Louisa said. “And I don’t know, I just don’t think I’m the serious girlfriend type. So much seriousness at our age only leads to prematurewrinkles.”
Rafe nodded in agreement. Now was not the time in our lives to be so serious. Not while on anadventure.
“The other night just happened. I went into the kitchen to make myself a late night cup of tea, and he was there just finishing. I skipped the tea and brought him back to my room.” Louisa shrugged. “We’re still friends, but friends whoshag.”
“Friends withbenefits.”
“Like that Justin Timberlakemovie!”
“I prefer the Natalie Portman version,No Strings Attached. It’s highlyunderrated.”
Rafe needed his ownNo Strings Attached/Friends with Benefitshookup, and not the kind like in those two movies where they eventually fall inlove.
“Maybe you and Eamonn could have something similar,” Louisasaid.
“What?” Rafe had reacted like she claimed the earth was flat. Not that it wasn’t something Rafe thought about, usually when he was in the presence of those icy blue eyes. “Just because we’re both gay and in the sameflat?”
Louisa nodded yes, as if it were really thatsimple.
“He’s getting overNathan.”
