‘How are you going to get home?’ Yvonne glanced towards the large windows. Rain was still thundering down outside.
Luca shrugged. ‘I’ll walk.’
‘You can’t! You’ll drown. And public transport has pretty much broken down. Get a cab.’
‘Fine, I’ll get a cab.’
Yvonne leant closer to him and whispered, ‘Do youneed some money?’ Not quietly enough, though, because everyone heard.
‘For fuck’s sake!’ Philip huffed, staring disdainfully at Luca. ‘See what I mean?’ he mumbled to Fionn. ‘Fucking beggar, like the rest of them.’
Luca gave him a hard look. ‘What did you say?’
‘Nothing,’ Philip mumbled sullenly.
‘I’m fine, thanks,’ Luca said to Yvonne. ‘I can manage cab fare.’ He leant in and kissed Yvonne, nodded to Claire, and left.
‘Why do you have to be such an arsehole, Philip?’ Yvonne fumed.
‘Everything okay?’ Ivan asked, coming over and frowning at Yvonne in concern.
‘Philip’s being a complete dick,’ Yvonne said.
‘What’s he doing?’ Ivan looked sternly at Philip.
‘He was being racist and saying horrible things about Luca.’
‘That’s not cool, bro,’ Ivan told him.
‘I know.’
‘Come on, man. I know you’re upset about Aisling, but don’t be a prick and take it out on everyone else. You should apologise to Yvonne and Claire.’
Philip sighed heavily. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘I was out of order.’ He seemed genuinely contrite and ashamed.
‘That’s okay,’ Yvonne said.
He looked at Claire hopefully. She wasn’t entirely convinced. That stuff hadn’t come out of nowhere. But she never had to see Philip again, so she nodded acceptance.
‘We’re going on to a club later, if you want to come?’ Fionn said to Ivan.
‘Really?’ Ivan turned to Yvonne. ‘Are you going too?’
She nodded.
‘Will you wait until I’m finished up here and I’ll go with you? I have to stay to the end.’
‘Of course.’ Yvonne’s face lit up.
‘I’ll see you guys later, then,’ Ivan said, as Philip and Fionn drifted off.
‘I should go,’ Claire said. ‘Traffic’s going to be a nightmare, and God knows how long it’ll take me to get home.’
‘Okay,’ Yvonne said, pulling Claire into a hug. ‘See you on Monday.’
‘Ivan’s lovely. You should go for it,’ Claire murmured in Yvonne’s ear, then made for the exit.
Well, at least it was over, she thought, as she got into her car. She glanced at the clock on the dash. It was only ten. If the traffic wasn’t too bad, she would have still have time to eat and watch some TV before bed.
