That earnt me a firm punch in the arm and I started laughing.
“Ah, feck off y’feckin’ cunt!” Seamus yelled. “What’d ya know ‘bout it anyhow? When’s the last time y’got y’leg over anythin’ that wasn’t the feckin’ shitter, like?”
I did my best to laugh off my discomfort, suddenly tense. I was getting my dick wet more often than any of them knew, I just couldn’t brag about it openly like they could. I had to admit, it had been some time since I’d picked up a girl and I’d foolishly believed it had gone unnoticed by my mates, but apparently I wasn’t doing as good a job of flying beneath the radar as I’d thought. Fuck.
“Aye, well, y’try landin’ a wee piece when y’best mate looks like that,” I replied, jerking my chin towards Declan. “Girls’d be trippin’ over themselves t’ get under him, feckin’ jammy shite he is.”
Seamus shrugged. “Ah, that’s a fair point, like.” His expression brightened and he smacked the back of his hand against my chest. “‘Ey, but ya wi’ me too, now.How’s ‘bout we ditch Dec an’ get on the town without him later, aye? See if we can’t land a bit o’ fun.”
I ran my hand through my hair, memories of fucking Ronan drifting through my mind once again. I knew without a doubt that no girl I met at this fair would come close to matching that.
“Aye,” I replied, hoping I was masking my disinterest. “Quality idea fella.”
Before I had to think up a way to change the subject, Declan caught my attention.
“Oi, me cup’s empty,” he shouted, waving his plastic glass back and forth. “Top up?”
I nodded, digging my hand into my jeans pocket before heading up to the nearest bar. Using my forged notes and making sure to order from a different server each time, I continued to get the rounds in for the lads and by the time the sun was setting, the summer sky burning pink and orange overhead, we were all beginning to feel a little tipsy.
“Y’lads up f’a wee bit o’ fun?” Seamus asked us, draining the dregs of his drink, his phone in his hand as he frantically tapped his thumb against the screen.
“Depends, now. What y’thinkin’?”
“Couple o’ us headin’ ta Newcastle later if y’up f’it.”
I scratched the back of my head. Newcastle was the nearest big city. The night life there was certain to be pumping with a vast array of pubs and clubs to choose from.
Seamus met my eye. “What y’be sayin’? Y’in, like?”
“Aye, we’ll see, now.” I turned to Declan beside me. “Y’fancy it, fella?”
Declan didn’t answer me, turned away and staring off into the distance. I scowled and nudged him with my elbow.
“Oi, y’listenin’ t’ me or what?”
Declan seemed to snap out of a trance. “Ah sure, sorry?”
I leant around him, following where his attention had been fixed through the crowds. The pretty bartender Declan had had his eye on the first night we’d got to town. Her name was Tess, and she was trouble if I’d ever seen it – just Declan’s sort of girl. She and a friend were chatting, drinks in hand, oblivious to our presence.For now. I knew Declan – there was no way he was letting her give him the slip a second time. Not only was Declanpainfullyinto her, but I’d also foolishly made a bet with him that he wouldn’t be able to get her into bed. I’d thought that was as good as won, but I hadn’t counted on us crossing paths with her again.
“Well now, how’s ‘bout that. There’s me fifty quid,” I laughed. Still watching the girls through the crowds, I did a double-take as I caught Tess’s blonde friend giving me the eye. There wasn’t anything subtle about it and my mind turned back to my conversation with Seamus. The blonde was a decent enough looking girl. It wouldn’t be too painful to make a run at her and maybe I’d get my mates off my back for a while longer.
“‘Ey, I think we need t’ go say hello, what says yourself?” I said to Declan, almost laughing when he cocked a brow at me with surprise.
“Y’feckin’ coddin’ me?”
The blonde friend caught my eye again, licking her lower lip suggestively. Aye, I was fucking in there.
I scrubbed a palm over my chin. “The feek she’s wi’ is a bit o’ talent, doncha think?”
“The blonde?” Declan asked, looking back. “Aye, she’s not a bad sight. Y’gonna take a run at it?”
“Just might, aye.”
Before we had the chance to look away, the girls caught us watching them. Whilst the blonde seemed titillated, Tess’s face paled, her body language instantly shifting. It was clear to anyone that she wasn’t best impressed to see Declan again and I chuckled.
“Oh, y’rumbled. Gotta say she looked happier before, fella.”
“Aye, she did, but that’s all part o’ the game we’d be playin’.” Declan downed the remainder of his drink. “Ya’ll see.”
