“Aye, laugh it up. It’s feckin’ baltic in here,” I replied, snatching up my clothes and eagerly dragging my long-sleeved shirt over my head.
“Ain’t really in a position t’ be teasin’ ya. Think me cock has shrunk back up inside me. Gone from a twelve t’ a two, now.”
At that I laughed aloud. “Y’don’t think it’s a wee bit late f’the exaggerations, aye? I’d already be knowin’ what y’workin’ with, like.”
John-Francis simply smirked at me, deliberately turning his back as he dropped his towel. I was helpless but to stare at his arse, resisting the urge to sink my teeth into it. Mercifully, he was in just as much of a hurry as I was to get warm and dry, and his delicious wee arse was hidden from view in no time.
John-Francis’s wee job wasn’t due to start until the evening, and unfortunately that rolled around far too quickly. After spending the day loitering around with Ma and Darragh, it was soon dark out and time to say our farewells.
I couldn’t deny that I was always on edge whenever John-Francis and Declan went out on a job together. I knew they had one another’s backs one hundred percent, and yet I couldn’t help myself. I was no stranger to dodgy jobs that fell on the wrong side of the law, but the part of me that loved John-Francis would remain tense and uneasy until he returned to me.
God, I was such a fucking sap…
John-Francis said goodbye to Ma and Darragh, and as always, I found a reason to follow him outside. In the privacy of the dark night, he kissed me goodbye and I watched him disappear across the camp.
Temperatures had plummeted and as I sighed, plumes of hot air clouded before my eyes. I turned on my heel, climbing back up inside the warmth of the caravan. Ma loved nothing better than to crank up the heating and the place was like a furnace.
“John-Francis is away, now?” she asked, looking up from playing a card game with Darragh.
“Aye.” I took a seat next to my cousin. “Deal me in on the next hand, now?”
Darragh nodded, not taking his eyes off his cards. “No bother.”
There was a moment of comfortable silence before my ma spoke. “So, I’d be meanin’ talk t’ ya both.”
“Oh, shite. What’s this, now?” Darragh replied with a smirk. “I hate it when y’be sayin’ that.”
“Wee Florence is doin’ much better. Her daughter’d be makin’ her way over from Cork t’ take care o’ her. I’d put me money on her leavin’ wi’ her.”
“Aye,” I said with a shrug. “And?”
“An’ I’m just sayin’ that there’d be no reason f’us t’ be hangin’ ‘bout Appleby no more.”
I fought to keep my composure whilst my heart pounded in my chest, palms sweaty. I stared at the cards laid on the table in front of me, mind buzzing with thoughts and yet none of them made any sense. Leaving Appleby meant leaving John-Francis.
I could feel both Ma and Darragh’s eyes on me, but I kept my attention fixed on the cards, refusing to acknowledge them. After a moment of tense silence, Darragh cleared his throat.
“I dunno, like. I’d be alright hangin’ ‘bout a wee bit longer.”
I jumped in quickly, trying not to sound too keen. “Aye, I’m in no rush t’ be movin’ on neither.”
“A’right, well, that’s that then, eh?” Ma smiled. “Just wanted t’ be checkin’ in. I appreciate y’boys hangin’ ‘bout whilst I looked after me pal, now.”
Darragh and I both muttered, acknowledging Ma’s thanks, eager to return our attention back to the card game. I should have known my ma wasn’t about to let things go that easily.
“I suppose John-Francis is reason enough t’ hang ‘bout, eh?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose whilst Darragh sighed heavily. We both spoke over one another simultaneously.
“Ma, leave it out.”
“Jaysus, Ma…”
Ma cackled, laying down a few cards. “Gin.”
“Y’crafty feckin’—” Darragh scowled with a laugh, throwing down the cards in his hands.
“Ah, ah, ah – don’t y’be talkin’ back t’ ya ma, now.” Her eyes jumped to me with a grin. “Y’joinin’ next game, aye?”
