Vinny, who worked in the employment law department, grinned. “Booked the day off tomorrow. Three-day weekend.” He glanced over to where Larissa waited. “That your date?”
“No. She works with my cousin.” An iota of relief settled my stomach. I was pretty sure Larissa was looking to get lucky and burn some tension off tonight. Vinny would be decent enough to help her.
He didn’t take his eyes off her arse. “She single?”
“I’d assume so, but couldn’t swear to it. She’s drinking Porn Stars.” I’d save Shay a few quid and be a good cousin.
He rubbed his hands together. “One Porn Star coming up.”
I looked at his colleague, Lucas, and shook my head. Neither of us had a clue how to take that.
“You knowI really love you, don’t you?”
There were times when I understood how it felt to be one of my older brothers dealing with my post-Cassie-meltdown phase. Most of those times had ended in one of them dragging me through the doors of their houses, my mood anywhere between euphoric and the sewer of a meltdown, leaving me in the recovery position and removing my phone so I couldn’t drunk dial anyone, including Cassie.
Shay’s feet stumbled over an invisible obstacle. I tightened my core muscles and stopped us both going arse over tit.
“Could’ve got a taxi though.” Shay tried to slap my back but stumbled again.
“I value my Uber rating.” There was no way a taxi driver would let Shay in his cab. I wasn’t about to allow him in my house, mainly because it was too far to walk to, and Maxwell’s was much closer. Plus, he had six bedrooms.
Shay mumbled something that was incoherent which meant I didn’t need to bother to respond; that suited me perfectly. I was tired and kept thinking about an advice I had to draft in the morning that was going to be technical to say the least; not leaving Shay to sleep in a gutter was definitely something I wanted a medal for later.
Worse, Shay would wake tomorrow with no hangover, not even a small drummer boy would be pounding his head, yet I’d be like a half-alive Zombie at work, despite having had only three beers.
Max and Victoria’s house was a tall four storey Victorian building set back from the road with a long front garden which was dotted with old trees and shrubs. An old fashioned street lamp lit the drive, throwing mine and Shay’s shadows so we looked like two monsters on the stone.
“This isn’t where we live.” Shay slurred and stumbled again.
If he fell, I was more than happy to leave him there, given we were on Max’s property. I might even get him a blanket.
I didn’t bother responding. Before we could reach the door, it was opening, my brother standing there wearing just sweatpants, his hands in his pockets and his face looking grim.
“You really need to trim that beard.” It was rather bush-like.
Max glowered and looked from me to Shay and back again. He pulled his hands out and crossed his arms. “Take it he’s got a few days off work.”
I nodded, although it wasn’t a question. “He either needs to crash here or can you give us a lift home.”
Victoria appeared behind him, her hair messy and a robe tied round her. I figured I’d caught them in the middle of Vic trying to find Max’s tiny penis. Usually, I’d make a comment about magnifying glasses, but I really didn’t want to try and get Shay home by myself.
“I can get myself home.”
Shay’s words were just about understandable – rather slurred and there was definitely drool.
“And for tonight, home is on the couch.” Victoria pulled Max out of the way. “With a bucket. And water. Lots of water.”
I pushed Shay up the steps and into the house, gripping onto both his arms to steer him. As soon as I was in, Max took one side of him and we half carried him into Victoria’s snug, her reading room, where there was an old chesterfield sofa that I knew from experience was decent to sleep on. Not that I’d always been in the state that Shay was when I’d collapsed on it.
I’d lived with Max and Vic for a couple of months when they’d first moved in. It was a big house, and while I’d known my family wasn’t impressed that I moved my backside in there when Max had just bought it, there was enough space to hide away from them. After I’d moved out, I’d found myself there some evenings, to watch a film with Vic or sports with Max, or sometimes just to be in a place where I felt comfortable in my own skin.
“Don’t need water. Another whisky?” Shay looked at me pleadingly. If we’d been at my apartment, I’d happily pour him a couple of fingers, knowing that we had separate bathrooms and he could clean up after himself in the morning, but here it was Max’s call.
“Up to you, big bro.” I glanced at Max.
He shook his head. “I thought you were a mess when you were drunk.”
Were.He saidwere.
