“About time!”Ryan groans.“Where have you been?”
“You left me stranded, so I had to get a taxi.Traffic was a fucking nightmare.”
“I came with him,” Ryan says, jerking his thumb toward the Doctor.
“You could’ve picked me up.”
“You weren’t on our way.”
“We live in the same neighbourhood!”
Ryan shrugs.
Ian lets it go and immediately picks up his drink.He knows it’s pointless to reason with that idiot Ryan.He raises his glass, and we all follow suit, ready to toast this extraordinary event that will inevitably complicate everyone’s lives.
We down our drinks in one go.I turn to the Doctor.“Do you mind?”I point to my empty glass.
“Are you kidding?”
“Aren’t you here because you have to make yourself useful?”
“Fuck you.”
I laugh, amused, slowly getting up, then reconsider and bend down to his ear.“You wish.”I straighten and turn away.I don’t need to see his expression, and I don’t even care.I just wanted to take the piss.I head to the bar, order another round, and sit on a stool, eating nuts while I wait.I should have eaten something before I started drinking, but I can afford to be a bit of a dickhead for once — after all, I’m with the O’Connors.I have to adapt.
I grab the glasses, careful not to spill, and carry them back to the table.As I sit down and pass the drinks to the brothers, I realise the Doctor is gone.
“Where is he?”I ask Ryan.
“Who?”
“The Doctor.”
“How should I know?I’m not his babysitter.His only job is to get us home safely.”
I scan the room and spot him leaning against a column, talking to a guy I’ve never seen here before.
I watch the scene silently for a few minutes, ignoring the brothers’ chatter.When the other guy pulls out his phone and starts typing, I realise they’re exchanging phone numbers.
“Wow,” Nick says.“The Doctor has definitely got it.”
“Actually, he didn’t even try,” Ian adds.“He just got up, and that guy was all over him.”
“After all, he’s a decent guy,” Nick continues.
“What?”Ryan raises his voice.
“What did I say?”
“Are you taking the piss?”
“God, Ryan, relax!It was just a comment.”
“Don’t.Apart from the fact that he’s a dick and I can’t stand him, I don’t think it’s appropriate to make comments about him.Or maybe you have a particular interest?”
“Shit, Ryan, I was just talking!”Nick downs his drink in one go.
I do the same with mine.It hits my stomach like fire.I slam the glass down on the table, clutch my gut, and pant for breath.
