“Did you have to mention him?”Ian asks.
Nick and Casey sit down, and the table already feels crowded.
“Oh, but we have the Doctor with us tonight.”
“You know, just in case,” Martin says.“If one of you chokes on the barrage of bullshit he spouts…”
“So funny,” Nick mutters, rolling his eyes.
“I underwent rigorous training before facing this night,” the Doctor says.
“My God, my head’s already hurting,” Ian groans.
“We need alcohol.Now,” Evan declares, turning to swipe a tray from a waiter passing between the tables.
“We took coming of age seriously,” I tell him.
“That’s all I was waiting for.You can’t imagine what I had to endure without it,” Evan says, overly dramatic.
He sets the tray on the table and hands out glasses to everyone.When he reaches his mother, she just shakes her head.
The table falls silent at once.
“Holy fuck!”Nick blurts, breaking the silence.
“What is it?”Chris tries to pretend, but she is already flushed.
“Now that’s a bomb!”Ian laughs, draining his glass.
“That’s some serious shit!”Evan exclaims, downing his drink.
“What is wrong with all of you?”Chris tries again.
“Please, Mum, don’t take us for idiots.You’d drain everyone’s glasses, including those at the next table, in two minutes.”
“Fifty euros,” Martin says, raising a hand towards me.
“I have no cash at the moment.”
“Don’t be a smart-arse.”
“Do I look like I’m wearing a wallet?”
“I don’t believe it,” Ryan says.“Did you bet?”
I shrug.
“Hey, new retiree,” Riley says to Ian.“You too.Come on.”
“Did you all participate?”Chris asks.
“Don’t forget my cut,” Evan points out.
“Evan!”Chris admonishes him.
“What a future this kid has,” Ryan comments.“Congratulations, both of you,” Ryan turns to Chris and Martin.“You did a great job.”
“Don’t forget your nefarious influence,” Martin points out to him.
