“Never mind.I’m drunk, and I don’t know what I’m saying.”
“I can see that,” he comments, letting his eyes slide over me.“Come on, Nick will manage.He’ll come back for his car tomorrow.I promised I’d get you all home safely, and I don’t intend to lose anyone on the way.”
“Professional ethics?”I tease him.
“Common sense,” he replies, getting into the car.
Okay, what should I do?Should I go too, or take the risk?After all, I don’t live far from here — just a few miles.If I hadn’t drunk the place dry, I could have run home.But I’m tired.I don’t feel like driving; besides, I told Nick I’d stay at his place.I have a feeling he won’t be happy when the hangover wears off.
I get into the car and sit in the front passenger seat next to the Doctor.He starts the engine, and we drive out of the car park, heading for the other side of town.The Doctor drives in silence, keeping a watchful eye on the road, his calm almost getting on my nerves.
Is he seriously not stressed about this?If I were him, I would’ve put them in a taxi and sent them on their way.They’re not even friends, and the Doctor’s only doing this because of the girls.
I lean back and close my eyes for a moment, hoping to nip the headache in the bud.But my thoughts are racing, giving me no peace and no chance to rest my mind.
“Why did you do that?”I ask him suddenly.
“What are you talking about?”
I turn my head to the side and open my eyes.My gaze settles on his profile, lit by the headlights of passing cars and the street lamps lining the road.I want to look away — I should look away — but each time the light catches his features, I hold my breath, hating myself for noticing how his jaw tenses when he concentrates on the road.
“Why did you agree to this?”
He turns his gaze to me for a moment and smiles.“For Casey.”
“Are you two very close?”
What the hell am I asking?Why do I care?Why am I talking to him?Why am I in his car?
“Yes.”
“And you’re also Christine’s friend.”
Again.I mean, Jamie,mind your own fucking business.
“Of course.”
He doesn’t seem bothered by my questions, so I keep going, because now I really want to know.My mania for prying into other people’s lives is my biggest flaw.
“And how is that?Knowing she’s with Ryan now?”
“How come you’re so interested in my life?”
“I have nothing better to do, and the journey is long.I try to keep myself awake as much as I can.”
“Chris and I have a great friendship and deep respect for each other despite her terrible choices,” he says, alluding to Ryan.
I can’t help but smile.
“Besides, don’t forget we have a son.”
The Doctor is Christine’s ex and Ryan O’Connor’s partner.They had a child when they were sixteen, before the Doctor realised he was gay.As far as I know, they’re best friends.It’s not like the Doctor and I are friends — in fact, he’s not even friends with the O’Connor brothers — but, as besides being Christine’s ex, he’s also a friend of Casey’s.So, let’s just say his entry was almost a forced step.
“Your son is a smart kid.”
He smiles again.I can tell he’s proud of Evan.
“Are they asleep?”he asks, alluding to the three morons crammed into the back seat.
