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“I think I know what George’s business is better than you do,” he replied.
Finn exhaled noisily. He looked young. His face was blotchy and red, his anger simmering like he wanted to explode. It was quite disorientating.
“Hey,” drawled from behind him.
George. Drunk and happy. That shifted fast when he looked over Joq’s shoulder. “Finn?” he asked, eyes sharpening. “You okay?”
Joq watched Finn nod quickly and school his expression to neutral, smile close-mouthed. “All good, heading out.”
“You sure?”
“We should probably go too,” Joq turned to George as he spoke. But George was shaking his head.
“Me and Scotty going to the casino. Was gonna see if you guys wanted?”
“No, I’m beat— Joq said just as Finn said, “Yeah, sure.”
And fuck it all.
“Awesome,” George said to Finn over Joq’s shoulder, smiling the radiant smile of the inebriated. “You sure?” George leaned back to ask Joq.
Joq didn’t want to go. He didn’t want to leave George with Finn either.
“Do you really think that’s a good idea?” he asked.
“Yes, Mum,” George laughed.
Joq ground his teeth. “No,” he said slowly. He hated talking to drunk people, and George was particularly irritating when he was pissed. “I mean all those people? Camera phones? You,” he looked around, just Scotty left, “three in a public place?”
George frowned, his drunk mind working through it.
“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Finn said.
“What’ll be fine?” Scotty asked as he came over and threw an arm over George and Joq. “Joqqy!” he yelled in Joq’s face.
“The casino—
“Hell to the yeah!” Scotty cut him off.
“You wanna get your picture taken throwing up in a gutter?” Joq asked.
Scotty frowned.
Finn scoffed.
Joq shot him a look.
“We can go to George’s! You still got the dart board?”
“Yeah!” George grinned at Scotty, then looked at Finn. “Finn?”
Joq wanted to say no one was playing fucking darts.
17
Everyone was playing fucking darts, and it really was the night that wouldn’t end. Maybe he should’ve asked Lacy for a line of his coke. As he watched Finn doubling over with laughter at something George said, George smiling all pleased at the reaction, he thought maybe he should’ve asked Lacy for some of his harder stuff—everyone knew he took ecstasy and rolled on the regular. It was a mystery how he stayed so good, evaded the testers. Joq rubbed his eyes and right then didn’t really give a shit; he’d take the good stuff and be not here.
He sipped his soda water and watched them play. Scotty kept rubbing Finn on the head every time Finn got the right point on the board, which made Finn giggle and bat at his hands playfully. George nudged Scotty away every time he did it. Scotty laughed at George like the whole thing was hilarious. Finn blushed and hid his face in his hair, carefully not looking at Joq on the couch on the other side of the room.
