Page 365 of Redeeming 6

Well, six years of prep work for Kev and the others.

It was more like six years of shits, giggles, and banter for us four.

And now it was all over.

“That was a total bust,” Podge grumbled, scratching the back of his head. “My mam’s going to go mental when the results come out in August.”

“At least you guys will be away when the LC results come out. I’m going to have to deal with my mam in the flesh.” With a dramatic sigh, Casey unzipped her schoolbag and emptied the contents into the huge communal wheely bin outside the school, while Podge did the same.

Meanwhile, Alec threw his entire schoolbag inside before stripping off his school uniform and tossing that in, too. “I’ve waited six bastard years to do that,” he declared, standing shamelessly in his jocks, while he rummaged around in his gear bag for a T-shirt and shorts to throw on. “And I’m telling ya, lads, it felt just as good as I imagined it would.”

“I can’t believe you guys are going to miss the debs,” Casey grumbled, giving Alec an accusing look. “What am I supposed to do, huh? By August, Aoife’s going to be ready to pop. Joey’s… Let’s not even go there. And you guys? You’ll be off whoring and touring across the United States, leaving me friendless, dateless, and dickless. It’s bullshit.”

“Ah, don’t be cranky,” Alec crooned, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pressing a kiss to her hair. “You know I’ll be coming back for my little Devil Tits.”

“He might be out by then,” Podge said, giving me a sympathetic look. “Any word?”

I shook my head, feeling that familiar swell of devastation wash through me. I hated being asked that question. It was something my parents had asked me three times a day since he left for rehab. Every time I had to answer and say no, another little piece of my heart was chipped away.

I got it.

Joey couldn’t call.

He didn’t have access to technology, nor had he been granted visitor privileges. But that didn’t mean that his lack of contact didn’t scald me.

“Lad, I can’t wait to see him again,” Alec said in a wistful tone. “It’ll be weird as hell, though,” he added with a chuckle. “Having a conversation with Lynchy when he’s not off his tits.” He frowned then and scratched his chin. “You know, I don’t think that’s ever happened before.”

“Not helping, dopey,” Casey grumbled, elbowing him in the ribs. “Joe’s going to kick ass in treatment, and then he’s going to come home, clean, sober, and ready to kick ass in fatherhood.”

“Well, that’s a given,” Podge replied.

“Lynchy’s got this, Sexy Legs,” Al agreed, giving me a supportive smile. “You’ll see.”

“Yeah,” I replied, offering them a bright smile.

I hope so.

121

Poking and Prodding

JOEY

While the rest of my family and friends were enjoying their summer, I was spending mine inside a mental health facility, with doctors who tried to undo the damage already done to my fucked-up brain.

Every day it was something.

Every damn day, there was a new topic to broach.

If the doctors and therapists weren’t probing my feelings toward my father, then they were forcing me to speak about the death of my mother or dissecting my relationship with my girlfriend.

Christ, even Granda Murphy had been dragged up in conversation. Nanny, too. Nothing was sacred to these people. Every inch of my life, from birth to present day, was as enticing to them as drugs were to me.

The worst was when they asked me how I felt about my mother’s passing.

Passing.

Like she passed off somewhere.

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