Page 65 of Go Luck Yourself
Finn and Loch come back, both looking exhausted. But Loch’s exhaustion sharpens as Siobhán peels away from me, and I see the echo of our fight about me not trying to sleep with her.
He glares at me.
I hold that glare, but I don’t return it.
He drops his eyes first.
“I’ve had about enough of Cork,” he says to no one in particular. “Home?”
“Yeah.” But Finn dips her head back dramatically. “Ah, Christ, the car is gonnareekwith you two in it. Canna you find somewhere to shower first?”
“I do nasmell.” Loch snags Finn and jerks her head down to bury her face in his armpit.
“Get off me!Fucker!” She flails, landing a fist to his stomach, and he lets her go with a laugh.
“We’ll pile ’em in the back and open all the windows.” Siobhán points at Loch, who spreads his arms and moves as if to tackle-hug her too. “Do na touch me, ya wanker.”
“Ah, but Siobhán—deirfiúr bheag—” He lunges, and I stumble away as Siobhán ducks and squeals and the two of them tear across the road, hopping through the crowd, angling for the carpark.
It leaves Finn and me to trail them, and when she gives me her usual frown, I become aware of the stupid grin on my face.
“Siobhán threaten you good and proper if you fuck us over?” she asks.
Well,Finndefinitely can’t be the one stealing from us because, god, the irony ofmefuckingthemover.
I nod.
She eyes all my injuries and shakes her head in disgust. “See if ya can get to the car without falling on your arse.”
And she quickens her pace to walk off without me.
Which is fine. I need the time to… breathe.
My phone is in the car. So I can’t text Coal and ask him what I should do, and I don’t want to text him while we’re all in the car together in case someone sees.
So for now?
I’m on my own.
The knot of pressure in my chest matches the one currently radiating pain up my neck.
What is it with the rulers of Holidays fucking off their duties so the heirs have to step in? Loch and I should start a club with Coal and Iris.
At the car, Finn claims the driver’s seat and Siobhán sits next to her, which leaves Loch and me to crowd into the back, all the windows thrown down in the frigid March air. That won’t last long. But we do stink.
And this car istiny.
I didn’t realize it when I was sitting with Siobhán. Loch has to bend his long legs practically to his chin, pivoted with his hip towards me to give Finn enough room to put her seat back. I squish in next to him, doing my best not to touch him, my body shoved up on the door like I’m trying to scale it.
Finn drives us off, the chilly air buffeting my face. I close my eyes. My body aches, every wound throbbing with the beat of my blood. The one granola bar and bag of almonds I’ve eaten today is rapidly making my stomach revolt against the rest of my body.
Something cold touches my knee and I jerk.
Loch chuckles. It’s a water bottle.
I note the small unzipped cooler between his feet.
“You did na drink enough during the race,” he says.
