Page 309 of Releasing 10
“I will not.”
“Say it.”
“It’s a preference. I’mallowedto have a preference, asshole.”
“You most certainly are not,” Gibsie huffed. “Not when it leaves me out.”
“Oh my Jesus, Gibs, it’s nothing personal, lad,” Kav groaned. “It’s just my ma’s blond.”
“So?” Gibsie glared across the table at him. “I’m not asking you to fuck your mother.” Grinning, he added, “I’ll save you the trouble and do it for ya.”
“You keep your beady, little eyes off my ma, ya hear?”
“I don’t have beady eyes. I have bed-me eyes.”
“Someone take him away from me before I throttle him.”
“No can do, Cap,” Feely laughed. “You took permanent custody of him in sixth class. He’s yours to handle.”
“To be fair, I think we’d all fuck your mam, Johnny,” Robbie Mac tossed out.
The rest of us cracked up around him, while our captain glowered in silence, staring into his shitty chicken-filled lunchbox like he wasso misunderstood. “I hate the lot of ye.”
“Did you fill Hughie in on your genius plan yet?” Feely asked then, eyes laced with amusement, as he looked at Gibs. “You probably should, considering it’s taking place at his house.”
“What?” Stifling a groan, I looked between the two of them. “What did you do, Gibs?”
“It was supposed to be a surprise, Patrick,” Gibsie huffed, eyeballing our friend. “Can you keep nothing to yourself?”
“Me?” Feely laughed. “You’re one to talk, lad. Besides, I’m fairly sure Hughie would’ve twigged on when you started smuggling slabs of beer into his kitchen.”
He didn’t need to say another word.
I had already clicked on.
My sister had received a phone call from the school’s hockey coach last week. The senior team had an important blitz in Kildare the day after my birthday, and a member of the team had broken her ankle. When the coach asked Claire if she would be willing to temporarily jump ships from the junior team to the senior one, she’d instantly agreed.
Mam being Mam had immediately agreed to take her, and had swapped out shifts at work to make it happen. It would entail an overnight stay, with Mam and Claire leaving at the crack of dawn the day after my birthday.
The most shocking part of the plan was whenDadtold them to book adjoining rooms at the hotel becausehewas going with them.
“Tell me you haven’t,” I said flatly, staring across the lunch table at Gibs. “Tell me you haven’t planned a party atmyfucking house.”
He grinned sheepishly. “I’m afraid I can’t, Hugo.”
I knew it.
That sneaky, little, pierced-nippled fucker had been acting sketchy ever since the call came in from my sister’s coach. “Mam’s already throwing me a party on Halloween night.”
“AndI’mthrowing you an even better one onSaturdaynight,” he chimed back, grinning like a dope. “Minus the Irish mammy.”
“Cancel it,” I bit out, glaring at him.
“Can’t do that either I’m afraid.” He chuckled nervously. “The invites went out days ago.”
“Why don’t you move it to your house, Gibs?” Feely asked, while I repressed the urge to throttle the pain in my hole that was Gerard Gibson. “Your parents are in Spain until Sunday, aren’t they?”
“Parent,” Gibs corrected before quickly rambling on. “And I would if I could, but you know how Brian freaks everyone out, and Mam gives him free rein of the house.”
