Page 57 of A Long Way Back
“She was checking you hadn’t drowned me.”
Ink huffed.
“Not really. She’s ecstatic that you took me to the pool and said to tell you thanks and give Dog a tickle from her. My father asked me if I’d sent in the details for the criminal record check and told me to be careful.”
“You don’t do what your parents tell you to, then?”
“Not since I was twenty-six.”
“Are you by any chance, twenty-seven?”
Tay smiled.
Ink lifted his glass and held it out towards Tay. “A toast. To the most inspiring, amazing, brave, intrepid individual among us. Duckie.” He took the duck from his pocket and put it on the table.
Tay chuckled. “To Duckie.”
“So tomorrow…” Ink tucked into the salmon. Tay’s pupils were tiny. He’d taken something.
“I have to work in the morning and your bed’s being delivered.”
“We’ll go out in the afternoon.”
“Okay.”
“How are you feeling? Sure you’re okay?”
“I think today has caught up with me. That’s the most I’ve done since before I fell. Everything hurts.”
Tay’s speech was slightly slurred too.Fuck.
“Have you taken something?”
“Yeah, for the pain.”
“I’m sorry if I made you do too much,” Ink said.
“I need to push myself if I’m to get rid of the chair and the crutches.”
“Want to watch a film after we’ve eaten? Have another massage?”Have sex?
“Yeah, if I can stay awake. My pills tend to knock me out.”
“What type of painkiller are they?”
“Just something the doctor prescribed. Codeine.”
“How many do you take in an average day?”
Tay glared. “Why?”
Ink backpedalled. “I just wondered. Are you on a repeat prescription? I need to go to the chemist. I could pick them up.”
“I have enough.”
Tay’s tone was short and Ink tensed.
“Sorry.” Tay exhaled. “My mum reminded me of something I’d been invited to and she’s pissed off that I won’t go.”
