Page 116 of Inbetweeners
“So that’s why you’ve not been you.”
Phoenix frowned. “What?”
“You’ve been weird. I like it when you’re being all arseholey and insulting and sarcastic. It… It turns me on.”
Phoenix swallowed hard.
“Only if it’s you, though. I have no idea why being insulted by a dickhead makes me feel hot. But it does.”
“And you thinkI’mweird?”
The way Phoenix was looking at him was making him hard.Not the place or time.“Was anyone else hurt?”
“A Belgian lorry driver, though not seriously. He was charged with dangerous driving. He’s not been to court yet. I was overtaking and he pulled out and hit me, and I collided with your car. I don’t remember the actual crash. I only remember registering I was in trouble when the lorry pulled into my lane. I remember my car hitting another vehicle, then nothing. You didn’t die at the scene and neither did I. I died a day after you in hospital.”
“I hope there weren’t bits of me that would have kept you alive. My fucking family ignoring my wishes—the bastards.”
Phoenix stared at him. “Is that all you have to say? If it wasn’t for me, you’d still be alive.”
Emmett gaped at him. “You didn’t kill me. If it wasn’t for that lorry driver, we’d both be alive. Accidents happen. The risk of dying in a road accident in any year in the UK is around 1 in 20,000, and over a lifetime, it’s 1 in 240. You can’t think I’d blame you. Maybe not even the lorry driver. A moment’s inattention was all it took. How many times does that happen with no consequences? The near risks we never even notice? We were unlucky. At least we didn’t leave behind husbands and kids. But you don’t get sent to Hell for accidents. Maybe it reallyisa mistake that you were put there. We can ask Tar, get him to check.”
“They don’t make mistakes.”
“Actuaries don’t, but everyone else does.”
Phoenix huffed.
“Everything’s fitting together, don’t you think?” Emmett said.
“Maybe, but we don’t have the whole picture. I want…”
“What do you want?”
“I want to see my brother. I know I said I didn’t, but I do. I think maybe what we’re doing is coming to an end and I’d regret going back without having seen him.”
“Even if he’s not okay and there’s nothing you can do?”
“Maybe I can pretend to be psychic and pass on a message from me to him.”
“Okay. But we deal with Greyson and Sophie first.”
Phoenix nodded. “I think we should go and speak to Tar. Tell him about the situation with Vin as well.”
“Now?”
“Yes. Sure you’re okay about me killing you?”
Emmett scowled. “Just don’t do it again.”
