Charlie handed Brad ten dollars and asked for some beers. Harry was in the middle seat, squashed between Juno’s bulk and her ample cousin. As the cousins asked for the biggest, cheapest bottle of Vodka they could get, Harry pulled out seventy dollars.

‘You’re going home,’ Charlie said.

‘Might as well get booze in while I have the chance,’ Harry said. ‘I’ll have some beer, plus a bottle of whatever vodka and a bottle of Jack Daniels.’

Brad laughed as he snatched the money from the driver’s seat. ‘Charlie said your auntie was rich!’

‘Well, he drives a forty-grand Mini Cooper,’ Juno pointed out as Harry flushed red.

‘Are you rich, Harry?’ Juno’s cousin smirked, grabbing his knee. ‘Please tell me you’re single.’

Harry turned redder as Brad got out with the money and the three girls howled with laughter. Rain streaked down Betsy’s windows as they watched Brad lean into a tent. A top-heavy woman in torn leggings came out, giving Brad a hug and a kiss on the lips that meant more than hello.

‘Oooh,’ Juno purred, her throbs of laughter rocking Harry. ‘Dirty boy, Brad! I’d bet you my last dollar he’s tapped that girl.’

‘She looks at least thirty,’ her cousin added. ‘Bet she’s on drugs or some shit.’

Juno shook her head. ‘How does Mel stand his nonsense?’

Harry looked between the front seats and drew some satisfaction from Charlie’s pained expression.

‘Is he really that bad?’ Charlie asked, looking round, trying to sound casual.

Juno and her cousin spoke in unison, ‘Worse!’ then cracked up laughing.

Serves you right, Harry thought.

The laughter died off as Brad got back in the car. ‘I’ll drive across to Walmart. You can buy your snacks and we’ll meet Emily when she comes out with our booze.’

Juno and her cousin took ages wandering around Walmart and it was close to Christmas, so the queues were epic. The sun was precariously low as they got back to OIL. Harry got out of Betsy, and grabbed his carrier bag of booze from the trunk.

‘Sorry my choice of movie sucked,’ Charlie said, giving Harry a goodbye hug. ‘I’m gonna keep working on my support officer. I’d really like to meet Kirsten, and your friend Matt.’

‘Sure,’ Harry said weakly. ‘Maybe next weekend.’

37 DIRTY SHAKE

Harry felt mournful watching Charlie and the others head inside to get drunk as he buckled up and told the car to drive home. Kirsten would be at work and the only thing he wanted less than their inevitable confrontation was an evening alone with his thoughts. He pressed a button on the central display to call Matt, who answered after a couple of rings.

‘’Sup, you big homo?’ Matt asked cheerfully.

‘Not much,’ Harry lied. ‘Just heading home from seeing Charlie. I scored a ton of booze if you’re interested in coming to mine later.’