SKYFALL, Johnny Kavanagh

Too drunk or not drunk enough?

Johnny's Point of View

Ten minutes later, we were in the back of Joey's car.

His girlfriend, Aoife, shot us a look through the rearview mirror. "How drunk are we talking?"

"Not enough." Gibsie said mournfully.

"Too much." Joey muttered.

I ignored both of them, staring out the window.

Trying not to think.
Trying not to let the way my leg ached with every movement drive me mad.
Trying not to think about Maeve.

The car was too warm.
Or maybe that was just me.

Either way, I was starting to regret every decision that had led to this moment.
Not because I was drunk – though I was.

Not because I was in a car with Joey, who I knew, without a doubt, would kill me if I so much as breathed in Maeve's direction the wrong way.

But because of the absolute shite buzzing against my leg.
I groaned, fumbling in my pocket until I pulled out my phone.
And that's when I saw it.

Devil Pussy is calling.
I blinked.
Then blinked again.

Then slowly turned to Gibsie.

He was already grinning.

"Gibsie." My voice was flat.

"Yes, my sweet?"

"What the fuck is this?"

He leaned over, squinting at the screen like he hadn't done it himself. "Ah, yes. A fine work of art. My best yet, I'd say."

I clenched my jaw and rejected the call. "Did you change all my contacts?"

Gibsie beamed. "You trusted me with your phone, Johnny. That was a mistake."

I exhaled slowly, willing myself to stay calm. "Who else did you rename?"

Gibsie wiggled his brows. "Wouldn't you like to know."

I scrolled through my contacts.

Joey the Hurler.
Judas Iscaricunt.
King Clit.

Jesus Christ.

"I didn't change hers if that's what you're wondering." Gibsie smirked. "I liked Sunshine."

"Shut the fuck up." I whispered to him, hoping he'd understand that I was one mismatched contact away from strangling him.

"Bella's a nightmare." Gibsie stated, suddenly changing topic. "You dodged a bullet there."

"No shit." I muttered.

Aoife made a low whistling sound. "What a bitch."

Gibsie gasped. "Aoife, your language!"

"I call it as I see it."

I huffed, leaning back against the headrest. "Doesn't matter. Haven't talked to her in ages."

Joey made a noncommittal noise.
Aoife, however, wasn't done.

"She was looking at you like she wanted to start something."

I shrugged. "She always wants to start something."

"And you weren't even tempted?"

I shot her a look. "Not even a little."

She narrowed her eyes, watching me a little too carefully.
Then, as if something clicked, her expression shifted.
A slow smirk pulled at her lips.