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“Look, I’m not saying you shouldn’t… Actually, that’s exactly what I’m saying. You fucking shouldn’t go there, man,” Kenny says.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Tell her to leave me out of your fucked-up foreplay.” He looks over my shoulder, reading my message exchange.

Me:

Kenny says you’re psychotic. He’s not interested, but I can scratch that itch for you if you want?

Aurora:

When hell freezes over.

I laugh. She says that now, but we’ll be in hell together one day, so it’s never going to freeze over.

“Why are you fighting at school? You’re supposed to be keeping a low profile,” my father asks me. The dinner table in theO’Malley household is anything but cozy. It’s formal as shit and silent unless you’re asked a direct question.

“Someone disrespected me, Da. Did you want me to let that slide?” I tell him.

“How so?”

“Some punk called me a leprechaun fucker. So I knocked him out.” I shrug.

“Who?”

“No idea. Some stoner,” I say. My dad is only interested in making sure it wasn’t someone important. Someone related to one of the other crime families.

“Good. Don’t let little shits disrespect you. Still, we’re not trying to gain too much attention,” he reminds me.

“I’m aware, Da.”

“Have you made any friends yet? You haven’t brought anyone over,” my mom says.

“I have friends, Ma. They’re back in Boston,” I tell her. When her face falls, I feel bad. “I hang out with Kenny and his group. Speaking of, I told him I’d go hang out tonight. Can I be excused?”

“Sure, honey. Have fun,” she says.

Once I’m in my car, I message my cousin to tell him I’m picking him up. I don’t know where we’re going but I can’t be home right now.

I pull up to his place a few minutes later. The gates open, and I drive up to the door. I don’t bother getting out. Instead, I wait for him to walk over.

“Wanna take my car?” he asks.

“Not a fucking chance. Get in, asshole.”

“I hate this car,” he groans. There is nothing wrong with my Mustang. It’s a hell of a lot better than his pretentious Ferrari.

“Deal with it.”

“Where are we going?”

“To drink whiskey until I pass out,” I tell him.

“Cabin?” The family has a little cabin about an hour out of the city. We’ve used it for parties a few times.

“Sounds like a plan.”

“So, any blonde reason you’re drinking yourself stupid?” Kenny laughs.