AllFreeNovel
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“Yeah, for now. See howrealit gets if she catches sight of who you are. You’ll be front page in a lickety split, and then what? Sponsors gonna ditch you like dogshit off a shoe, won’t even give it chance to blow over, and let’s not even start on what April would do to you.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Future’s fucking bright.”
“You wanted advice, mate, I’m just saying it like it is. You wanna fuck the chick, go fuck the chick. Just make sure she’s worth it.”
Oh, she’d be worth it. I looked at the guy I’d known most my life. His dirty blonde hair was a mess, eyes sunken. He looked as fucking battered as I felt.
“How you doing, Steve?”
He pulled out a packet of cigarettes, shot me a sad smile as he lit one up. “I’ll live.”
“You need to get out there, get your life back.”
“Thisismy life, mate. Gotta work my way out of this financial cesspit. Got Kim to thank for that.”
“If it’s about money...”
He was shaking his head before I’d even finished. “Nah, mate. I’m alright. You’ll need yours soon enough when this shit hits the fan. It’ll beyoucoming tomefor a loan.” He slapped my arm in good humour. “I wouldn’t even know where to start, dating and all that shit. Maybe I should get me a chatline chick.”
“Funny you should say that...”
“Oh yeah?” Steve raised his eyebrows.
“I need guys I can trust... guys who’ll fuck Lucy for me,withme.”
“Christ, mate, I thought you’d turned your back on all that shit.”
I stared him out. “It used to be fun, remember?”
“A long time ago...”
“You forgotten what your dick’s for?” I smirked. “Kim may have dealt you the purity card, but I know you, Steve. It’s still in you.”
“Anyway, that chick’s probably gonna be a moose, you wait and see.”
“And if she’s not?”
He looked past me, to the stacks of tools on the wall. “Gotta keep my head down, Jase. Ain’t got no time for crazy fucking about.”
I shrugged, let it go. “I need to get hold of the Carlisle brothers, you got a number for them?”
“Shit, man. You’re really serious.”
“Deadly.”
“On your head be it. Ain’t got a number for them, but last I heard they’d opened a repair shop over Epsom way.”
“Heard much else on the grapevine? Vince? Sam?”
“Pretty much out of it, but I heard Vince has been up to his usual tricks. Was dating this posh chick, Cynthia something, but she ditched him a few months back when she found some dodgy pictures on his phone. No idea about Sam.”
“What about Richard Cowley? Heard anything from him?”
“Engaged, I think. Still working for Jackson’s haulage up Stevenage way.”
“I’ll check it out.” I slapped him on the back. “Let me know if you change your mind and want in.”
“Aye,” he smiled, stubbing his cigarette in an empty can. “You keep yourself out of trouble, Jase. Don’t need the both of us washed up on shit shore.”
