Page 39 of Alfie: Part Two

He shook his head and draped an arm around my shoulders. “It’s all good. When Finn came out and told me you and Shan were bonding, I was just happy.”

That was the trouble with these charming criminals, wasn’t it? They were fun to be around.

“He’s worn a shit-eating grin the whole time,” Kellan informed me. “Even when Reagan flung spaghetti on him.”

“Boy did what?” Finn looked up from his phone.

Alfie laughed. “All in good fun. Ryan declared a food war. You missed out.”

“I’m glad I was there for that,” Emilia chuckled. She turned to Finn. “Don’t worry, we got pictures.”

The only one not amused by sticky children declaring a food war was obviously Kellan.

He eyed me. “And I assume you’re all over that kid shit like your man.”

“No, I had children because I love cleanliness and order,” I drawled.

“Pshhh.” He waved me off as the others laughed.

“My man’s good for more than his dry wit,” Alfie promised. “As I always say, it’s a great idea to have someone around who uses words like abscond, besmirch, and indubididably.”

“Indubitably,” Shan and I echoed and cracked up.

“Right. That. It’s so much easier when you have to forge a form or formal letter if you can throw some college words in there.”

“That’s fuckin’ legit,” Finn said.

Good lord! “I’ll put up with your crimes, boy. I will under no circumstances help you commit them.”

He widened his eyes at me. “You’d actually refuse me?”

I kissed his jaw. “Indubitably.”

“Which crimes, by the way?” Finn asked.

“That’s what I wanna know too.” Kellan nodded. “We run a comedy club. Don’t go besmirching our reputation, West.”

I grinned.

“Look atchu!” Alfie exclaimed. “You know a big word, Ford.”

Kellan flashed his middle finger and a smirk. “Be nice or abscond the fuck outta hea.”

Alfie held out his arms. “Mate, you’re like my mom when she switches to Spanish. I don’t fucking understand.” Then he peered down at me and lowered his voice. “I thought abscond was a lamp or some shite.”

Oh, for— I coughed on a laugh, and unfortunately for him, the others had heard what he’d said. Everyone laughed except Finn, so maybe he didn’t know the meaning of the word either.

“Wait, no, I know that one,” Finn said, snapping his fingers. “Innit sconces?”

“Three hundred grand,” Shan repeated. Oh yes, money well spent on private schooling.

“Fuck, now I want scones,” Emilia sighed.

I wanted…more of this.

I was fucked.

CHAPTER 17

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