Page 116 of Run Away Home: Tempered

“Why do you drink on the job?”

“I don’t know. I like to drink.”

“You know, you’re not impressing me.”

“I was trying to impress you with my honesty, not my alcoholism. Oh! And comfort you, since you’re newly unemployed.”

“It just sucks. You know?”

“I do... Well, I don’t, but I do. I’ve never been unemployed, but I definitely know ‘sucks,’ if that makes any sense?” He takes another sip. “God, this is so sweet.”

“I like it like that.” I smile.

“I figured you would.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“I watched you drink that whiskey earlier today and...”

“Right. So, you live with your brother. Older or younger?”

He gulps down the rest of his drink. He grabs the bottle of vodka and fills his glass nearly to the top with just that. Ew? Maybe he really is an alcoholic.

“Younger. I’m his legal guardian.”

“Did he hate Scotland as much as you did?”

“Look, I don’t hate it there...and no, he’s not from Scotland.”

He sips the pure vodka like it’s water.

“What?”

“His adopted mum fostered me, but then she died. So, I adopted him. Kind of confusing.”

“Oh, wow. Okay. I mean...not wow, just...cool. That’s cool.”

Oh my God. Cool? I am such an idiot.

He laughs. “Sure...cool. You live here by yourself?”

“Me, myself, and I.”

“Is it one bedroom or two?”

“One. I could never afford two, are you kidding me?”

“Ours has three. One for each of us.”

“Jesus, how much do you pay?”

“About twenty-five hundred a month.”

“Holy shit!” I slap the island.

“I told you I need my job, did I not?”

“Well, your roommate... I’m assuming he contributes, right?”

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