Jamie
“Wow, that’s a lot of people. You didn’t tell me it was such an important event,” the Doctor says as we walk into the room.
“It’s not. Just another player retiring.”
“Hey! I can hear you,” Ian complains.
“Oh, sorry, Ian. I thought you were starting to have hearing problems, too.”
“Shut the fuck up.”
“I’m just helping you prepare a bit. Think of it as a warm-up. Soon enough, your brothers will get here, and that’s when things might get rough.”
We make our way through the crowd. When we reach our table, I pull out a chair for my Doctor, and he sits down.
“What a gentleman,” my Doctor comments, smiling at me.
“It’s a fancy night. I’m cool, and I have to act like a gentleman.”
“You are always cool,” the Doctor tells me.
“That’s true, but in this outfit, Doctor, I can turn any man in this room gay.”
“I doubt it.” A pleasant voice cuts in. “What’s up, losers?” Evan greets us. “And by the way, my dad’s cooler than you, Captain. Especially in a tuxedo.”
“Thank you so much, Evan.”
“It’s my duty, Dad.”
Evan sits beside his dad, and Ryan and Chris join us at the table too.
“All that’s missing at this point is…”
“Where is the newly retired?” A familiar voice cuts in.
“Did you have to mention him?” Ian asks.
Nick and Casey sit down, and the table already feels crowded.
“Oh, but we have the Doctor with us tonight.”
“You know, just in case,” Martin says. “If one of you chokes on the barrage of bullshit he spouts…”
“So funny,” Nick mutters, rolling his eyes.
“I underwent rigorous training before facing this night,” the Doctor says.
“My God, my head’s already hurting,” Ian groans.
“We need alcohol. Now,” Evan declares, turning to swipe a tray from a waiter passing between the tables.
“We took coming of age seriously,” I tell him.
“That’s all I was waiting for. You can’t imagine what I had to endure without it,” Evan says, overly dramatic.
He sets the tray on the table and hands out glasses to everyone. When he reaches his mother, she just shakes her head.
The table falls silent at once.
“Holy fuck!” Nick blurts, breaking the silence.
“What is it?” Chris tries to pretend, but she is already flushed.
“Now that’s a bomb!” Ian laughs, draining his glass.
“That’s some serious shit!” Evan exclaims, downing his drink.
“What is wrong with all of you?” Chris tries again.
“Please, Mum, don’t take us for idiots. You’d drain everyone’s glasses, including those at the next table, in two minutes.”
“Fifty euros,” Martin says, raising a hand towards me.
“I have no cash at the moment.”
“Don’t be a smart-arse.”
“Do I look like I’m wearing a wallet?”
“I don’t believe it,” Ryan says. “Did you bet?”
I shrug.
“Hey, new retiree,” Riley says to Ian. “You too. Come on.”
“Did you all participate?” Chris asks.
“Don’t forget my cut,” Evan points out.
“Evan!” Chris admonishes him.
“What a future this kid has,” Ryan comments. “Congratulations, both of you,” Ryan turns to Chris and Martin. “You did a great job.”
“Don’t forget your nefarious influence,” Martin points out to him.
“Look, I’ve only been at it for a short time; creating such a monster takes years and years of hard work.”
“May I know who didn’t take part in this?” Chris blurts out.
Nobody says a word.
“Thank you, really!”
“Don’t be offended, I should be the one to be offended. It’s my night, and you’re stealing my thunder,” Ian complains.
“It wasn’t my fault. I didn’t even want to say it. It was Nick. He can’t keep his mouth shut for ten seconds,” Chris defends herself.
“This is who I am. Take it or leave it,” Nick says.
“Are you asking us to choose? Because if so…” Ian responds.
“Okay, that’s enough,” Casey says. “It was all planned. Evan handing the glass to Chris, Nick pretending to be surprised… Did you really think it was a coincidence? There are no coincidences in this family.”
Chris turns furiously on Nick.
“The only way to make you say anything is to confront you with the evidence, with your back to the wall,” Nick observes.
“Maybe we should wait for another time, since it’s Ian’s night,” Ryan comments.
“Thank you for noticing!” Ian exclaims.
I laugh as I see Evan get up, the Doctor following him soon after.
They walk a few steps away from the table and stop to talk behind a pillar.
I want to know what they are saying, but I let them have their privacy, as they should.
I see Evan shrug several times while Martin speaks to him gently.
Evan lets Martin give him a quick hug before slipping into the room.
I get up too, leaving the O’Connors to their fate. I’ve done my duty; now I have to think about myself.
“Is everything okay?” I ask him.
“I just wanted to make sure it didn’t upset him.”
I nod.
“He’s a grown-up, but it has always been just him. I think it’ll take him some time to take it all in.”
“He is a man.”
“True, but even men need a wingman now and then.”
“You are a wonderful dad.”
“Oh, please. I am a mess.”
I catch the hem of his jacket and tug him closer.
“We are in public, everyone is staring.”
“Do you think I give a damn?”
“Ian is going to complain someone else is stealing his thunder.”
“Fuck Ian. Fuck everybody.”
He smiles, then bites his lower lip.
“Have I told you how fucking good you look in this tux?”
“Actually, you just pointed out how good you look in yours.”
“I’ll tell you now,” I lean in towards his mouth, but someone taps my shoulder.
I sigh, frustrated, and turn to face one of the journalists at the event.
“Is this the time, man?”
“Just one question.”
“It’s not my night.”
“I know, but I couldn’t help noticing.” The journalist smiles slyly at me.
“Just one. Then piss off.”
“Is that your boyfriend?” the journalist asks, nodding towards Martin, who is half-hidden behind a pillar. I glance between them, then reach for Martin’s hand and gently pull him to my side.
“He’s not my boyfriend.” I keep my eyes on Martin, not the journalist. I don’t care what the journalist writes or what people will read tomorrow. What matters is how Martin feels, and I want to make sure he understands.
“He is my Doctor. And he is my family.”