Part 27 (2/2)
Dante kicked off his boots and did as instructed. After the doctor had finished doing the check-up, Dante slumped back into his chair, looking embarra.s.sed. ”Can we get my prescription now?” he asked.
”Yes, just give me a moment.” The doctor typed away on his computer, then retrieved the prescription from the printer and held it out to Dante. ”You should also report the person who stole your medication to the police.”
Shaking his head, Dante took the prescription. ”I don't like the police, they're p.r.i.c.ks. They'll pro'bly arrest me just for looking at them funny.”
The doctor smiled. ”That's your condition talking.”
”No, he really does hate the police,” Ash said. ”The Claydon station is like a second home for him, cos he's always gettin' drunk and causing trouble.”
”Alcohol and medication don't go well together,” the doctor said.
Dante shrugged. ”Booze relaxes me.”
”Still, it's not recommended.”
”Whatever, I'll do what I like.” Dante got to his feet and headed out the door.
Ash followed Dante, his brother's words p.i.s.sing him off. Juliet jumped up and ran after them as they exited the building. Ash swiped the prescription out of Dante's hand and entered the pharmacy, sick of Dante's att.i.tude.
”Oi!” Dante grabbed his arm. ”Gimme my prescription.”
Ash spun around in the middle of the store and jabbed a finger at Dante. ”I'll do what I like,” he said, mimicking Dante's words. ”That's your f.u.c.kin' motto isn't it? You see Carly, stuff the fact she's married, bang, you do her, then you decide you wanna do Beth. Who's next? Tiana?”
”f.u.c.k off! She's like a sister to me.”
”When you're drunk you don't know who you f.u.c.k.”
”I wuzn't drunk with Beth.”
Ash clenched his right hand, feeling like planting it in Dante's face.
Juliet stepped between them. ”Dante, let Ash get the prescription while we look at sungla.s.ses.”
Dante eyeballed Ash for a moment, then spun around and headed for the sungla.s.ses' stand with Juliet. Ash watched his brother's back, wondering whether he would ever trust him again. He sighed, then went to get the prescription.
A forty-something shop a.s.sistant with huge b.r.e.a.s.t.s watched him as he neared the counter. He ignored her smile and pa.s.sed over the prescription. She scanned it, then handed it onto the pharmacist, quickly returning to Ash.
”You two Rata men look so much alike,” she said.
Yeah, like he hadn't hurt that before. ”He's dumber looking.”
She giggled. ”Are you Ash or Dante?”
”Ash.”
She angled her head to look at Dante, then returned her gaze to Ash, her expression puzzled. ”But I thought the text was off Dante, not you.”
Ash rolled his eyes, realising she was talking about Dante's nude photo. He was sick of explaining to chicks that it wasn't him. ”It is of him.”
”But the guy in the pic didn't have a face tattoo.”
”Or a neck tattoo,” Ash said, pointing to his. ”Dante got the face tat a few months after the photo wuz taken.”
”Oh, that's why.” She smiled. ”Still, the photo looks just like you.” Her gaze ran down Ash's body. ”You free tonight?”
”Sorry, I'm taken.”
She glanced at his left hand. ”No ring; can't be that taken.”
”Just got back with my son's mother.”
She pouted. ”Lucky woman.”
”Nah, I'm the lucky one.”
”Is he taken?” she asked, looking over at Dante.
”No, cos he's nuts,” Ash said, feeling bad the second the words came out of his mouth. Maybe Dante was right not to tell him.
She grinned wide. ”I like nuts.”
A smile broke through Ash's foul mood. ”Not his kind.”
The woman turned to the pharmacist as he approached her, the old fella giving her a dirty look as well as Dante's medication. Taking the box, she slipped it into a paper bag then wrote on the outside. ”If you ever wanna pose for a s.e.x-text make sure you send it to this,” she said, pa.s.sing the bag over. ”Or give it to your brother if you're not interested.”
Grinning, Ash glanced down at the name Nina and her phone number. ”I'll definitely pa.s.s it onto him.”
Her face lit up. ”Really? Cool, thanks, Ash. And if you ever come in here again ask for me.”
Ash nodded, then headed over to Dante. ”Oi, s.h.i.+thead.” He held out the medicine, making sure that Dante's noticed Nina's handwriting.
Dante took the package. ”Why's there a name and number on here?”
Ash gestured at the shop a.s.sistant, who appeared to be getting a strip torn off her by the irate pharmacist. ”She's placed an order for a nude picture of you. Make sure you text it to her phone,” he said, then walked out the door, smirking at Dante's shout of ”You b.a.s.t.a.r.d!”
Ash headed for Corey's car, half expecting to get smacked from behind, but not caring. He made it to the car without any injury, turning to find a highly aggravated Dante glaring at him. Juliet unlocked the car and forcibly steered Dante towards the door. Dante flicked Ash the finger, then got into the backseat, kicking Ash's seat when he got in. Ash's smirk stayed in place. He knew he shouldn't be trying to antagonise Dante after his brother's flip-out, but f.u.c.ked if he could bring himself to care after their argument.
His phone started ringing. His smirk changed into a smile when he saw Tiana's number. ”Kia ora,” he answered.
”Ash...” Tiana said, crying. ”You have to come over now.”
Ash's smile dropped. ”What's wrong? Is Angelo alright?”
Her crying picked up, the line going silent for a few seconds, then she answered, pus.h.i.+ng Ash's heart back down his throat. ”He's okay, but you have to come over right away.”
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