Chapter Text
At the club where the Christmas party took place, Joe found Booker looking at his phone with a frown, while ignoring the beer next to him.
Joe: "Hi, Booker."
Booker looked up from his phone to check who was speaking to him.
Booker: "Oh, hi, mate. Why are you wearing a red bathrobe at a party?"
Joe: "All will be explained in due time. But I can tell you this, that I'm not wearing a bathrobe but a robe, just like the one Santa wears."
Booker: "Sure, whatever."
Booker returned to looking at his phone.
Joe: "How goes with finding football tickets?"
Booker: "Some bloke in Sweden offered me a ticket for 30.000 Euros. Not the best seats in the stadium, but I'm thinking of buying them because it's the best offer I have gotten so far."
Joe: "Not to burst your bubble, but we both know you don't have that kind of money."
Booker: "That's my worry, not yours."
Joe: "True, but I think you'll land in more trouble with Nile if you start gambling again or do something stupid to get that money."
Booker looked around and saw Nile talking with Tuah. Tuah were new to their group, and Booker didn't like the way Nile and Tuah had grown close to each other.
Joe: "Tell me, are you still sleeping with Nile?"
Booker: "No, we stopped doing that after the thing happened. I don't want to talk about it. And what has she been telling you about me?"
Joe: "Only that you dozed off when you wanted to buy a ticket. And that you're close to selling your soul to get your hands on a ticket, so to prevent that from happening, here. Merry Christmas."
Joe placed a tick envelope on Booker's phone.
Booker: "What's that?"
Joe: "A Christmas gift for Nile and you."
Booker: "I don't follow."
Joe: "This Christmas gift will make Nile worry less about you, because I'm giving you the one thing you want for Christmas."
Booker took the envelope.
Booker: "Are you saying that you…"
Booker opened the envelope with great care and saw the football ticket he was after.
Booker: "Where did you get the ticket from?"
Joe: "I'll tell you another day, but I promise you one thing. What's inside that envelope is totally legal and will keep you out of debt and trouble with Nile."
Booker noticed there was more than one football ticket.
Booker: "I only need one ticket, so why are there more than one?"
Joe: "Thought you should have the entire World Cup experience."
Joe looked at his phone.
Joe: "Excuse me, I need to get Nicky. You know, hot, Italian undertaker."
Joe left, and it didn't take long before Nile stood beside Booker.
Nile: "What's wrong with you?"
Booker: "Joe just gave me football tickets to the entire World Cup. Do you have any idea where he got them from?"
Nile: "I do, yes. Has Joe told you about his cousin who plays for the Dutch national team?"
Booker nodded and watched Nile reach for his beer.
Nile: "Joe's cousin always makes sure to include him in everything when it comes to football."
Booker: "Why?"
Nile took a sip of Booker's beer.
Nile: "Have you ever asked Joe why he is limping on his left leg?"
Booker: "Can't say that."
Nile: "It isn't for me to tell you that story, so you have to ask him."
Booker: "You have lost me, Nile."
Nile: "All I'm saying is that if you knew why Joe is limping, you would know why and how he could get you the tickets you want."
Nile looked over at Tuah, who pointed at the dance floor.
Nile: "Have to go. And if I were you, I would hide the tickets, unless you want someone to steal them from you."
Nile walked over to Tuah, who took her hand and dragged her towards the dancefloor. After putting the football tickets in his inside pocket, Booker took his beer and walked over to Andy and Quynh in the corner.
Andy: "Hi, Idiot. What's with you?"
Booker: "None of your damn business. And aren't you busy with Quynh?"
Quynh crawled over Andy so she could sit between them.
Quynh: "Okay, now that you have swung your tiny dicks let's keep the peace since it's Christmas."
Last week, Andy and Booker had another quarrel about something they had forgotten all about.
Quynh: "Glad you agree with me."
Before Andy could say anything, Quynh handed her the glass with vodka.
Quynh: "Have you seen Joe? And is Nicky showing up this time?"
Booker: "Joe told me he was getting Nicky. Did you know he is an undertaker?"
Andy: "Yeah, we did. Why are you asking?"
Booker muttered something while drinking his beer.
Andy: "Oh, you're such an Idiot. Do you really think that Joe's new boyfriend is working as a loan shark?"
Quynh: "I don't follow."
Andy: "Some places in Italy, an undertaker is slang for a loan shark, who often works for the mafia."
Andy pointed at Booker.
Quynh: "Have you borrowed money again, Booker?"
Booker: "No, I'm keeping my path clean because of..."
Andy and Quynh followed Booker's eyes and saw he was looking at Nile, who was still dancing with Tuah.
Booker: "Now that I think about it, it's not your damn business, so stop asking about my private life or else I'll leave."
Quynh looked at Andy, who nodded.
Quynh: "We'll keep the peace, I promise. Until Joe shows up with Nicky, should we play pool? That way we're closer to the front door."
Andy: "I like the way you're thinking. Are you in, Book?"
Booker nodded, and they found a pool table nearest the front door.