Noel gleefully upended an entire bottle of liquor over my head.
The alcohol burned like acid in my eyes, forcing out involuntary tears. My hair clung to my face in wet, reeking strands.
He poured five bottles in total, making sure every inch of me was drenched before he finally stopped.
He watched my skin swell red and angry from the allergic reaction, watched me clench my jaw against the searing pain and the fire spreading across every nerve.
Noel smiled, satisfied. He leaned down and whispered in my ear.
"Laurence, that sharp mouth of yours was running pretty hot earlier. What happened? Cat got your tongue?"
"You know as well as I do that I'm the one Lauren cares about most right now. One word from me, and she'll make you drink that entire basin of dirty underwear water."
"But tell you what. Get on your knees, knock your forehead on the floor a few times, and beg me nicely. I'll let you off with just two-thirds of the basin. Sound fair?"
So that was it. Payback for last night.
But if I rolled over that easily, I wouldn't be Laurence Henson.
I seized a fistful of his hair and slammed his entire head into the basin of filthy water.