Binding 13 (Boys of Tommen, #1)

by Chloe Walsh

he was up this early not because he was desperate to use the bathroom, but because he wanted to see me off on my first day.

"You don’t even realize how brave you are."

"I won't let you fall," I automatically replied in a soothing tone. "It's okay." I felt her slip and pulled her upright, holding onto the tiny thing for all I was worth. "I've got you," I coaxed, tightening my arm around her. "You're good."

don’t talk to her," I added, on a roll now, my commands this time for entirely selfish reasons I didn’t dare think too much about. "Don’t get any notions about her. In fact, don’t look at her at all."

It wouldn’t happen again. Not on my goddamn watch.

he always smiled at me in passing.

he was the first person who'd shown me genuine kindness.

"Boys with pretty eyes and big muscles mess everything up for girls,"

I fucking liked her.

Play and slay was my only option because I refused to crash and burn at seventeen.

I guess it spoke volumes that I felt heated and weirdly comfortable enough around this boy to lose my shit,

There was something about the way a dog looked at you; they didn’t care if you were a famous rugby player or a homeless person on the streets.

They only cared about how you treated them, and once they chose you as their human, you had a faithful friend for the rest of their lives.

No one cooked like my mother.

"She's a stunner of a girl, Johnny,"

"I don’t want to be here anymore, Joe." "Me either." "I'm sick of feeling scared all the time." "I know."

"One of these days, everything will be better. I promise."

"Hey, Joe?" "Yeah?" "Can you do me a favor?"

He tipped his chin up, letting me know he was listening. "Please don’t do to me what Darren did to us." Folding my hands under my cheek, I whispered, "Don’t leave me." "I won't," my brother vowed, tone laced with grit and sincerity. "I won't ever leave you here with him."

But you and me? We stick together."

LOVEEE JOEY

"When I get out of this shithole, and I will get out, I'm taking you with me."

Either way, the child inside of me clung to the promise for all it was worth. And promises like that to girls like me were worth everything.

"Give me a name," Johnny growled, dropping his hands to his hips. "And I'll take care of it." "What– no! I'm grand," I quickly replied. "I have allergies."

"Me, too. I’m allergic to assholes and bullshit," Johnny snarled. "Now, tell me who made you cry and I'll fix it."

There was nothing forgettable about the girl,

I couldn’t concentrate on a damn thing, and it was all her fault.

That's right; I was actually fucking dreaming about the girl now.

"I have an all or nothing attitude," he replied. "I'm either all in with something or I'm not wasting my time. There's no point doing something half-arsed."

Love this guy

"You're safe,"

"I promise."

"Now," I sneered, glaring down at their faces. "Who wants to call my girlfriend a whore to my face?"

Shannon – absolutely, but Bella? Not a chance.

I justified my reasons with the knowledge that Shannon was worth it. Bella was not.

"Shannon is the reason you're going to end up with a broken jaw."

"I love how you don’t even deny she's yours anymore, lad."

"Shit, Kav," Gibsie snickered, taking a step back from the stove. "I was wrong. This fucker right here is the daddy."

It seemed wrong to be in his space. Seemed wrong, but felt so right…

His brows rose. "You can fix this?" "For her?" I nodded determinedly. "Absolutely."

I was completely fucking clueless, armed and ready to go to war for a girl I didn’t know,

"Because you're my baby," Mam sniffled. "Oh, god, my baby is sexually active."

"I thought you liked me," I strangled out. "Jesus Christ," Johnny groaned, dropping his head in his hands. "Of course, I like you."

He tugged on his hair and sighed. "I think it's pretty fucking clear that I'm mad about you."

"Because I want to keep her in my life."

I knew right there that he was exceptionally special and that it had nothing to do with his sporting capabilities. He was exceptional on the inside, too.

I just wanted to keep him in my life. In whatever way I could.

I was that sure of my future. I refused to accept any other route in life.

I made a choice and I stuck to it. I had to be really fucking careful with my choices because once I made a decision, once I set my mind on something, or worse, my heart, it was in my nature to follow

I genuinely love Johnny’s perspective through life

it through with an obsessive hunger. No going back, no second guessing, and no changing my mind.

Once I committed myself, once my heart laid claim on her, I might as well slap a label on my forehead stating I'm yours, please be gentle with me because I'm here to stay.

"It's hard," he whined. "Life is hard, Gibs," I stated.