Binding 13 (Boys of Tommen, #1)

by Chloe Walsh

"You're number 13," he laughed. "And they want to bind with you." He turned to waggle his brows at me. "Scrum style."

‘Operation Binding Thirteen’

She was gorgeous without putting a thing on her face,

She was worth it all.

"Are you going to get that heated up?"

"Why?" He turned to smirk at me. "Do you have a microwave in your bag?"

"Things that make trusting people hard," Johnny finally surmised, watching me carefully.

"No." Shaking my head, I clasped my hands together

tightly and exhaled a heavy breath. "Things that make trusting...

Shannon like the river. Will you please be my friend?

It was ridiculous, adorable, and I couldn’t wipe the stupid smile off my face.

Rejection and dismissal were never nice feelings to endure, which was exactly what happened to me whenever I foolishly opened myself up to this boy.

It hurt more than it should. It crushed me.

I don’t make myself vulnerable to anyone. Ever."

"And it scares the shite out of me that I've

handed that kind of power ov...

I realized that I was witnessing a rare moment of vulnerability from Johnny, and my heart could barely take the pressure.

"I can keep a secret, Johnny Kavanagh," I whispered, stroking his cheek with my fingers. "And I promise I'll keep yours."

"I'm in so much pain, Shannon," he confessed, tone thick and gruff. "All the time,"

"That's bullshit," he growled. "You're not unlikable." "It's not bullshit," I countered. "I am unlikeable." "I like you," Johnny shot back without an ounce of hesitation.

"Tell me why you trust me." "Because when I'm with you, I feel..." "You feel?" "Safe, okay?" I strangled out. "When you're around, I feel safe."

"Because I care." "Why?" "I just do." He shrugged helplessly. "I can't help it."

"She makes my heart go, like, whoa." "Is that right?" he mused. "So bad, Da," I sighed. "Boom, boom, fucking boom."

I shook my head. "All the time."

"You lie and it hurts my heart," he groaned, tightening his hold on me. "All those marks. It hurts when I

know someone's hurting my Shannon."

"Da," I choked out, tears streaming down my cheeks. The minute Dad saw my expression, his smirk fell.

My fav!! For once that Johnny gets to put the wall down and crash on his dad🥺❤️‍🩹

he sank down on the edge of my bed and pulled me into his arms. "Johnny," he sighed. "Let it all out, son."

And it was right there that I cried like a fucking child on m...

"You're a lawyer," I huffed. "You're paid a fucking fortune to lie."

My dad thought I could do it.

All three of them went straight to Joey.

Because he was our protector. He was the reason we were all in one piece. He was our hero.