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“Push me one more time and I’ll break your legs,” Cormac snarled, shoving Gibsie right back. Unfazed by the threat, Gibsie continued on his rampage. “You and that bitch were trying to get one over on him because he doesn’t want her, and you can’t do it where it counts.” Pressing his forehead to Cormac’s, he hissed, “On the pitch.”
“Or what?” she hissed, slapping me across the face. “You’ll set your guard dog on me, too?” “Did you enjoy that?” I seethed, not even flinching. “Because that’s the only way you’ll put your hands on me again.” She reared back and slapped me again. I laughed into her face. “Go on. Go right ahead. Hit me all fucking night. It won’t change a thing.”
“Just keep him safe.” Hughie nodded and turned his attention to Gibsie. “Let’s go, Rocky Balboa,” he said brightly. “Before you get us all thrown in the barrack for the night.” “He asked for it,” Gibsie slurred. “Piece of shit.”
Shannon—absolutely, but Bella? Not a chance.
“Gibs hit me first,” Cormac snapped and then threw his hands up. “He was in my face.” “Because you were in mine,” I replied calmly. “Because you were told to leave and you wouldn’t, and because I’m his captain and that means something to him.” Cormac grimaced at my words.
I justified my reasons with the knowledge that Shannon was worth it. Bella was not.
“Fine.” I threw my hands up. “Keep your girlfriend away from mine and we’ll be rosy.” “You don’t have a girlfriend,” he replied slowly, expression laced with confusion. “Me,” I corrected, flustered at the word spill. “Keep her away from me and we won’t have a problem.”
AHHHHHHHHH
“Are you going to cause problems with her?” “Because you’re with her? No,” I told him. “If she fucks with Shannon? Absolutely.” “Shannon?” “Yes, Shannon,” I bit out, tone harsh now.
Cormac stared blankly. “Who’s Shannon?” “Shannon is the reason you’re going to end up with a broken jaw.” “The hell?” “Bella was threatening to go after her,” I snarled. “If that happens, I will fuck you up.” He blanched. “Why me?” “Can’t hit a girl, which means I’ll be coming for the next best thing,” I explained.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
“So, bear in mind that every single time your Bella decides to make a threat, spread a nasty rumor, or fuck with my Shannon, I’ll return the favor on your face. Every single goddamn time.”
“Johnny Kavanagh?” A vaguely familiar voice called my name. “Is that you?” I snapped my gaze up to see a tall lad about my age looking expectantly at me. He had his arm slung over the shoulder of an attractive blond.
“You’re the hurler…” I paused and racked my brain for his name. “Joey!” I blurted out, proud of myself for managing to retrieve that piece of information in my state. “Joey the hurler and Shannon like the river.” “Like the river?” the girl chuckled. “God, how much have you had to drink?”
“I’m Aoife Molloy, by the way,” the girl announced, giving me a bright smile before making her way around to the passenger side of the car. “Joey the hurler’s girlfriend.” She snickered at that last bit before climbing into the front seat.
He leaned over and pressed a kiss to his girlfriend’s lips before fastening his seat belt. “Where are we heading?” Straight to your house because I wanna fuck your sister, I thought to myself. I smirked at the fabulous notion, and then hunted the crazy thought away with a shake of my head. Probably love her, too, I mused to myself, a fucking lot, before pushing that madness out as well. Cop yourself on, asshole!
Lmaoooooooo
He started the engine and had just pulled onto the road when I felt the car brake suddenly. “What the fuck?” Joey barked seconds before two hands slammed down on the hood of his car. “Get off my car, asshole!” “You’re stealing my center,” Gibsie roared in the window as he leaned over the hood of the car. “Give him back.”
Lmaooooooo
“I tried to call you but you kept cutting me off!” I glared at him. “You’re King Clit?” “Oh, yeah,” Gibsie snickered. “I forgot about that.” “What’s Hughie down as?” “Ginger Pubes,” he replied like it was the most obvious thing ever. It wasn’t. “He’s blond,” I growled. “His girlfriend isn’t.”
HAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Finally, he managed to drag his ass over to the other side of the seat. “Christ,” he mused, settling down alongside me. “That’s the tightest hole I’ve been inside in months.”
Lmaooooo
“Yeah, I got you a burger.” “Thanks, Johnny.” “And then I got hungry so I ate it.” “You’re a monster.”
I sighed heavily and tried to come up with something believable. “Because I fucked her—” “You what?” Joey roared, slamming on the brakes. The sudden jolt of the car stopping caused Gibsie and me to lunge forward. Turning around, Joey glared at me. “You better be messing around right now, Kavanagh, because I swear to Christ I will—” “Over!” I hurried to explain, dragging myself back onto the seat. “I fucked her over on her first day. Embarrassed her on the pitch when I knocked her out.”
Lmaoooooooo
But I want to fuck her… I want in your sister so bad you wouldn’t believe it… The things I imagine doing to her would shock you…
Because of her. Because he was important to her. Because if I hit him, I would hurt her. And hurting her was bad. Hurting her made me want to hurt something harder.
Turning to Gibsie, I mouthed the words Keep your mouth shut. He responded with a theatrical finger-to-mouth zipper motion.
“310587,” I rolled out the code, which just so happened to be my date of birth.
“What I’m trying to say here is that I appreciate you looking out for my sister,” he finally said. “She’s had a hard few years and Tommen seems like a good fit for her. So, I guess I’m hoping that you continue keeping an eye out for her at school—you know, making sure no one is giving her any hassle.” My brows shot up. “Ah, yeah, sure. That’s no problem.”
The first: finding an ice pack for my balls. The second: fantasizing about all the terribly inappropriate things I longed to do with his sister.
“Your girlfriend allotted your money into daily budget packets.” Joey gaped at me. “What?” “Yep,” I giggled, placing Tuesday’s envelope back down on the pile.
“Why did Gibsie call Johnny his center?” “Johnny’s position is outside center in rugby,” he explained. “He’s number thirteen.” Oh, yeah, I knew that. I remembered his jersey.
“Shannon Lynch,” Joey said in a teasing tone. “Are you blushing?” “No,” I grumbled. “You know it’s okay by me if you like him, don’t you?” Joey chuckled. “I’m not that kind of brother.
“Do me a favor, Kav,” Joey called over his shoulder. “Go and check on my sister, will ya?” My heart leaped in my chest. “Shannon?”
“Bonnie! Cupcake! Get off her,” a familiar voice ordered from nearby, but neither dog listened. Instead, they seemed to up their efforts of loving me into a canine coma. A few moments later, a pair of hands hooked under my armpits.
Frowning, Johnny reached over and cupped—yes, literally cupped—my chin in his hand. “What the fuck is that?” he demanded, voice deathly quiet, as his blue eyes blazed with fire. “What?” I squeezed out, panic-stricken. Tipping my chin up, he brushed my hair off my shoulder and released a low growl. “That,” he growled, trailing his thumb over my cheekbone. “And that,” he added, skimming the curve of my eye.
“Yeah, that,” Johnny bit out, glaring at my cheek. “Who did that to you?”
He arched a brow. “You’re honestly trying to tell me that you gave yourself a black eye?” I shrugged noncommittedly. “It happens.” “Not usually,” he bit out. “You must have been running full speed to smash yourself up like that,” he added, eyes locked on mine in disbelief. “Were you running?” he asked. “From something?” He stepped closer. “Or someone?”
“Firstly, I’m not a stranger to you, and you’re not intruding on me,” Johnny corrected gruffly as rain pelted down on us both. “Secondly, I’m inviting you into my house,” he added, running a hand through his now-soaked hair. “You’re getting soaked.”
Johnny shook himself down like a dog would, causing raindrops to splatter everywhere. “You laughing at me, Shannon like the river?” he teased, noticing my smile. I shook my head again. He smiled one of the big double-dimpled smiles that caused my heart to stutter before gesturing for me to follow him down the long entrance hall and into a spacious foyer with a huge archway on either side of the room, leading god knows where.
Gibs? Lynchy? Kavs? This was typical Joey—sparking up a friendship as easily as he could snap his fingers.
“They knocked her down outside and rolled all over her.” “Huh,” my brother bit out. “Funny how my sister always seems to get mauled and knocked around when you’re near her, Kavanagh.” Johnny’s jaw ticked, but he didn’t respond.
“And I have scones baking in the oven.” “You baked scones?” I asked, momentarily distracted. “You?” “Yes, me,” Gibsie shot back, looking slightly wounded. “I’ll have you know that I’m a wonderful baker.”
The room was huge, the walls were blue, and the enormous four-poster bed took center stage. There was an entertainment center opposite the bed that resembled a miniature cinema, but none of those details were what stuck out in my mind. The rows upon rows of trophies and medals adorning the walls were what had my immediate attention. Framed jerseys littered the walls, along with several peculiar-looking caps and posters of the Irish rugby team.
There was a huge oak desk settled in the space at the far wall between two windows. On top of the desk were an expensive-looking laptop and heaps of schoolbooks and exam papers. Above it hung a huge corkboard, mounted to the wall. Stuck to the board were countless photographs—of different celebrity athletes. All of whom Johnny was standing beside in the pictures. “So,” Johnny said with a shrug. “This is my room.”
“Now,” I said when we were alone, eyes locked on Joey. “Who the fuck is putting their hands on your sister?” Joey’s brows shot up. “Yeah, you heard me,” I growled. “I found her on her hands and knees at school on Friday, throwing her guts up.” I ran a hand through my hair, furious and beyond agitated. “Something’s happening to her and I want to know what it is.”
His brows rose. “You can fix this?” “For her?” I nodded determinedly. “Absolutely.” “You like her.” He arched another brow at me and tilted his head to one side. “Maybe even more than like her.”
I was folding the last T-shirt on Johnny’s bed when I noticed something sticking out from under his bed. Something that looked just like me. Bending down, I retrieved the newspaper with shaky hands and just stared at the picture of us.
Slowly, I lifted my head and turned to face the bed. A black Labrador poked out from beneath Johnny’s duvet.
I stood up to leave. “I can go now.” “Shannon.” Johnny’s hand snaked out and wrapped around my wrist. “I don’t want you to go,” he said gruffly, tugging me back down beside him. “I want you here.” He rested a hand on the bed right behind my back and leaned close. “I want you to stay with me.” I shook my head, unable to form a single word. I had a horrible taste in my mouth. It matched the one in the pit of my stomach. Impending doom, I acknowledged.
“I’m going to hug you,” Johnny whispered in my ear. “Tell me if that’s not okay.” Sniffling, I turned inward and buried my face in his side, answering his question with actions. Johnny’s arms came around me, pulling me close, and I clutched his shirt in my hand, fisting the fabric tightly as sobs racked my body. “I’m here for you,”
Myheart
“If you need someone to talk to”—he pulled me closer—“I’m right here.”
I crawled onto his lap. Johnny’s entire frame tensed, and his hands fell away from my body, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. With my knees on either side of his thighs, I wrapped my arms around him and buried my face in his neck.
“What do you want me to do, Shannon?” Johnny strangled out. “Tell me what to do here.” “Hold me,” I sobbed, burying my face in his neck. “Don’t let go.” “Okay.”
“I won’t,” he whispered, folding me up in his arms. Trembling, I clung to his body and prayed for him to be my strength in this moment because I couldn’t do this anymore. I couldn’t live like this. I was so alone. All my life. I was so scared.
