Binding 13 (Boys of Tommen, #1)

by Chloe Walsh

I wanted him to be proud of me, to see me as more than a little girl that needed his constant protection.

“Johnny,” she groaned and then winced. “Johnny. Johnny. Johnny. This is bad…” “What?” I urged. “What’s bad?” “My dad,” she whispered. I frowned. “Your dad?” “Can you save me?” I frowned. “Do you need me to save you?”

Fuck, I had a feeling that her pretty face would be cemented in the fore point of my mind for a very long time. But it was those wild eyes that really struck me, and I had this crazy urge to google eye color charts just so I could figure out the fucking color blue in her eyes.

“I’m your daddy on the field, bitch.”

“Look at her, Johnny,” he groaned, ignoring my jab. “Look at how beautiful that girl is. Christ, it might be that sunshine hair, but I swear she glows.”

“Keep looking out for her, Cap,” he said, squeezing my shoulder. “God knows someone needs to.”

“What the hell is that?” Claire hissed excitedly, gripping my hand. “Johnny Kavanagh is staring at you, Shan. Like seriously, girl, that boy is staring at you!”

“Explaining?” I called back. “About what?” “About why that boy down there is looking at you like he wants to eat you up,” she replied, and then pointed a blatantly obvious finger right at Johnny—who was staring right at me again.

She had this sweet something about her, and I liked how it felt when I was around her.

He smiled down at me. “Hi, Shannon.” “Hi, Johnny,” I whispered, staring back at him, feeling like my heart was two seconds away from bursting out of my chest.

“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. To assholes and bullshit,” Johnny snarled. “Now, tell me who made you cry and I’ll fix it.”

With wide eyes, I watched as Johnny unzipped the black coat he was wearing and draped it over my shoulders. “Come on,” he said in a coaxing tone as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders, tucked me into his side, and led me out of school. “I’ll take care of you.”

This girl is different, my stupid fucking brain chanted. This one is for keeps.

You could love this girl your whole life, the crazy thought persisted inside my brain over and over, if you just let yourself.

“Did you get me something?” “Yeah, I got you a burger.” “Thanks, Johnny.” “And then I got hungry so I ate it.” “You’re a monster.”

“Don’t forget about me when you’re a rich and famous rugby player.” “You never know,” he said with a smirk. “I might take you with me so you can cheer me on in the stands.”

And the most nerve-racking thing about it all was that I liked it. I liked the fact that she was turning my life on its axis and encouraging never-seen-before notions and feelings inside of me, and then I hated that I liked it. I was thoroughly addicted to every single thing about the girl and it had nothing to do with the physical—and the physical was pretty fucking perfect.

“You do know that you’re not allowed to keep humans as pets, don’t you?” he asked in a wry tone. “You know that’s just dogs and cats, right?”

Im crying

She was fucking perfect. I was so caught up in her that I could have sat there all night, just being with her.

“Because I need her—” I shook my head and expelled another frustrated breath. “Because I want to keep her in my life.”

“Binding thirteen,” Gibsie snickered as he tore off way too fucking fast for comfort. “Little Shannon blew that shit clean out of the water.”

“What one did you mean to give me?” Johnny had a pinched expression when he said, “A Maroon 5 song.” “Oh?” I looked up at him. “Which one?” He shifted in discomfort. “‘She Will Be Loved.’”

“Threatened by me?” I shook my head. “Why?” “Because you’re beautiful,” he stated, causing my cheeks to flush a deep shade of pink.

“Because when I’m with you, I feel…” “You feel?” “Safe, okay?” I strangled out. “When you’re around, I feel safe.” “Because you are,” Johnny confirmed in a gruff tone. “I’ve already told you that I’m not going to hurt you, and I hope like fuck that I’ve shown you that, too.”

“I told you that day outside Twomey’s office that I wouldn’t let anyone hurt you,” he finally admitted.

“Well, thanks for caring,” I breathed. “Thanks for being worth it,” Johnny replied, hand still on my cheek.

“Me, too,” he replied gruffly, gaze flickering from my eyes to my mouth. “Why are you sorry?” I breathed, trembling from head to toe. He cupped my cheek with his free hand and tilted my chin up. “Because I shouldn’t do this,” he whispered. And then he kissed me.

“I’m so in love with him, Claire,” I confessed, and then I burst into tears. “I love him so much that the thought of him not being okay is killing me.”

“No, no, no, Da. I’m serious,” I slurred. “I think I love that girl.” “Well, who’s this girl?” “She’s a river.” I sighed and closed my eyes. “I’m keeping her, Da.”

“So bad, Da.” I sighed. “Boom, boom, fucking boom.” I shook my head. “All the time.”

“See, Da?” I slapped my chest. “Boom, fucking boom, boom.”

“Not too much longer to wait.” I sighed. “Thank fuck, ’cause I’m in love.” “You’re in love?” I nodded happily. “And she’s a river.”

“Boom, boom, fucking boom, Da,” I groaned, slapping a hand against my chest. “I’m done for.”

“I love you, Shannon like the river,” he slurred. My heart stopped. Did he just? No. No, of course he didn’t. “I fucking love you,” Johnny said again.

“I don’t care,” he slurred groggily. “I got what I wanted.” “And what was that?” I asked. “To embarrass your mother?” “You,” he slurred. “I got you.”

“I’m only ever thinking about you,” he replied. “Only you.”

“I think I need you for keeps,” he slurred. “I think I need you for keeps, too,” I confessed.

My father. My father. Why the fuck was I hearing Shannon say those words? And why was my heart telling me it was vital?

“Make a choice, Mam,” Joey snarled as he glared down at our mother. “Him or us?”