Binding 13 (Boys of Tommen, #1)

by Chloe Walsh

“I swear to god, lad, that girl drives me crazy.” “You’re already crazy,” I reminded him. “You don’t need anyone’s help with that.” “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

If music healed the brokenhearted, then the lyrics of this song soothed my soul.

I had learned a valuable lesson tonight though, and that was to never ask a girl what she was thinking if you weren’t prepared to take a huge fucking knock to the ego.

well aint that the truth... Someone had to humble you johnny boy

Bolting over to him, I collapsed on the bed and wrapped my arms around my brother’s neck, clinging to him like he was the only thing holding my world together. Sometimes I thought that might be true.

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

“I’m going to be there one day,” Johnny stated, tilting his head in the direction of the telly. “One of these days that’s going to be me, Shannon.” “I know,” I replied, believing every word. Biting down on my lip, I turned to face him and said, “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.” Please do. Please take me away with you.

Instead, I nestled my cheek against his side and closed my eyes, allowing myself to drift off to sleep without an ounce of fear in my heart because it couldn’t exist inside of me, not when this boy had his arm around me.

Sniffling, I turned to look at him. “You’re not coming back, are you?” Joey just stared at me, eyes filled with tears. “I can’t,” he whispered as a tear rolled down his cheek. “If I go back inside that house, I’ll kill them both.” I watched his face, registered the truth he was telling me, and then I unfastened my seat belt and opened the door. “Goodbye, Joey,” I whispered numbly, and then I climbed out and walked inside.

“I didn’t want her to leave, Gibs, and he just took her away from me. And I let him!” “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?” “Fuck. Right. Off,” I growled.

LOL i love gibsie

“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.”

“I’m doing the math here, Shannon, and two plus two equals a bad bitch.”

“They have this new song out called ‘Wicked Twisted Road,’” she explained. “Are you sure you haven’t heard it?” My heart stopped in my chest. That song from the pub. The one that fucked with my head. Jesus… “You should,” Shannon continued to say. “Listen to it, I mean.” Her cheeks turned pink when she said, “It reminds me of you.” Rattled. I was thoroughly fucking rattled by this girl. Partly because I had related to the words of that song, but mostly because she related the words of the song to me

Reaching into the glove compartment, I pulled out a leather case and quickly flicked through a bunch of mix CDs, stopping when I found the one I wanted, “Listen to track nine.” I practically shoved the CD into her hand and shrugged. “Reminds me of you.”

“You would do that for me?” she asked, voice soft. I would do pretty much anything for you.

“I promise,” Johnny surprised me by saying. In that moment, and with those two small words, Johnny Kavanagh unknowingly blasted a hole clean through the wall around my heart.

Well, I love you, Johnny Kavanagh! Even though you’re leaving. Even though you don’t feel the same. Even though loving you is going to break my heart. I love you with everything I have. And I probably always will.

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

<3

Slipping the headphones on my ears, I carefully scrolled through his playlists and almost had a heart attack when my eyes landed on the one named Songs for Shannon

Stop.

if girls were weapons, then Shannon Lynch was the greatest weapon of mass destruction my heart had ever been exposed to. Because I was fucked.

I wanted to fight all her battles. I wanted to give her all her smiles and make her laugh and snatch her away from the rest of the world and keep her all to myself. I just wanted her. For keeps.

I think I’m in love with you. I think I’m falling. Please don’t hurt me. Please don’t ever hurt me.

“Bye, Johnny,” I whispered, hovering in the doorway, fighting back the urge to run back to him. His pain-filled eyes landed on mine. “Bye, Shannon.” I love you. I am so in love with you. Please be okay.

“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.” “Okay, son,” he coaxed. “You keep the girl.” “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.”

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

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

“If you do not make it this summer, then you do not make it this summer,” he repeated. “You are still Johnny Kavanagh. You are still an honor student. You are still a good man. And you are still my best decision.”

I didn’t care what I looked like anymore. It didn’t matter. Because my mother had just ended my world. She went to him. He beat us. Terrorized us. Tortured us. And she went to him. She chose him. Our own mother.