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Shannon like the river,”
And I had peace.
I found myself beginning to look forward to going to school. It was the strangest turnabout of my life, considering for the majority of my life, I had loathed school, but Tommen had become almost like a safe place to be. Instead of the usual feeling of dread when I stepped off the bus, all I felt was immense relief. Relief to get away from my house. Relief to be off the bully radar. Relief to get away from my father. Relief to be able to breathe for seven hours of the day.
I found my mother standing at the stove. She had her back to me and she was dressed in one of those pantsuits she wore for work. Her blond hair was pulled back from her face with a fancy-looking clip, and she looked like home. At the sight of her, I felt a weight shift off my shoulders. My mother worked for some fashion consultancy firm based in London. She was constantly traveling for work, and I’d missed her these past three weeks she’d been away. Hadn’t realized how much until now.
No one cooked like my mother. Not the chefs at the Academy or the takeout restaurants in town. The woman had birthed me and she had a direct line to my stomach.
Yeah, I knew she’d say that. The woman was all about spending time with me. Dammit.
“Myself and Shannon have each other,” Joey interrupted, gesturing a finger between us. “That’s it.” “Not anymore,” Aoife told my brother. “You have me.” Reaching across the table, she covered his hand with hers and smiled weakly. “All of you.”
“I’m on it, buddy.”
I could always depend on this fucker. Hail, rain, or snow, Gibsie had my back.
“Joey the hurler and Shannon like the river.”
Johnny didn’t realize it, but in the space of an hour or two, his mother had taken more of an interest in me than my own mother had in months. Maybe even years.
Edel <3
“You’re a little stupid for a genius, aren’t ya?” Gibsie mused.
“Your boy’s alright, little Shannon. Take a breath.”
“Hell fucking yes, I’m going to see him,” Gibsie grumbled. “And you’re coming with me.”
“Coach can kiss my lily-white ass,” Gibsie shot back without hesitation. “That’s my best friend lying in a hospital bed, babe.”
“She’s a river.” I sighed and closed my eyes. “I’m keeping her, Da.”
“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.”
“My girl.”
“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.”
“And she’s a river.”
“I’m gonna keep her, too. Make all my babies with her
“And I’m gonna buy her a ring…and a dog…and sail a boat…and
“You know what that means, don’t ya?” “Shifting jackets,” I slurred.
“You get it, Gibs,” I slurred happily. “You get me.” “I get you, buddy,”
“You’re my best friend,” I told him, but he looked like a pillow. “I love your big rugby-ball head.”
“You’re my friend,” I replied with a sigh. “My favorite, fucked-up friend.”
“You found her, Gibs!” I exclaimed. “Thank fuck. I thought I lost her.” “I did, buddy,” Gibsie chuckled softly. “I brought Shannon back to you.” “Shannon like the river,” I sighed contently.
“What happened to being friends, Johnny?” Mam asked. “I lied,” I snickered. “I’ve been lying all along.” “Oh, Johnny,” Mam sighed. “You never had to lie, baby. I like that girl.” “She’s mine,” I grumbled. “You can’t have her.”
“She’s the one,”
“I love her, Gibs. So much. Balls much.”
“Hi, Johnny.”
“Boom, boom, fucking boom, Da,” I groaned, slapping a hand against my chest. “I’m done for.”
I instantly recognized the man as the one from the photograph in Johnny’s room that day. The hero.
“Bring the lights back, Da,” Johnny instructed, slurring his words. “Light up the world. You need to see this girl.”
“Always you,” Johnny groaned. “Fucking balls.”
“See her, Da? See? So fucking beautiful!” Johnny announced. “Told ye all.”
“Don’t leave me again.”
“Come closer,” Johnny purred, his bleary eyes trained on my face as he crooked his finger at me. “I wanna show you something.”
“Spoilsport,”
“I didn’t know where you were,” Johnny continued to tell me as he shook his head, looking all flustered and sounding confused. “I thought I lost you…and my head? My head is hiiiigh as balls, baby.”
“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. Oh god. He did. He absolutely did. Twice.
“See, Ma,” Johnny said in a groggy slur. “She’ll have my babies—” He twisted his head from side to side until he found my face. And then he smiled. “You’ll have my babies, won’t you?” “I…” I cleared my throat and exhaled a ragged breath. “I…” “Shannon, I am so sorry,” Mrs. Kavanagh strangled out. “Say it,” Johnny groaned, clutching my hand. “Tell me you’ll have my babies.” “Johnny—” “Just tell me you will,” he begged loudly. “Just say it, Shannon! Please! I can’t take it.” “Sure?” I croaked out, feeling faint. “Whatever you want, Johnny.” “Gibs,” Johnny called out happily. “Did you hear that,
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“She’s my wife,” he announced then, blowing my mind clean open.
“What are ya talking about?” Johnny slurred. “I’m not scaring her. I love her.”
“Take the lights away and stay with me, Shannon like the river.”
“I’ll take care of him.”
“I don’t care,” he slurred groggily. “I got what I wanted.”
“You,” he slurred. “I got you.”
“I’m gonna keep you.”
