Keeping 13 (Boys of Tommen, #2)

by Chloe Walsh

“Johnny…tell me again.” “I love you, Shannon like the river,” he whispered, and the heat of his breath on my flesh caused a shiver of pleasure to roll through me. “And I’m coming home to you.” He was breathing hard, his heart racing almost violently in his chest as he drew in short breaths. “I promise.”

“But this is a one-time deal. If I catch you near my sister again, you’re fair game, Johnny Kavanagh.” “Deal,” I agreed. “Now, out you go.” With a stiff nod, Ollie stalked out of my room only to pause in the doorway and run back to my bed. “Oh—and happy birthday,” he said, giving me a quick hug. “I love you.”

“Don’t you mind him, babe. You did a great job.” With his free hand, he tugged on her ponytail, forcing her to look up at him. “You keep that head up,” he ordered, tipping her chin with his thumb. “Don’t you dare hide that angel face from the world.”

“Say it one more time and I’ll beat the crap out of you,” Gibsie snarled, glaring at Hughie. “You think I’m messing? Keep upsetting her and see what fucking happens—”

“You know what he did to her,” Lizzie snarled. “You know what he cost me!” “I’m not him!” Gibsie roared at the top of his lungs, throwing his hands up in the air. “I had nothing to do with that!”

“Gibs, get away from the water—” Hughie started to call out, but his voice was drowned out by Lizzie’s high-pitched scream. “He’s your family!” Lizzie screamed and then shoved at Gibsie’s chest. “And you’re just like him!” Like a scene from a horror movie, I watched as Lizzie shoved Gibsie again, causing him to tumble over the edge of the bank. The moment Gibsie fell into the water, all hell broke loose.

“I’m sorry,” Lizzie choked out, looking like she was in shock. “I didn’t mean—” “Why would you do that to him, Lizzie?” Claire began to scream. And then she did something I never expected her to do. She slapped Lizzie across the face. “He’s afraid of water, you heartless bitch,” Claire continued to scream. “And you know he is.”

“Get away from him!” Claire snarled, taking a defensive stance in front of a boy who was more than twice her size. “Get back. All of you!”

“If I could take you with me, I would,” he choked out, setting the book down and pulling me onto his lap once more. “I don’t want to leave you.” My heart sank. “You have to go, Johnny.”

“You’ll never be her,” he continued to ramble. “And I’ll never be him.” “You promise?” He nodded. “I promise a million billion promises.”

“I know I’m hard,” he continued to ramble on. “I can feel my dick trying to break out of my shorts to get to you, but I don’t know exactly where my dick is right now, do you?” “Yeah, I can feel it rubbing against me.” I chuckled. “I promise, it’s still in your pants.” “Oh, thank god.” He sighed a huge gasp of relief. “I keep thinking it’s gonna be gone.” Squirming, he added, “They put a lot of needles near it, Shan.”

“I’m gonna make you proud when I’m gone,”

“I love you,” she whispered, fingers digging into my neck as she pulled my face down to hers and kissed my lips. “A crazy fucking amount.” “I love you, too—” My voice cracked and I exhaled a strangled breath before adding, “Most in the world.”

“I want you to s-succeed,” she continued to say, breaking me with her tears and putting me back together with her words. “I want you to k-kick ass, and be the b-best damn outside center this country has ever seen—” She paused to kiss me. “But don’t forget that you’ll always be my 13.” She sniffled and wiped my cheek with her fingers. “My binding 13.” I choked out a pained laugh, thinking about that stupid bet. “You heard about that?” “Yeah.” Half sobbing, half laughing, Shannon smiled and nodded. “I won.” “Hands down.” I kissed her puffy lips. “Undisputed.” “Now, I’m keeping 13,” she told me. “So come home to me when you’re done, okay?” “I will.”

With my eyes glued to the screen, I watched as the cameras zoomed in on Johnny’s grinning face, as the men I knew he idolized surrounded him in celebration.

“I actually wanted to mention one more person, if that’s okay?” he told her, still shaking her hand. “Of course.” “I’d like to thank my girlfriend for her unconditional love and support. It’s been a roller coaster of a ride getting back from injury, and I can honestly say that I wouldn’t be here today without her fierce encouragement.” Clutching his medal in his hand, he looked into the camera and gave the medal a little shake before saying, “Shannon, I love you, and I’ll be home soon.”

Today was the proudest moment of my career. Wearing this beloved green jersey and number 13. I gave everything I had to my teammates, I left it all on the pitch, and at the end of the eighty minutes of the last game of the tour, we were victorious against Fiji.

“You warned me a long time ago about this and I accepted it then. I accept it now. This is your future, Johnny, and you are going to chase it.” She kissed me hard before continuing, “And I’m going to stand by you and support you, no matter what, for as long as you want me.” “I will always want you,” I vowed. “Fucking always. Don’t even say it like that, Shan. Christ.” “What I mean is, if I’m the only reason you’re afraid to sign, then you need to do it,” she explained. “I mean it, Johnny. You’re not losing me. You can have both. I promise.”

“They all want you.” “I only want you,” I mumbled, pressing my forehead to hers. “You have me,” she replied softly. “Contract or not. I’m entirely yours.”

“Because when it comes to you, Shannon Lynch, I’m all in.” “Me too.” “Where you go, I go.” “Promise?” “I promise.”

When Jimmy Eat World took to the stage, I almost had a panic attack. I lost my mind even more when they started to play “The Middle.” It was at that exact moment that I knew I was going to be okay. That I could do this. I could live this life with him. No matter what he decided, I would find a way to cope, because sitting on Johnny Kavanagh’s shoulders, with his arm wrapped around my legs and his hand on my thigh, I knew there was no other place I wanted to be. I belonged with this boy and he belonged with me.

I didn’t miss the way that every few minutes Gibsie smoothed his hand from her calf to her ankle. I also didn’t miss the way that Claire rewarded this move by tightening her thighs around his neck and dropping a hand to stroke the side of his jaw. I didn’t think either one realized they were openly petting each other. They just seemed to be completely in sync with each other on both physical and emotional levels.

“I’ll marry you,” he said then. “When we’re older and everything settles down.” Taking my hands in his, he placed them around his neck and leaned in close. “Just stand by me,” he said in a voice thick with emotion. “Stay with me.” His hand squeezed mine. “And I’ll make you proud. I’ll do right by you.” My breath came out in a pained rush. “Johnny…” “We’ll have a family,” he continued to say. “One of our own, and I’ll stand by you right back. In whatever you choose to do. No matter what.” “This won’t break us,” I croaked, touching my brow to his. “Nothing can break us,” he whispered. “I promise.”