Keeping 13 (Boys of Tommen, #2)

by Chloe Walsh

Focusing on keeping my hand steady, I slid the lone key into the lock and slowly turned it back, wincing when it clicked. A loud cough from the kitchen muffled the noise, and I jerked my head back to see Shannon’s mother staring right back at me. Holy shit. My heart stopped in my chest and for a few terrifying moments I waited to see what she would do. She nodded ever so slightly. I hesitated. She nodded again. Keeping my eyes glued to her, I slowly pushed the handle down and swung the door inward. She coughed loudly again, drowning out the creak from the hinges as I pushed Tadhg and Ollie through the small crack in the doorway. With Sean in my hands, I turned my back to leave, but quickly swung back to face her, hovering anxiously in the doorway. “Go,” she mouthed, looking me right in the eyes. “Go now.” “What about you?” I found myself mouthing back, feeling torn and conflicted. “I’ll have a drink with you,” Mrs. Lynch said to her husband in a calm tone, eyes glued to mine. “A goodbye drink.” “Good girl,” her husband slurred, shoulders slumped. “I’ll close that door first,” she added. “We don’t want to wake them.”