Taming 7 (Boys of Tommen, #5)

by Chloe Walsh

Moments before the pain in my lungs exploded and everything went dark, I saw it. A halo of light. An orb of pure sunshine. Her. I saw her. And that’s when I knew. That’s when I knew…

“I think they wanted your dad to save Bethany.” “I didn’t,” I admitted honestly. “I wanted to keep you most of all.”

“I mean it,” he urged, turning to look at me now. “I can’t lose another person I love.” “You love me?” He nodded sadly as another tear trickled down his cheek. “I love you most of all.”

“I don’t see anyone.” His lips tipped up in the smallest of smiles before he added, “Except for you.”

Claire Biggs had a lot of things. My back. My attention. My heart. My soul. Yeah, she had all of me and that wasn’t an exaggeration.

If I could sew this girl to my skin without causing her an ounce of harm, then I would do it in a heartbeat. That’s how vital she was to my life. How essential she was to my existence. If drugs were to Joey Lynch what Claire Biggs was to me, then there was no amount of rehab that could sway me to kick the habit. Because she was the habit of my lifetime.

From as far back as I could remember, my mind had always been very clear about three things. One: Hugh was my brother. Two: Bethany was my sister. Three: Claire was mine.

“I’m not going to lie to you, Claire. It might scare you, and we could both vomit,”

“Okay then.” He nodded stiffly. “Are we still fighting, or can we hug it out?” “Hug it out,” I replied, bolting straight for him. “Definitely hug it out.” “Thank Jesus,” Gerard replied, wrapping me up in a bear hug. “Worst ten minutes of my life.”

“Fill our bellies,” I encouraged, reaching over to pat Gerard’s at the same time he reached out to pat mine. “Yes, please do,” he agreed with a solemn nod. “We’re fading away here.”

My life consisted of this girl. Of the perfume she wore. Of the smiles she offered. The clothes she chose on a particular day. The colors she painted her nails. She was tattooed inside of me, and I was hooked. Claire was my safe place.

“We’ve got all the time in the world for the sad parts.” When she pulled back, she smiled devilishly. “Right now, I’m thinking we should concentrate on the happy parts.”

After all, taming 7 had been the adventure of my lifetime.