More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
“I second that,” I agreed, good mood fading fast at the memory of the biggest betrayal of my childhood.
Hugh was Lizzie’s childhood sweetheart and Gerard was mine. Lizzie got a shot with hers, and I didn’t.
If I thought my heart was breaking earlier, it fucking shattered in my chest when I heard her vulnerability.
Lately, Lizzie’s moods had been turbulent to put it mildly, while my patience with her bad attitude was running thin. When I had tried to talk to her about the cut on her leg, she’d all but taken my head off. When I told her that I was going to talk to her mother, she flipped out even more. Then, after giving me the cold shoulder for a week, Liz had told me that I was, in no uncertain terms, to keep my nose the hell out of her business if I valued our friendship.
looked ridiculously hot for a boy dressed in wellies, faded blue jeans, and an old, half-torn white T-shirt. And the rustic wine-pleated overshirt he had on was the perfect icing on a very delectable cake. He was all dark hair, shy smiles, sun-kissed skin, and soulful blue eyes. The perfect recipe for teenage heartbreak.
“And while you’re at it, ask why that monster was involved with my sister in the first place!” Nostrils flaring, she spat out, “Ask whose fault was that.”
“It’s okay to not be okay.”
I could feel my heart accelerate to a thousand beats a minute, because while I might be cradling her face in my hand, she was holding my life in hers. “Bestie.”
“And you think I have problems,” Tadhg drawled sarcastically. “Tell you what, Joe. I’d rather be a Lynch than a bitch any day.”
“Not my monkeys. Not my circus.”
think she’s been grooming you, lad.”
God only knew why but I had the strongest urge to make farm animal noises in this moment.
Baa. Baa. Baa. Dammit, why couldn’t I stop thinking about sheep noises?
“It was very thoughtful. Claire will get back to you in the next five working days.”
Claire was my safe place.
Switchfoot’s “Only Hope” was as accurate as a song could be if I had to explain my feelings for her, but I would never play it for her.
“It’s okay, Claire-Bear.” Gerard came to my rescue and explained in a strained tone. “This is what coming feels like.”
“And if that’s what you want, then go for it,” Lizzie added in a trembling voice. “I clearly can’t stop you. But don’t expect me to stick around to watch it.” Sniffling, she shook her head and moved for the bathroom door. “You’ve made your choice and it’s clearly him!”
Ignoring Johnny’s words of warning, Joey looked to me and repeated, “Who are we fighting, Gussie?”
“Let’s see this Kelleher prick take anyone to the cinema now.”
“You better make yourself comfortable, sweetheart,” I purred, flicking through songs and settling on “5, 6, 7, 8” from Steps. Snatching her sparkly pink cowboy hat off the dresser, I perched it on top of my head and winked. “Because you’re in for one hell of a treat.”
What I did have at my disposal was a lack of shame, the enthusiasm of a puppy, and hips that rivaled Elvis.
“You don’t know what you mean, because you haven’t thought clearly a day since she died,” I shot back. “You’re programmed on pain and bitterness. I’ve tolerated your bullshit for years because I knew how you felt. Because I know how it feels. But you crossed the line coming in here and pushing Claire around. Now, the rest of our friends can keep handing out hall passes for your horrendous behavior, Lizzie, and I’m not taking it anymore. Do you hear me? I am not walking this line with you another day of my goddamn life!”
“Mark Allen raped his girlfriend. His girlfriend who was my sister. He raped her, and then she killed herself because of it. Because she couldn’t live with what he did. And then he got to walk away and live his life while my sister’s defiled body rots in the ground.”
She had the horror story versed off by heart, the one that made Caoimhe the victim and him the monster, while all I had was a crumpled-up letter under my mattress and the truth.
“No matter what.” “No matter what,” Lizzie repeated, whispering the words to herself, as she retrained her attention on her mug.
“He’s back?” I nodded vigorously. “In Ballylaggin?” Again, I nodded eagerly. “Across the street?”
“You have a lot of fucking nerve to show your face back here!” my brother roared while he pinned Gerard’s stepbrother to the bedroom wall. “You fucking monster!”
“Gibs, for the last time, stop bleeding spooning me!”
“Go get your girl, Gibs!”
“I am not in a relationship, Gerard.” “Yes, you are,” he roared back at me. “With me!” “We are not together, Gerard.” “Yes, we are!” “I’m not yours.” “Well, I’m yours,” he came right back with. “I’m yours, Claire.”
“I’ll give you my weekends, Claire. I’ll give you my weekdays, too. Whatever you want. Cinemas. Restaurants. Date nights. It’s yours. Just promise me you won’t go out with him again.”
“No, you don’t,” she choked out, shoving me again. “You tell me.” Tears dripped onto her cheeks as she cried. “You’re always telling me, Gerard, when I’m standing here begging you to show me.” “I can’t!” “Why not?” “Because it’s not that easy for me.” “Why?” “Because I’m afraid!” “Of what?” she demanded, pushing at my chest. “Huh?” She pushed me again. “What are you afraid of?” “You, Claire,” I roared back at her, chest heaving. “I’m afraid of you!”
“The feels train?” “Yes, the feels train, you big dick!” “Well, choo-choo,”
“Don’t think I can survive without you, though.”
“You’re my best friend.” “I know.” I rolled my eyes. “You’re supposed to say it back.” He smirked. “But what about Cap?” Snatching up his hand, I placed it on my chest and said, “Does Cap let you touch his boobs?” “Okay.” Nodding vigorously, he pressed a kiss to my neck. “You’re my number one best friend.”
“Why don’t you go and see what Claire is doing instead of standing around on your own all night, hmm?” Leaning a hip against the island, she smiled up at me. “I’m sure she’d love to have a dance with you.” “While I would love to dance with your daughter, it wouldn’t be a wise move.” “Oh?” She smirked. “And why not?” “Because I might be tempted to do more than just dance with her,” I replied in a solemn tone. “I might be lured into performing the physical act of love.” “You do realize it’s me you’re talking to, don’t you, Gibs?” Frowning, Claire’s mam reached up and felt my brow. “As in
...more
Harley Quinn had the Joker pinned to the side of my brother’s parked car to stop him from fighting, while Juliet wept into her hands and Romeo tried to console her. On the other side of my brother’s car, Gomez Addams was dipping Vivian Ward, having valiantly shielded her from a rogue beer bottle, while Edward Lewis straddled a dark-cloaked stranger on the front lawn. To top it all off, Morticia Addams had decided this was her ample opportunity to throttle Danny Zuko, while Uncle Fester was looking on gormlessly.
“Tell them to bring more transport. Because if they put me in the same paddy wagon as a rapist, I’ll kill him!”
Now that he was free and back on his feet, Mark charged my brother, knocking all three of them onto the driveway, Lizzie included. The minute Mark landed on Lizzie, she started to scream, and it was the worst, scariest, most feral noise I’d ever heard.
It was so fucking hard to hate her when Lizzie cried like that. When she made those sounds. Because I knew those sounds. Those sounds haunted my nightmares.
“Would you mind taking your hand off her dick, please?” “Her dick?” Dee blinked in confusion. “Don’t you mean your dick?” She full on palmed me before leaning in close and purring, “It doesn’t feel like you want me to take my hand off.” “No, I meant her dick,” I clarified, brushing her hand off my crotch and shifting sideways so that her ass was back on the bench and not on my lap. “Her?” “Claire,”
“I use them,” he replied. “Not everyone listens.”
“But it can cause to you to physically recoil and withdraw from intimate situations with a partner.”
“I mean it’s yours,” he ground out hoarsely. “Whatever you want from me. It’s yours, Claire.”
“I want to be your boyfriend and I want you to be my girlfriend.”
“No, because it’s my own fault.” Shaking his head, he pressed a hand to his forehead before
“Looks like, despite my best efforts, I didn’t make a man out of you.”
“But I was seven when you raped me.”
And then she kissed me right there in the middle of the field, with the whole school watching.
