Taming 7 (Boys of Tommen, #5)

by Chloe Walsh

“See, this is why I love you.” He reached out a hand to stroke Cherub. “You get me.”

“Reginald lives with me full-time!” he shouted back at me, throwing his hands up. “And I have never asked you to provide a single caterpillar in child support for him. No, because I dig up all the critters myself. Every day. So don’t act all high and mighty with me, baby!” “And I appreciate you doing that,” I begrudgingly shouted back. “You know I hate getting my nails dirty.” “I do know that.” Planting his hands on his hips, Gerard nodded stiffly. “That’s why I never ask you to do it.”

“But what if Dick escapes and sneaks into Hugh’s room again?” I called after her. “That’s not the dick I’m worried about escaping,” Mam muttered under her breath.

Team Clibsie for the Win

“Team Clibsie for the win,” I teased, fist-bumping Gerard. “Unlucky, guys.”

“I’ve got you, Claire,” I coaxed, making a conscious effort to sober myself the hell up as I stood up, taking her with me. “You’re safe with me, babe.” “I know,” she agreed with a contented sigh, eyes still closed. “My bestie.”

“You’re always my hero,” she half slurred, half laughed. “So pretty.” I waggled my brows at the compliment. “Why, thank you.” “You are,” she offered, tone serious as she reached up to trail a finger down my cheek. “You’re so pretty.” “I’ve been told I have a certain boyish charm that chiseled abs and strong jawlines can’t absorb.” “And silly,” she slurred. “Super silly.” “I love you.” The words flew out of my mouth of their own accord. Forcing a smile, I gave her cheek a playful squeeze before adding, “My little snuckle-bunny.” “Why thank you very much”—she paused to hiccup—“my little spud monkey.”

“Because you don’t love me the right way,” she whispered, leaning into my touch. “The way I need you to love me.” She reached up and covered my hands with hers. “The way I love you.” If I thought my heart was breaking earlier, it fucking shattered in my chest when I heard her vulnerability. “I do,” I replied, roughly clearing my throat. “I love you in so many ways.”

“Then why?” she slurred. “Why won’t you just kiss me?” Because I’m terrified.

“I can’t wait forever, Gerard,” she whispered, her tone laced with sadness as she slowly withdrew. “It hurts too much.” Pain. It was everywhere in this moment. “I know,” I forced myself to say, while my heart screamed at her heart to hold on just a little bit longer.

It was beautiful to see, to finally know that my friend was receiving the maternal love she always deserved. Because in all honesty, no one deserved a better life than Shannon Lynch and her brothers.

“You’re kicking ass now, Shan.”

“Fuck yeah, my little mermaid!”

“You’re amazing.” He chuckled, pulling back to look at me. “Do you hear me, Claire-Bear?” Cupping my cheeks with his big hands, he leaned in close and pressed his forehead to mine, while excitement and pride danced in his eyes. “I’m so fucking proud of you.”

“No,” Lizzie countered heatedly. “What would be going too far is telling him that Peter Biggs saved the wrong child from the wat—” “La, la, la!” Shannon sang out in a frantic tone as she reached over and clamped a hand over Lizzie’s mouth. “Words stick, Liz. Please don’t say it.”

love shan

What would be going too far is telling him that Peter Biggs saved the wrong child from the water that day. The wrong child drowned. The wrong child was saved.

It was, by far, the worst day of my life because I knew that I was responsible. I was responsible for my sister falling overboard. I was responsible for my father exhausting himself in the water trying to keep two children afloat. I was the one who slipped out of his arms, causing him to let go of Bethany. Me.

NO GIBS

“Oh, stop it,” she teased, leaning across the seat to press a kiss to my cheek. “You know you love me.” Yeah, and I had a feeling the whole world knew it.

Using my thumb, I wiped a rogue tear from her cheek. “I’d do anything for you.”

“Thanks.” Snatching my hand up in both of hers, she closed her eyes and leaned into my touch. “Bestie.” “Anytime.” 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.”

“Morning, Lynch family. How’s my favorite sibling trio?” I chirped with a grin. Digging Tadhg’s side with my elbow, I winked at him. “How’s your day going, troublemaker?” Tadhg grinned back at me. “A lot better for seeing you, blondie.”

“Yeah,” Tadhg chimed in with a grumble. “Because his dad looks like shit.”

BAHAHA, HE'S FINEEEEE

“Jesus, I’m so glad I have a son,” Joey muttered under his breath. “Teenage girls are a whole different life force.” “You sure about that, Joe?” Tadhg teased. “He might turn out like me.” “Wouldn’t be the worst thing,” Joey replied breezily. “You were a dream to toilet train.” Tadhg’s face turned bright red. “You did not fucking say that in company.”

“Oh great,” Tadhg deadpanned “Fatty’s here.” “What did I tell you about calling me fat,” Gerard shot back, not missing a beat. “I’m big-boned, you little shit.”

“That’s because you don’t have a clue what to do with your own bollocks.” “That’s not what your mother says.”

“And you think I have problems,” Tadhg drawled sarcastically. “Tell you what, Joe. I’d rather be a Lynch than a bitch any day.” With that, Tadhg hitched his bag over his shoulder and sauntered out of the common room, flipping the bird as he went. Gerard turned to look at me. “Did he just call us bitches?” “I think so,” I replied, stifling a laugh.

“Claire is going to move on, Gibs, and you’re going to lose your shot, lad.”

“Don’t think I want to know, Gus.” With a shake of his head, Joey pushed off the car he was leaning against and headed back toward the main building. “Not my monkeys. Not my circus.” Wise decision. Wise fucking man.

“More proof that sunscreen is invaluable,”

“Sex, Gibs,” Johnny groaned, looking comically distressed. “You know if she fucked you back then, it’s classed as statutory rape.” “What in the…” I shook my head and pressed a fist to my mouth, trying my hardest to find the words to deal with my best friend’s latest theory of madness.

“Despite my best efforts, I’ve grown regrettably attached to you.” Smirking, he added, “And all of your sixteen other personalities.” “Aw, shucks.” I grinned back at him. “Is this your way of telling me you love me, Cap?” “Whatever floats your boat, Gibs.”

God only knew why but I had the strongest urge to make farm animal noises in this moment. Probably because I was epically nervous and had no clue how to navigate these unknown waters.

“She’ll have to think about it.” Appearing out of thin air, Shannon slipped under Jamie’s arm and caught ahold of my hand. “Thank you so much for the offer,” she added, pulling both Lizzie and me away. “It was very thoughtful. Claire will get back to you in the next five working days.”

“Gerard Gibson.” Smirking, I pulled a face in response. “Claire Biggs.” She waggled her eyebrow like the Rock. “Spud-monkey.” Indulging her playfulness, I crossed my eyes until they turned inward. “Snuggle bunny.” She poked her tongue out and rolled it. “Baby daddy.” I pulled my cheeks until I looked sufficiently disfigured. “Baby mama.” Cackling with mischief, she scrambled onto her hands and knees and pounced. “My germs,” she snickered, and then proceeded to lick the side of my face.

“I love you,” he whispered, fingers still moving expertly inside of my body, as he evoked feelings from my body I never knew existed. “I love you, too.”

Hooking an arm around my waist like he had every night since we were children, Gerard pressed a kiss to my shoulder and whispered, “Night, Claire.” Reeling in the darkness, I clutched his forearm, holding on for dear life, and strangled out the words, “Night, Gerard.”

“Christ, Gibs, did you wake up in beast mode?” With his brows raised, my best friend continued to spot me. “You’ve gone up an entire weight bracket overnight.”

“It’s all good,” I forced myself to say. “Just full of beans this morning.” “Well, save some of those beans for St. Andrews tomorrow.” he chuckled, catching ahold of the barbell and setting it into place. “Because they have a serious forward pack, and I heard their number 13 is talking shite about how he’s going to end my career before it starts.” “Not on my watch,” I bit out, standing up for him to take my place on the bench. Moving into position to spot him, I added, “I’ll take the head clean off the bastard if he even looks at you sideways.” Johnny chuckled and reached for the bar. “Never doubted you for a minute, buddy.”

“That boy worships the ground you walk on, and the entire school knows it. I bet you any money there’s a perfectly plausible reason for him missing lunch today. In fact, I could almost guarantee that if I walked out there and asked Johnny, he would more than likely say that Gibs has detention for some disastrous prank or other.” She offered me a supportive smile before adding, “Trust me, Claire, there isn’t one single believable scenario where that boy would choose to ignore you. He couldn’t if he tried.” “But what if he regrets what happened between us?” “He doesn’t.” “But what if he does?” “That’s not going to happen.” “But what if…” “Oh please,” Lizzie cut in, voice trembling. “You’ll be a couple by the end of the week.”

“You’re a dead man!” I roared, losing all control of my body. My desk went flying at the same moment I lunged for Jamie and Johnny lunged for me. “I’m going to rip your fucking tongue out for that…”

“Am I Sookie?” I snapped, breaking free from his hold, only to make a burst for the religion classroom. “You don’t need to walk me, Johnny!”

“Who are we fighting?” a familiar voice asked, and we both turned to find Joey sprawled out on one of the couches with a coat draped over him.

LOVE HIM

Ignoring Johnny’s words of warning, Joey looked to me and repeated, “Who are we fighting, Gussie?”

“Although, if you really want to thank me, you could always make me AJ’s godfather.” His lips twitched in response. “Don’t push it.”

“You’re like a breath of fresh air, Claire Biggs.”

“It’s Lizzie,” I forced myself to say, wishing like hell I had taken the coward’s way out. “What about her?” Aw, crackers. “Claire?” Blowing out a pained breath, I forced myself to look her mother in the eye when I said, “I think Lizzie is cutting again.”

In a weird way, it did, because this girl was my entire world, and making her feel better was my only priority.

“Yeah?” she sneered. “Well, I’d rather be a bitch than a rapist any day!” “I’m not a fucking rapist!” “Nah, you’re just related to one.” That was it. That was fucking it. I couldn’t take this anymore. “He is not my brother.”

“The whole family will be back together soon.”

what if he just killed him

“You could have come to me,” Hugh repeated, eyes locked on hers in what felt like a blazing stare-down. “You can always come to me.” He swallowed deeply, Adam’s apple bopping before whispering, “No matter what.” “No matter what,” Lizzie repeated, whispering the words to herself, as she retrained her attention on her mug.