Releasing 10 (Boys of Tommen, #6)

by Chloe Walsh

“The Gemini zodiac sign for your birthday, and the heart represents, well, you know.” He blushed a deeper shade of red. “The book represents the one I know you’re going to write one day, and the pill is so you remember to take yours.” “The witch’s broomstick?” His lips twitched. “Because you’re my little witch.” I smiled. “And the life buoy?” “I couldn’t stop thinking about what you told me, about how you’ve always felt like you were supposed to drown,” he explained, carefully clasping the anklet around my left ankle. “Well, I put that there to remind you that as long as I have air in my lungs, I’ll never let you go under.”

Keeping his brown eyes locked on mine, Hugh tenderly stroked my cheeks, and then my chin, and then my neck, before finally resting his hand on my shoulder. “You’re beautiful.” I wasn’t. I was filthy. Inside and out. I wanted to tell him just that, but when I opened my mouth, all that came out was a broken sob. I tried again, but another cry tore out. And then his arms were around my body, pulling me close. “Let it out.” Wrapping me up as tight as he could, he rocked me in his arms. “I’m here and I’m not leaving you, okay? No matter what.”

I could feel the darkness was settling over her, threatening to overtake her, and I was determined to keep her heart in the sunshine. No matter what.

This poor boy put so much responsibility on his shoulders for this girl☹️He loves her so much it’s painful

“I got my acceptance letter for Tommen College in September,” he offered then, tracing my thumb with his. “The entrance examination results came in the post, too.” “And?” He blushed. “My results were the highest in all three participating schools in town. Mam got a handwritten letter about it and everything.” “I knew you would.” I smiled and it was the first genuine one since, well, before. “Because you’re a genius, Hugh Andrew Biggs.”

“I will fix your heart,” he said gruffly, pulling me onto his lap. “But I won’t need to come back home to do it.” “You won’t?” “No,” he replied, nuzzling my neck. “Because I won’t be leaving you behind in the first place.” Shivering, I folded into his arms. “You’re going to take me with you?” “First to Trinity,” he confirmed, tightening his arms around me. “And then around the world.” “What about school?” I teased, burrowing into his chest. “I know there’s only four months between us, but I’m two classes below you.” “You can skip fourth year,” he filled in quickly—too quickly. “That way you’ll turn eighteen the summer I leave for university and can legally come with me.” “And if my parents say no?” “Then we’ll get married, and they won’t have a choice in the matter.” “Just like that?” I laughed. “Yep.” He snapped his finger for emphasis. “Just like that.”

“You sound like you’ve put a lot of thought into this.” “That’s because I have.” “Since when?” “Since the day you told me you would say yes if I asked you to marry me,” he replied without a hint of hesitation. “So you better keep that heart beating, ya hear?” He pressed a kiss to my shoulder. “Because I need you, Lizzie Young. More than you realize.” “I will,” I whispered. “I promise.”

“Caoimhe Catherine Young,” he whispered, staring lifelessly across the table at me. “My beautiful, blue-eyed baby girl.” I wanted to tell him that he had another blue-eyed baby girl upstairs in bed, but I didn’t have the heart to kick the man when he was down, especially since he made the effort to cook a meal for me.