Releasing 10 (Boys of Tommen, #6)

by Chloe Walsh

I had no intention of running away from this girl.

The fact that Lizzie showed up to my party in full costume made me feel special, but knowing that she was matching me? Well,

I didn’t know how to handle the way that made me feel.

I worked hard on everything when it came to school. Not because I had to—learning came easily to me—but because I wanted to. English. History. Geography. Nature. Science. Irish. Religion. It didn’t matter. I soaked it all in. Everything about the world fascinated me, and I read more books than anyone else in my class,

he is going to grow up to be a beautiful young man, oh my goodness!!!!

My lips twitched and I tried not to smile, but she was cute when she challenged me.

i’m blushing !!!

“You’re six?” My brows rose in surprise. “When were you born?”

“June 9, 1988.” “So I’m less than a year older than you?” “Seven months and twenty-two days.” She smirked. “I counted.”

That she was important.

I missed Shannon. I wished she had come to the party. She didn’t like to talk a lot, and I liked that about her. Sometimes it was nice to not talk and still be friends.

Focusing all my attention on the boy sitting beside me, I let my eyes roam over his face. Golden skin. Yellow hair. Kind smile. Eyes like Daddy’s whiskey. Soap and strawberries. Hugh Biggs.

“I like you, Hugh Biggs,” I blurted out, feeling the heat bursting out of my chest. “I think.”

“I don’t think I like you, Lizzie Young.” He looked out the window when he whispered, “I know I do.”

The dark-haired boy was called Patrick Feely, and he was super nice but kind of shy. The other

boy’s name was Gerard Gibson, and he was so funny.

She said she wanted me. My heart thumped with excitement.

“You were right, Claire-Bear,” Gibsie replied, giving her a big smile. “A star is better than a square.”

I scrunched my brows up. “A square?” “Yeah, we’re a square, see?” Gibsie pointed to the four of them before pointing to me. “You make a star.”

ugh this is so cute !!! i’m loving this friendship!!

“All in favor of Liz joining the gang, raise your hands.” Everyone raised their hands. I beamed with happiness. “Then it’s official,” Hugh said, turning to smile at me. “You’re one of us now.” “I am?” “That means we keep each other’s secrets and stick together, no matter what.” My heart leapt. “No matter what?” “Yeah, Liz.” Hugh smiled. “No matter what.”

“I think I love him.” “Which one?” “Hugh,” I sighed, clutching my chest.

Sprawled out on my lawn in a pair of denim dungarees and an oversized plaid shirt, Liz couldn’t have looked less like my sister if she tried.

“She’s a very fragile little girl who needs looking after.”

“I’ll look after her, Mam, I promise.”

They treated my mother like she was a part of their gang.

Just like how their kids treated me.

“You’ll always be safe with me.” “I know.” I splashed him with my hand. “No matter what, right?” “Yeah, Liz,” Hugh chuckled, splashing me back. “No matter what.”

I’d met Mark a few times and Gibs wasn’t lying when he said the guy was a creep. He thought he was so much tougher and cooler than us because he was a teenager, when in fact, all he was better at doing was being a fucking creep. “I hate that guy!”

“Gerard says he’s going to marry me when I’m a big girl.”

I couldn’t explain why I felt so uncomfortable or why the hairs on the back of my neck shot up whenever I laid eyes on him. But it always happened. I felt like Peter Parker with Spidey senses, and mine told me that Mark Allen was not good. Not good at all.

Mark didn’t fix me this time. Hugh did. And he didn’t have to hurt me to do it…

In that moment, I vowed to never sit back and do nothing. I would never be a statue like Mark or incapable like Sadhbh and Keith. For the rest of my life, I would help. I would save people. I would bring them back to life.

Like my father brought Gibs back from his watery grave. Like my mother brought his heart back to life.

Removing the hand he was resting on top of mine, he placed it on my cheek instead. “I love you.”

My heart thumped like a drum in my chest because this was the first time he said those words out loud. “You do?”

“I blame his sisters for putting notions in his head,” he continued, not one bit dissuaded by my presence. “They babied the lad and made him soft. Putting musical instruments in his hands instead of a shovel and pike!”

Both Feely’s mother and father were pushing on in years. They were both gray and wrinkled and sort of looked like they should be his grandparents.

“I’m grand,” he replied, brushing it under the carpet like only Feely could,

“He just doesn’t get me.”

“Just because you can’t see your father’s illness, doesn’t mean that it’s any less deserving of empathy,”

“You get sad sometimes, and that’s okay,” I told her, feeling the strongest urge to pull her close and protect her from the world. “And you get angry, but who doesn’t?”

I was good with pain, and pain was good for me. It made me feel better. It helped me to concentrate. To stop my thoughts from running rampant in my head. The pain made all my thoughts float out of my head, and I sighed in relief.

There would be a million more parties, but there would only ever be one Lizzie Young.

Because I knew deep down inside that I would sit with Lizzie Young for the rest of my life if it kept the sadness out of her eyes. If it kept her safe.

“Because then you wouldn’t be you,” I explained, wiping away another one of her tears. “And a world without Lizzie Young would be a travesty.”

It was hard to explain the comfort Hugh’s presence gave me. He made it easy to be alive. I knew that was a strange thing to think, but it was how I felt. Living was a lot easier when Hugh was nearby. When I was doing my living with him.

“You’re a good boy, Hugh Biggs.” Catherine patted my hand. “Your mother is very blessed to have a son like you.”

One of these days, the grown-ups are going to see your true colors, and when that day comes, I’ll be right there to watch your fall from grace.

“There.” Sitting back on the curb, I admired our handywork. “H plus L.” I grinned at him. “Together forever.”

“Come on, I want to hear you say it.” Turning my body sideways, I reached up and grabbed his face between my hands, forcing him to look at me. “Don’t be shy.” “You’re pretty,” he said, eyes locked on mine. “The prettiest girl in Ballylaggin.”

“This is so embarrassing,” Hugh groaned, and then, because he knew I wouldn’t let it go, he cleared his throat before asking, “Elizabeth Eleanor Young, would you do me the great honor of becoming Elizabeth Eleanor Biggs?”

“Why yes, Hugh Andrew Biggs,” I gushed through fits of laughter. “I would be delighted to.” “Milady is too kind,” he replied in his playful, brave-knight accent, before climbing to his feet and bowing dramatically. “From this day forth, dear Wife, this sword shall be sworn to you.” He placed his stick at my feet and bowed again. “I shall slay all your enemies, shield you from dragons, and protect you with my life.” “And I shall protect you with mine, dear Husband.” Snatching the stick, I jumped to my feet and swished it around. “Have no fear, brave knight, for I shall be your secret weapon in every battle.”