“Who’s making you sad?” he asked then, voice slurred and sleepy. “Tell me, baby.” “Nobody, Johnny.” “You lie and it hurts my heart,” he groaned, tightening his hold on me. “All those marks. It hurts when I know someone’s hurting my Shannon.”

“Gimme a kiss,” he purred. Shaking my head, I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his. “Don’t leave me,” he groaned then, face contorting in pain. “I’m no more good…but don’t go?” “What?” “I’m…broken.” I shook my head. “You’re not broken.” Johnny groaned as if he was in pain. “No more…rugby,” he slurred and then shook his head.

“I love your tits,” he informed me then. “You haven’t seen them.” He nodded solemnly. “I have.” I shook my head. “No, you must be thinking about someone else.” “I’m only ever thinking about you,” he replied. “Only you.”

“Listen, I have to go,” I whispered, turning my attention back to Johnny, heart still hammering in my chest. “I’ll try and come back later before the bus leaves, okay?” “No, no, no,” Johnny groaned, holding onto my hand with both of his. “You said you wouldn’t leave me.” Oh god. “Johnny, I know, but I have to go,” I whispered, flustered. “It’s

He tugged hard and dragged me onto the bed. “Johnny!” “It’s okay,” I assured Mr. Kavanagh before taking an uncertain seat at the edge of his bed. I had no choice in this. It was either sit on the edge of Johnny’s bed or let him pull me on top of him because he wasn’t letting go. “I didn’t know where you were,” Johnny continued to tell me as he

“Hi, Johnny.” “Boom, boom, fucking boom, Da,” I groaned, slapping a hand against my chest. “I’m done for.”

“Gerard, maybe you shouldn’t bring Shannon in here,” Mam said, sounding concerned. “He’s partial to say anything right about now.” “No, no, no,” I grumbled, not feeling happy now. “I wanna see her.” “Johnny, love, she can come visit when you’re more yourself—” “Shannon?” I roared, calling out her name at the top of my lungs. “Shannon?” “Let the

“And I’m gonna buy her a ring…and a dog…and sail a boat…and I’m gonna look at her tits because I can.” I sighed in contentment. “She’s got the best tits, Da.”

“Not too much longer to wait.” I sighed. “Thank fuck, ’cause I’m in love.” “You’re in love?” I nodded happily. “And she’s a river.” “Well, that’s…lovely, pet,” Mam coaxed, sounding confused. “Good boy.” “I’m gonna sail my boat down her river,” I snickered. “My dick boat.” “Can they knock him back out?” Ma grumbled. “He’s going to give me a stroke