“What in the name of Jesus is that young fella of mine doing now?” Muttering several profanities to herself, Mrs. Kavanagh pressed a button on the door and her window rolled down. “Johnny!” she called out. “What are you doing running around in the rain, ya bleeding eejit? Get in!” “He’s looking for a shoe,” I pointed out, cheeks flaming. “My shoe—I

She looked right through all the bullshit. Seeing me. Seeing only me. And that made me want to move some shit around and place her slap-bang in the middle of my world. I knew I needed to get a fucking handle on myself. Except I couldn’t. Because she was addictive. And I was obsessed.

“Well, I’m not like most girls,”

“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.

“Good boy.” I slapped his cheeks with my hands and smirked. “Now fuck off.”

“Come on,” he said in a coaxing tone as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders, tucked me into his side, and led me out of school. “I’ll take care of you.”

“Do you mind?” I asked then. He smirked. “No, baby, I don’t mind.”

“Yeah, you do,” he shot back. “A name.”

Meanwhile, I was the tiny brunette who buddied up with the best-looking girls in class.