“Johnny?” I called after him, unable to stop myself. When he stopped running and turned back to face me, I hurried to close the space between us, not stopping until I was right in front of him. “What’s wrong?” he asked, frowning down at me in confusion. “Nothing, I just—” Shaking my head, I reached up and cupped his neck, pulling his face down to

“Fuck, it’s freezing out there!” Johnny announced as he jumped inside and shook himself down, causing water to spray everywhere. “I’d say it’s time to batten down the hatches and get the rubber dinghies out, girls. The weather’s gone to shite.”

“Yeah, well, I’m your best friend and you put me on the floor,” he shot back with a huff. “The dog gets the foot of your bed and I get the fucking floor.” I arched a brow. “Are you saying that you want to sleep at the foot of my bed?” Gibsie stared back at me for several seconds before snickering. “Yeah, okay, I have no idea where I was going with

In the middle of my personal breakdown, my mind continued to focus on the one person I needed to not think about. Shannon like the river, with those midnight blue eyes…

My brain’s track of choice: Shannon like the river, with the gorgeous blue eyes, face of an angel, and the troubled past.

“Joey shouldn’t have put you in that position,” I croaked out, wrestling to keep my emotions at bay. “I’m so sorry about this.” I stood up to leave. “I can go now.” “Shannon.” Johnny’s hand snaked out and wrapped around my wrist. “I don’t want you to go,” he said gruffly, tugging me back down beside him. “I want you here.” He rested a hand on the

“Um, yeah, sure—of course,” Shannon mumbled, falling over her words in that adorable way she did when she was flustered. Don’t worry, baby, I thought to myself. I’m flustered too.

“Johnny, she can take a shower here, can’t she?” My eyes bulged. “What?” “Uh, yeah, I guess,” Johnny, who was still standing behind me, replied slowly. “If she wants?” Joey, who had returned to his perch at the island, nodded his head. “Good idea, Gibs,” he agreed between forkfuls of egg and sausage. “Wash that wet dog smell off ya before we have

Spending as much time as I did in my own company made it difficult for me to integrate back into normal teenage society.