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Chapter no 47 -โ€Œ โ€Œโ€Œโ€Œโ€Œโ€Œโ€Œโ€Œโ€Œโ€Œโ€Œโ€Œโ€Œโ€Œโ€Œโ€Œโ€Œโ€ŒWHAT D I D YOU TAKE?

Redeeming 6 (Boys of Tommen, #4)

AOIFE

WHEN I FINALLY RETURNED TOย school the following Monday morning, and took my seat in tutorial, it was to an empty chair beside mine at a desk I had been assigned to share with Joey since the start of the school year.

โ€œArrrggghhh!โ€ Casey screamed, as she stood in the doorway of our classroom and stared at me in horror. โ€œWhere the hell have you been, and what the fuck have you done to your hair?โ€ she demanded, pointing an accusing finger at me. โ€œOh my god.โ€ Her eyes widened in horror as she let her bag fall off her shoulder and ran behind my chair to get a better look. โ€œItโ€™sย gone.โ€

โ€œItโ€™s good to see you, too, Case,โ€ I chuckled, smoothing a hand over my shoulder length hair. โ€œTo answer your first question; I was home. I needed a few days to sort my head out. As for the latter; I needed a change.โ€

No, what I hadย neededย was to remove the memory of that manโ€™s hands from my hair, and it had cost me eighty euro for the pleasure, but she didnโ€™t need to know the finer details.

I still had enough length to tie it back in a small ponytail, but not long enough to put me in the vulnerable position of having a man restrain me with

it.

โ€œDo you like it?โ€

โ€œNo!โ€ she spluttered, horrified, as she retrieved her bag. โ€œWow.โ€ I rolled my eyes. โ€œThanks a bunch.โ€

โ€œOh, shut up, youโ€™re still a complete ride,โ€ she shot back, eyeing my hair

and pulling at a loose tendril. โ€œIโ€™ve just never seen you with hair shorter than the middle of your back, Aoif. Youโ€™ve had Rapunzel hair since we were in playschool.โ€ Giving me the side-eye, she added, โ€œI tried calling you a hundred times, by the way.โ€

โ€œMy phone is at Joeyโ€™s,โ€ I told her. โ€œAnd people change.โ€

โ€œYeah, I suppose impending motherhood can change a girl.โ€

โ€œSay it louder, why donโ€™t you?โ€ I hissed, twisting around to glare at her when she slid into the desk behind mine. โ€œJesus.โ€

โ€œSorry.โ€ She winced and held her hands up. โ€œAny updates on that front, by the way?โ€

โ€œI told my mam.โ€

Her blue eyes widened. โ€œHowโ€™d she take it?โ€

โ€œBetter than I did, I think,โ€ I admitted with a pained sigh. โ€œShe went with me to the doctor last week.โ€

Her eyes widened. โ€œAnd?โ€

I nodded. โ€œSeptember twentieth.โ€

โ€œYour due date?โ€ Her eyes widened. โ€œThatโ€™s two days after your nineteenth birthday.โ€

โ€œShh,โ€ I warned, and then reluctantly nodded. โ€œBut yeah, thatโ€™s my due date. I got my hospital appointment in the post โ€“ for my first scan.โ€

โ€œFor when?โ€ โ€œThis Friday.โ€

โ€œWhat time? Because we finish school at twelve for the Easter holidays,

and I can come with you ifโ€””

โ€œI appreciate the offer, but no,โ€ I replied, shaking my head. โ€œMam already offered, but I donโ€™t want her there, either.โ€

โ€œWhy?โ€

Because I only want Joey.

โ€œBecause.โ€ I expelled a frustrated breath. โ€œBecause I just donโ€™t.โ€

โ€œSo, how did he take it?โ€ she asked then, eyes laced with sympathy. โ€œNot well, Iโ€™m guessing, considering he hasnโ€™t been at school for the past week, either.โ€

โ€œI havenโ€™t told him.โ€

โ€œStill?โ€ Her eyes widened. โ€œAoife.โ€

โ€œI know, I know,โ€ I grumbled, feeling my windpipe constrict at the thought of him not knowing almost as much as having to tell him. โ€œUgh.โ€

โ€œWhen you both didnโ€™t show up to school, I convinced myself that youโ€™d told him,โ€ Casey offered, brows furrowed. โ€œI figured you wouldnโ€™t be coming back until after the Easter Holidays.โ€

The bell rang loudly then, interrupting our conversation, and I watched as the classroom began to slowly fill, rolling my eyes when Danielle and Paul swaggered into class, with their arms wrapped around each other.

โ€œUgh,โ€ Casey interjected, pretending to stick her finger down her throat. โ€œWhat does she think will happen if she doesnโ€™t weld herself to his side for an entire class?โ€

โ€œThat heโ€™ll be stolen away, by the looks of it,โ€ I offered, turning around in my seat to lean against her desk. โ€œWhatever. Sheโ€™s welcome to him.โ€

โ€œYeah, you certainly made an impressive upgrade,โ€ Casey mused and then grinned, eyes shifting to behind me. โ€œSpeaking of whichโ€ฆโ€

She pointed towards the classroom door and I turned around just in time to see Joey walk into class.

The minute my eyes landed on him, my heart bucked wildly in my chest, instantly recognizing its mate.

His hair was styled in the usual way he wore it, shaved tight at the back and sides, with a mop on top.

Minus his school jumper, the grey shirt he was wearing was untucked and hanging untidily over his belt buckle, while his school tie had been haphazardly thrown on. He had his sleeves rolled up to the elbow, revealing the impressive scrawl of black ink that he had been steadily adding to since fourth year, which now covered both of his forearms.

With his usualย fuck the worldย expression etched on his face, he approached the teacherโ€™s desk, handing over what I knew was a behavioral chart book โ€“ otherwise known at the dreadedย red book.

It was a report card type booklet assigned to the most disruptive students with the worst attitude problems and needed to be signed off by each teacher upon arrival to class and at the end. At the end of each day, the principal himself would have every student with a red book come to the office to have

any or all comments received in their books checked over by him in person. As you can imagine, Joey had received more than his fair share of red books down through the years.

Usually, a student, no matter how badly behaved, only had to carry around a red book for a week at the most at any given time. But I specifically remember Joey having one for theย wholeย of second and third year without a break.

Looking entirely unimpressed with whatever Miss Lane was saying to him as she pointed at the red book on her desk, Joey simply handed her a pen, and folded his arms across his chest, waiting for the signature.

And then he chose that exact moment in time to sweep his gaze around the room. I felt the weight of his stare the second it landed on me.

The air thinned around me, making it genuinely hard to drag breath into my lungs. Trembling beneath the intensity of it all, I forced a small smile and a small limp wave.

What other way was there to greet the boy you’d spent years loving? The boy whose father had tried toย molestย you.

The boy who you ripped the heart out of the last time you saw him.

Jesus.

I watched Joey stiffen, his eyes heated and focused entirely on me. He didnโ€™t smile.

He didnโ€™t wave.

He just stared at me. This was too much.

It was way too fucking much.

There were so many unspoken words, so many unanswered questions hanging in the air between us both.

I knew that he felt it, too.

His expression wasnโ€™t hiding anything from me.

He was showing it all right now, every ounce of confusion, pain and annoyance.

Eventually, the teacher returned the red book to Joey, and I watched as he strode towards our desk, still staring at me, still unsmiling.

Dropping his bag on the ground at the side of our desk, he pulled his chair and sank down in his usual spot beside me.

The minute he sat down, the fresh and achingly familiar scent of Lynx and soap flooded my senses, causing me to shiver.

โ€œJoey,โ€ I croaked out, watching him warily, unsure of how to react because of how we had left things the last time we spoke.

โ€œMolloy,โ€ he acknowledged, shoulder brushing against mine as he adjusted his chair, pushing it back to give himself more leg room.

โ€œNice shirt,โ€ I whispered, nudging my shoulder with his, as I held my breath and waited for his age-old response.

Say it.

Please say it.

Two words.

Thatโ€™s all I need.

The breath he released was so deep, that it caused his shoulders to visibly rise and fall, before he shook his head in what seemed like reluctant surrender. โ€œNice legs.โ€

Thank you, Jesus.

โ€œI was hoping youโ€™d be here today.โ€ โ€œWhere else would I be?โ€

โ€œYou werenโ€™t at school last week.โ€

โ€œI had a lot on.โ€

Yeah, with his mother.ย โ€œHow is your mam?โ€

He shrugged noncommittedly and reached into the pocket of his school trousers, withdrawing my phone and setting it down on my side of the desk. โ€œYou left this.โ€

โ€œYeah, I, uh, I know.โ€ Swallowing deeply, I quickly snatched up the phone and pocketed it. โ€œThanks for bringing it back.โ€

He offered me a clipped nod in response. โ€œNo problem.โ€

โ€œI left my necklace there, too,โ€ I whispered. โ€œIn your room. The one you got me for my birthday last year.โ€

โ€œIโ€™ll get that back to you.โ€

โ€œThanks,โ€ I breathed, hating the ridge between us. โ€œSo, are you okay?โ€

Nodding stiffly, he kept his eyes trained on the door in front of us. โ€œAre you?โ€

โ€œYeah.โ€ I shrugged weakly. โ€œI mean, I think so.โ€

โ€œThatโ€™s good.โ€ His jaw ticked and I watched as he swallowed deeply. โ€œIโ€™m glad. I was worried about you.โ€

โ€œI was worried about you.โ€ Shivering, I reached under our desk and placed my hand on his hard, muscular thigh. โ€œGod, Joe, Iโ€™ve missed you so much.โ€

A deep shudder rolled through him, but he made no move to respond or return any physical affection.

Instead, he leaned forward, rested his elbows on our desk, dropped his head in his hands, and muttered something unintelligible under his breath.

โ€œYou never came back,โ€ I heard myself say, eyes trained on his back. โ€œYou wanted space,โ€ came his flat response.

โ€œIย wantedย you to come back.โ€

โ€œHow was I supposed to know that?โ€

โ€œYou werenโ€™t,โ€ I sighed. โ€œI justโ€ฆnever mind.โ€

A horrible silence settled between us then; one I was desperate to get rid

of.

โ€œJoe?โ€

โ€œHm?โ€

โ€œCan we talk?โ€

โ€œWe are talking.โ€ His response was automatic, almost robotic, as he

slumped over our desk, head in hands.

โ€œProperly,โ€ I urged, cracking my knuckles nervously. โ€œPrivately.โ€ Shrugging lifelessly, he released a pained breath, but didnโ€™t respond. โ€œCan we hang out this evening?โ€

โ€œI have to work. Iโ€™ve already missed a week. I canโ€™t skip anymore.โ€ โ€œWhat about tomorrow?โ€

He didnโ€™t respond.

โ€œI wanted to know if you had plans at lunchtime on Friday?โ€ I heard myself croak out, palms sweating, as panic filled me. โ€œBecause thereโ€™s some place I need to be and I was, uh, well, I was really hoping that you could come with me.โ€

More silence. โ€œJoe?โ€

Jerking upwards, he looked around himself, seemingly startled, before slumping back down on his elbows. โ€œHm?โ€

โ€œDo you have plans on Friday?โ€

โ€œI, ah, I donโ€™t know,โ€ he mumbled, sounding beyond exhausted. โ€œIโ€™m not sure.โ€

โ€œWell, are you busy at lunch today?โ€ I tried instead. โ€œI mean, do you have training or anything like that happening? Because I really need to talk to you in private about something.โ€

โ€œI donโ€™t want to talk in private,โ€ he replied quietly. โ€œNot today, Molloy.โ€ โ€œBut you donโ€™t even know what I want to talk to you about,โ€ I squeezed

out. โ€œItโ€™s important.โ€

โ€œWhatever it is, I donโ€™t want to talk about it right now.โ€ โ€œWhy?โ€

โ€œBecause Iโ€™m too fucking tired, Molloy.โ€

โ€œYou have to know I didnโ€™t mean it,โ€ I blurted, addressing the elephant in the room. โ€œAll of that shit I spurted out the last time we were together? It wasnโ€™t me, Joe.โ€

He stiffened.

โ€œI didnโ€™t mean it, okay?โ€ Reaching up, I placed a hand on his back, frowning when I felt the heat emanating from his body.ย Jesus, he was burning up.ย โ€œI swear, Joe. Not one word of it.โ€

โ€œYeah, you did.โ€ The muscles in his back coiled tight under my touch. โ€œAnd itโ€™s okay. I donโ€™t blame you.โ€

โ€œI donโ€™t blame you for what happened, Joe,โ€ I told him, feeling achingly vulnerable in this moment. โ€œAnd I donโ€™t want space. Iย neverย want space from you.โ€

โ€œNeither do I,โ€ he replied quietly. โ€œBut just because we donโ€™t want something doesnโ€™t mean that we donโ€™t need it.โ€

Anxiety churned inside of me. โ€œWhat does that mean?โ€ โ€œIt means what it means, Molloy.โ€

โ€œLook at me.โ€ He didnโ€™t.

โ€œJoe.โ€

โ€œJust let it go, Molloy.โ€

โ€œJoey Lynch, you better look at me.โ€

Blowing out a pained breath, he leaned back in his chair, rested his hands on his lap, and reluctantly looked at me.

All of sudden it made perfect sense. The drowsiness.

The lethargy.

The scorching hot skin.

Eyes as black as coal.

โ€œOh my god.โ€ I sucked in a sharp breath. โ€œWhat did you take?โ€ โ€œNothing.โ€

He moved to turn his face away, but I caught his chin between my fingers and forced him to look at me. โ€œWhat did youย take?โ€

โ€œNothing,โ€ he argued before releasing a pained breath. โ€œToday.โ€ โ€œYesterday?โ€

He nodded slowly. โ€œAnd the day before?โ€ Another nod.

My heart broke further. โ€œWhen did it start?โ€ Silence.

โ€œWhen did itย start?โ€ โ€œAfter I left your place.โ€

Oh god, noโ€ฆ

โ€œSo, weโ€™re talking a week?โ€ โ€œAbout that.โ€

โ€œWhat was it?โ€ I forced myself to ask. โ€œWhat did you take?โ€

โ€œNot what you think.โ€ โ€œWhatย did youย take, Joey?โ€ โ€œNot that.โ€

โ€œI didnโ€™t ask you what you didnโ€™t take,โ€ I hissed, heartbroken and furious. โ€œTell me what you took, dammit.โ€

His eyes locked on mine, and stayed there, focusing on me as best as he could, given that he was clearly under the influence. โ€œJust some pills and shit.โ€

โ€œAndย shit?โ€ I glared at him. โ€œWhat doesย and shitย consist of? Because Iโ€™ve been with you long enough to know that when you say the wordsย pills and shit,ย your meaning can vary wildly.โ€

โ€œMolloy.โ€

โ€œSo, what are we talking about here? A joint, a line, or a fucking needle.โ€ It felt like I had been transported back in time to a place I never wanted to revisit. โ€œOh my god.โ€ My breath hitched in my throat. โ€œWhy, Joe,ย why?โ€

โ€œWhy do you think?โ€ he whispered brokenly, still obediently keeping eye contact with me, as I held his chin in my hand. โ€œI broke you.โ€

โ€œNo, Joe, you didnโ€™t break me.โ€ I shook my head and blinked back the tears stinging my eyes. โ€œYou brokeย you.โ€

โ€œItโ€™s my fault.โ€ He looked away then, pulling his face free. โ€œWhat happened to you is on me.โ€

โ€œYou didnโ€™t do anything wrong.โ€œ

โ€œI brought you into that house,โ€ he hissed, swinging back to glare at me. โ€œI put you in harmโ€™s way and harmย gotย you.โ€

โ€œIโ€™m okay,โ€ I choked out, reaching up to touch his cheek only to feel the sting of rejection when he leaned away from my touch. โ€œDonโ€™t do this. Donโ€™t throw away everything youโ€™ve worked so hard for.โ€

โ€œI donโ€™t have anything, Molloy,โ€ was his lifeless response. โ€œI never did.โ€

โ€œYou have me,โ€ I breathed, chest rising and falling quicky, as I fought to maintain my composure in a classroom surrounded by peers. โ€œYou still have me, Joe. I donโ€™t blame you, okay? I donโ€™t.โ€

โ€œIโ€™m him.โ€

โ€œNo, youโ€™re not.โ€

โ€œYeah, I am.โ€ He shrugged. โ€œYou said it yourself.โ€ โ€œThat was my hurt talking,โ€ I choked. โ€œI didnโ€™t mean it.โ€

โ€œIt was your brain talking,โ€ he corrected. โ€œIt was your truth.โ€ โ€œJoey, come on.โ€œ

โ€œI canโ€™t.โ€ I watched as another shiver rolled through him. โ€œI canโ€™t do this right now, Aoife.โ€

โ€œCanโ€™t do what?โ€ I strangled out, cheeks flooding with heat, as my pulse skyrocketed. โ€œCanโ€™t talk to me? Canโ€™t look at me? Canโ€™t be with me?ย What?โ€

โ€œI canโ€™t doย this.โ€ย I watched as he dragged his hands through his hair in frustration. โ€œYeah, I definitely canโ€™t do this,โ€ he muttered, shoving his chair back, and grabbing his bag off the floor, as he rose to his feet. โ€œIโ€™m out.โ€

โ€œSit down, Joseph,โ€ Miss Lane ordered from her desk. โ€œClass is just about to start.โ€

โ€œYeah, without me,โ€ he shot back, moving for the classroom door.

โ€œDonโ€™t even think about walking out of this classroom,โ€ she commanded, holding a hand up in warning. โ€œYouโ€™re already on a red book. Donโ€™t make it worse for yourself.โ€

โ€œKind of like how me telling you to get fucked would make it worse?โ€ he sneered, slamming his palm against the door, causing it to swing open in a

whoosh. โ€œWell, it looks like I just did, huh?โ€ โ€œJoseph!โ€

โ€œGet fucked,ย miss,โ€ he called over his shoulder, and then he was gone,

storming away.

โ€œOh god.โ€ Dropping my head in my hands, I resisted the urge to chase after him. I managed to last a whole three minutes until I caved, bolting out of my chair and moving for the door like my life depended on it.

โ€œWhere do you think youโ€™re going, Aoife?โ€

โ€œI think sheโ€™s going toย get fucked,ย miss,โ€ Alec offered up with a chuckle. โ€œIn the literal sense, this time.โ€

โ€œLanguage,โ€ Miss Lane warned Alec, before turning her attention back to me. โ€œThis isnโ€™t drama class, Aoife. No need for the Bonnie and Clyde reenactment. Return to your seat.โ€

โ€œButโ€””

โ€œNow, Aoife.โ€

โ€œAh, miss, donโ€™t be a cock block,โ€ Alec chimed in, encouraged by the class full of boys egging him on. โ€œDid ya see the big bull head on Lynchy? You only have one class with him; the rest of us will be in the firing line all day. Let her go and sort him out. Heโ€™ll be in much better form for the rest of the day.โ€

โ€œYou can get out of my classroom,โ€ Miss Lane ordered, glowering at Alec. โ€œStraight to the office to collect a red book of your own.โ€

Deciding this was my perfect opportunity to escape, I made a dash for the door.

Ignoring the laughter coming from behind me, not to mention our year headโ€™s voice as she shouted after me, or Alec subsequently calling out โ€˜youโ€™re welcome,โ€™ I hurried out of the classroom, leaving my bag behind, and trusting that Casey would pack up for me at the end of class.

My original plan was to head for the back of the PE hall, knowing that was one of Joeyโ€™s chosen spots to frequent, and if that failed, then I would try the school sheds, but my plan quickly flew out the window when I reached the front entrance of the school and my eyes locked on none other than Marie Lynch coming out of the principalโ€™s office.

โ€œAoife.โ€ The minute she noticed me, she moved in my direction, making a beeline for the exit that I was desperately trying to get to. โ€œPlease, can I speak to you?โ€

My feet reluctantly faltered before coming to an abrupt stop, while my head told me toย keep going.ย โ€œWhat are you doing here?โ€

โ€œI had a meeting with the principal,โ€ she said, when she closed the space between us, meeting me at the door. โ€œI know that Iโ€™m the last person you want to speak to right now.โ€œ

โ€œThe second last.โ€ โ€œExcuse me?โ€

โ€œYouโ€™re the second last person I want to speak to.โ€

She had the good grace to wince. โ€œYes, well, would you mind walking with me for a moment so I can talk to you?โ€ she asked, gesturing to the entryway double doors. โ€œPlease. Itโ€™s important.โ€

Deciding that Joeyโ€™s mother was someone that I couldnโ€™t avoid forever, I nodded stiffly and followed her outside, falling stonily into step beside her.

โ€œHow have you been?โ€

โ€œFine,โ€ I replied, tone stiff. โ€œAre you sure?โ€

โ€œWhat did you want to talk about, Marie?โ€

When she realized that she wasnโ€™t getting anywhere with that line of questioning, she released a heavy sigh and rubbed her forehead with her small hand. โ€œIโ€™m worried about Joey.โ€

Yeah, me too.ย โ€œWhy?โ€

โ€œI think heโ€™s falling into bad patterns again.โ€

โ€œYeah.โ€ Sighing heavily, I wrapped my arms around myself as we walked, ignoring the torrential March downpour. โ€œIโ€™ve noticed.โ€

โ€œSo, heย isย here?โ€ Relief flooded her eyes. โ€œHe came to school?โ€

โ€œHeย wasย here,โ€ I corrected flatly. โ€œHe left class pretty much as soon as he arrived.โ€

โ€œOh god, thatโ€™s what I was afraid of,โ€ she choked out. โ€œI donโ€™t know what to do with him, Aoife. I really donโ€™t.โ€ She shook her head. โ€œI donโ€™t know how to help.โ€

โ€œNo offense, but itโ€™s kind of impossible for you to help him when youโ€™re the source of his pain.โ€

She flinched from my words, but didnโ€™t argue.

Because she knew just as well as I did that she had a huge role to play in her son derailing.

Again.

โ€œI deserve that.โ€

โ€œItโ€™s not about what you deserve, Marie,โ€ I bit out. โ€œItโ€™s about the truth.โ€

โ€œHe told me that you asked him for space,โ€ she hedged nervously. โ€œThat you didnโ€™t want to see him anymore.โ€

Devastation flooded me. โ€œI said a lot of things that I didnโ€™t mean to him.โ€ โ€œThen we have something in common,โ€ she replied sadly. โ€œWeโ€™re both

guilty of directing our anger and pain at the wrong person.โ€

โ€œWhy are you telling me this?โ€ I asked, coming to an abrupt stop when we reached the edge of the carpark and my eyes landed on her husbandโ€™s car.

With said husband sitting in the driverโ€™s seat.

Oh god.

The mere sight of the man made me physically shudder, and I found myself taking a step backwards. โ€œWhat do you want from me?โ€

โ€œWhat I said to you when we first met,โ€ she blurted out, stepping in front of me, in what I presumed was her pathetic attempt at shielding me from his view. โ€œAbout how I thought that you needed to stay away from my son? Well, I was wrong.โ€

My brows furrowed. โ€œYou were wrong?โ€

โ€œJoey needs you,โ€ she continued to say, blue eyes full of lonesome sincerity, as the urgency in her tone grew. โ€œMore than he needs me, or anyone else, for that matter. For most of his life, my son has been so hell bent on escaping his mind, that heโ€™s never given a second thought to destroying himself in the process. But with you, since my son has been withย you,ย heโ€™s different. Itโ€™s not only that heโ€™s present, but itโ€™s that heย wantsย to be. You soothe something inside of him, something that his father and I are

responsible for breaking, and I donโ€™t want to see him have that snatched away from him again.โ€

โ€œWhy are you saying this?โ€ I asked, gaze flicking from her face to the car I could see over her shoulder. Anxiety gnawed at my gut, and it took everything I had in me to stand my ground and not run away.

โ€œBecause I made a mistake, Aoife,โ€ she replied in a shaky tone. โ€œIโ€™ve made a lot of mistakes when it comes to my son, but this is one that I hope I can make right.โ€ She looked me in the eyes then, imploring me to hear her, when she said, โ€œDonโ€™t give up on him, Aoife. Please donโ€™t give up on my boy.โ€

The sincerity in her voice threw me and it took me a few moments to gather my thoughts before I could respond.

โ€œNothing you said about Joey changed anything for me,โ€ I heard myself say. โ€œI know your son is worth loving โ€“ worthย savingย โ€“ even if the rest of the world canโ€™t see it.โ€ย Even if he canโ€™t see it himself.ย โ€œI know who he is, Marie โ€“ the kind of man he is โ€“ and I know his worth, so you can rest assured that nothing you,โ€œ I paused to cast a look a disgust in the direction of their car before continuing, โ€œyour husband, or anyone else, for that matter, have ever said or done has come close to making a dent in my feelings for him.โ€

Even though I was being catty towards her, and my tone was obviously bitchy, I watched as his mother visibly sagged in relief.

โ€œThank you,โ€ she whispered. โ€œFor loving my son. I know that itโ€™s not easy at times.โ€

โ€œLoving your son is effortless,โ€ I cut her off by saying, pushing my damp hair out of my eyes. โ€œItโ€™s getting him to love himself thatโ€™s the hard part.โ€

Of course, her husband decided this was the perfect time to roll down the car window and shout, โ€œMarie, wrap it the fuck up, will ya? Iโ€™ve places to be.โ€

Fear flooded the woman, and I watched as she visibly recoiled before resigning with a slumped shrug.

โ€œIโ€™m sorry for what he tried to do to you,โ€ she whispered. โ€œSo sorry.โ€ โ€œDid ya hear me, woman?โ€ he barked. โ€œI said get your hole over here, or

youโ€™ll be walking back to the house.โ€

His attention flicked to me then and recognition pinged in his eyes.

Feeling like my skin was crawling from just having his gaze on me, but refusing to back down, I narrowed my eyes and returned his glowering stare with one of my own, along with a perfectly polished middle finger.

It was at that exact moment that Joey decided to appear from behind the PE hall, with what I could only assume was the end of a joint pursed between his lips.

Taking one final drag of his smoke, he tossed the butt on the ground and exhaled an impressive cloud of smoke from his lungs as his bleary-eyed gaze landed on us.

Blinking in confusion, Joey looked from his mother, to me, and then to his father parked nearby.

The confusion in his eyes quickly morphed into fury. โ€œWhat the actualย fuck!โ€

โ€œOh god, no,โ€ his mother strangled out, sensing the potential danger of

the situation. โ€œNo, Joey, no!โ€œ

โ€œWhat did I tell ya about looking at her?โ€

โ€œJoe, hold up. Itโ€™s okay.โ€œ

โ€œWhat did I tell you about coming anywhere near her?โ€ โ€œJoey, please.โ€

โ€œGet out of the fucking car, old man!โ€

Moving entirely on instinct, I stepped around Marie, and ran straight at her son as he stormed towards their car.

โ€œNo.โ€ Intercepting Joey before he reached his father, I placed my hands on his chest. โ€œNo.โ€

โ€œMove.โ€ His entire body was vibrating with tension, as he strained against my hands, attention locked on his father. โ€œGet out of my way.โ€

โ€œNo,โ€ I snapped, and then, before he had a chance to respond, I slid my hands up his chest, not stopping until I had a firm grip on his neck. โ€œI saidย no,โ€ I repeated, roughly dragging his face down to mine. โ€œPut your eyes on me and your mouth on mine.โ€

โ€œWhat?โ€ He shook his head in frustration as rain pelted down on us. โ€œNo, Molloy, we canโ€™t just fuckingโ€””

Whatever he was about to say was swallowed up when my lips crashed against his.

With my mouth on his, and with one of my hands fisted in the front of his school shirt, I reached up with the other and guided one of his hands to my hip, before placing the other on my ass.

The tension emanating from him was slightly terrifying, but I knew that I was in no danger with this boy.

After a few unnerving moments of stoic rigidity, I felt the shift in him, as he reluctantly relinquished his tight-fisted hold on his anger, and reciprocated

my affection.

The sound of an engine roaring to life and then tires squealing filled my ears, and I sagged in relief.

He was gone.

Falling into our kiss, his mouth moved against mine, as our lips parted, and our tongues dueled viciously.

Joey was hurt and he was letting me know just how much in a bruising, punishing kiss that catapulted my hormones into complete disarray.

Flexing his hand on my ass, he tightened his grip on my hip, dragging my body roughly against his, as he took from my body whatever he needed in this moment to stabilize and ground himself.

Needing him with an equal desperation, I pressed up on the tips of my toes, hooked my arms around his neck, and returned with my lips everything that he was offering me.

One moment, he was there, and the next, he was gone; jerking away from me like my kiss caused him some sort of physical pain.

โ€œDonโ€™t do that to me,โ€ Joey warned, breathing hard, as he wiped residue lip-gloss from his mouth with his thumb, and glared at me. โ€œDonโ€™t fuck with my head like that.โ€

โ€œWhat are youย talkingย about?โ€ I panted, completely thrown off kilter by his reaction. โ€œI wasnโ€™t trying to fuck with your head.โ€

โ€œKissing me,โ€ he snapped, backing up a few steps. โ€œManipulating me with my feelings, Molloy. Iโ€™ve had enough of that to last a goddamn lifetime.โ€

โ€œAre you serious?โ€ I narrowed my eyes in response. โ€œHow is me kissing you a form of manipulation?โ€

โ€œItโ€™s manipulation when you use my feelings for you against me,โ€ he shot back, unyielding. โ€œYou did it that night and youโ€™re doing it again.โ€

โ€œAre you blamingย meย for what happened?โ€

โ€œNo, Iโ€™m blaming me for that!โ€ he roared, livid, dragging a hand through his hair. โ€œIโ€™m blaming me for caring too fucking much about what you want, and letting my feelings for you blindside me intoย notย doing the right thing!โ€

โ€œIย toldย you that I want to forget about it.โ€

โ€œAnd Iย toldย you that Iโ€™d do whatever you wanted me to do.โ€ A vein ticked in his neck as he watched me watch him. โ€œBut that doesnโ€™t mean that my silence isnโ€™t eating me alive.โ€

โ€œJoey, donโ€™t let him do this to us.โ€ I took a step towards him and reached for his hand. โ€œDonโ€™t let him win.โ€

โ€œDonโ€™t you get it, Molloy?โ€ Joey pulled his hand free from mine and backed away. โ€œHe always wins.โ€

As I watched Joey retreat and withdraw from me, I realized that some pivotal piece of him had been snuffed out that night, and if I let him go now, I might not be able to reach him again.

โ€œI love you,โ€ I heard myself call out, and I watched as Joeyโ€™s shoulders tensed and his step faltered.

Moving on instinct, I closed the space between us, and snatched his hand up, unwilling to let him leave me twice. โ€œIโ€™m in love with you, and thatโ€™s something he can never take away from you.โ€

A shiver rolled through him. โ€œMolloy.โ€

โ€œHe didnโ€™t win, Joe.โ€ Not stopping until I was flush against his chest, with my hands fisted in the front of his school shirt, I tugged hard on the fabric, reveling when he relented and lowered his face to mine. โ€œYou did.โ€

Releasing a pained groan when my lips crashed against his, he didnโ€™t push me away this time; choosing to wrap his arms around me and pull me closer instead.

With our lips fused together, we step-stumbled to the side of the PE hall before slipping around back of the building.

My back hit the wall a moment later, followed by his big body crashing against me.

โ€œI donโ€™t know where I stand with you anymore,โ€ he admitted against my lips, as he thrust his hips against me and let his arms fall to his sides. โ€œYour mood swings drive me fucking crazy.โ€

โ€œI know, stud,โ€ I breathed, reaching between us to quickly undo his belt and pop the button on his grey school trousers. โ€œIโ€™m a mess.โ€

โ€œMe too,โ€ he croaked out, voice thick with need, as he watched me free his dick from the confinements of his black boxers. โ€œIโ€™m a fuck up, queen. I let you down again.โ€

โ€œItโ€™s okay,โ€ I breathed, reaching under my skirt to quickly push my knickers down my legs and step out of them. โ€œWeโ€™ll figure it out.โ€

โ€œYour hair,โ€ he said instead of answering me, studying me with eyes so dilated they were almost black. โ€œItโ€™s gone.โ€

A pang of sadness hit me and I quickly crashed my lips against his, desperate to avoid the ins and outs of that particular decision.

โ€œFuck.โ€ Releasing a pained groan, he grabbed the backs of my thighs, and hoisted me up in one swift move.

Wrapping my legs around his waist I slid my hand between us and guided the thick head of his dick inside of my body.

โ€œAre you going to send me away again?โ€ he asked in an achingly vulnerable tone, sinking deep inside of me. โ€œTell me now so I can be ready for it.โ€

My heart skipped.

โ€œNo, Joe.โ€ Cupping his stubbly cheek, I leaned in close and brushed my lips against his. โ€œI wonโ€™t ever send you away again.โ€

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