Keeping 13: Boys of Tommen #2

"Don't worry, Shannon's Mammy." A blond head popped through the sun roof of the Audi, with a shit eating grin attached to it. Grinning widely, Gibsie waggled his brows and said, "He'll take good care of your little girl," before disappearing back into the car and cranking the stereo to the max. Popping back up once more, he threw himself into the chorus of Madonna's Like A Virgin, as he sang at the top of his lungs and made suggestive hand movements, all directed at my mother

"But don't forget that you'll always be my 13." She sniffled and wiped my cheek with her fingers. "My binding 13."

I choked out a pained laugh, thinking about that stupid bet. "You heard about that?"

"Yeah." Half-sobbing/ half-laughing, Shannon smiled and nodded. "I won."

"Hands down." I kissed her puffy lips. "Undisputed."

"Now, I'm keeping 13," she told me. "So come home to me when you're done, okay?"

"I will."

"There was a fire at the Lynch house."

"For keeps?" I breathed.

He kissed my shoulder. "For keeps."

"You teach people how to treat you by setting boundaries, lad. If you let someone walk all over you, they're going to think it's okay."

"Well, I don't want easy, I want you," he cut me off by saying. "Just the way you are."

My breath hitched in my throat. "Really?"

"Really," he confirmed, not missing a beat. "Every part and every piece."

I grimaced. "Even the broken parts?"

He winked. "Especially the broken parts."

"I meant it when I said I needed you for keeps."

"When did you do this to yourself?" I demanded, outraged.

"During the Easter holidays," he replied. "I told you I was bored."

I balked. "So you went out and got your dick pierced?"

Getting onto the U20's squad had been my plan for so long, and I was starving for my shot. I'd earned it. I wanted it. Jesus, of course I wanted it. More than almost anything in the world. Just not more than her.

"Gussie," Joey said