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"Watch your language," Mrs. Kavanagh scolded as she started the engine and pulled off. "And what's this I hear about you knocking Sha
Joh
I sank back in my seat.
"Well?"
"For fuck's sake, Ma!"
"What have I told you about your language?" Mrs. Kavanagh snapped. "Cool your jets, Joh
"Christ." Joh
"Well?" Mrs. Kavanagh asked, casting a quick glance to her son before refocusing on the road. "Did you not think I should have been told?"
"I'm sorry," I squeezed out, clasping my hands together anxiously. "Your mam thought I was your…that we were…that you got me…with your pregnant balls…ugh –" Clearing my throat, I whispered, "I'm sorry."
Joh
"No, my pregnant and your balls," I spluttered and then cringed at my words. "Never mind."
Ignoring my rambling, Joh
"Yes, I know that now. Sha
"Of course, I fucking apologized to her," Joh
From my perch in the center of the backseat, I watched as he smoothed his hand over his thigh – his injured thigh.
Shaking his head, Joh
"Still, I would have liked to have been told about this when it happened."
"Well, now you know," he bit out. "It was an accident. I didn’t mean for it to happen, and I don’t go around clocking girls over the head for shits and giggles."
"Don’t get so defensive, Joh
"Yeah fucking right," he muttered. "Just drop it, Ma."
He sounded agitated – no, it was more than that.
He sounded like he was in pain.
Which he more than likely was.
My memories of our conversation in his car floated into my mind in glorious colored detail.
It's not healing fast enough.
It's a fucking mess.
I'm sore.
Don’t tell anyone.
Concern sparked to life inside of me and I wondered if his mother knew how much pain he was in.
I doubted it.
Based on my limited interaction with the woman, she didn’t strike me as the type of person who would knowingly allow her son to put himself in harm's way.
"You're going the wrong way," Joh
"Oh, I know, love," Mrs. Kavanagh chirped. "I just thought it might be a nice idea to have Sha
"Tea?" I croaked out.
Joh
"Do you drink tea, Sha
"Um…yes?"
"Ma," Joh
"The girls are at the groomers in town and need to be collected at seven," Mrs. Kavanagh explained. "It's almost five now. It doesn’t make sense to drive all the way into Ballylaggin with Sha
"Then pick them up now," he hissed, tensing.
"I can't," Mrs. Kavanagh replied breezily. "I've left my purse at home."
"Ma, no," Joh
"Sha
"You didn’t even ask her," Joh
"Sha
Say no, Sha Tell her that you do mind. If he finds out, he'll kill you. You know this is wrong. This boy is not safe for you… "I don’t mind," I strangled out, torn by the fear inside of my heart and the burning curiosity in my body. "It's okay by me." "See now?" his mother quipped, patting Joh Joh I didn’t know what to say or do so I just shrugged and smiled weakly back at him. He stared at me for a long beat before exhaling a sharp breath and turning back to face the windscreen. Oh, god. Oh, lord. Oh, sweet merciful baby Jesus… Breathe, Sha I remained quiet, watching Joh It was awkward, uncomfortable, and I was achingly aware of his presence the entire time, my body on high-alert. For what, I had no clue. But every time I was in close proximities with him, I found it hard to breathe. After a few minutes of travelling up a narrow secondary road, we pulled up outside the familiar black iron gates. Mrs. Kavanagh rolled down her window, stretched her arm out, and keyed the code into the pad. And just like when I came here with Joey a little over a week ago, the huge gates swung inwards. Concentrating on my breathing, I tried not to focus on how beautiful his home was and how inferior I felt to be, once again, about to enter it. "Now," Mrs. Kavanagh a She cut the engine and unbuckled her seat belt. "I must make a quick call to work and then I'll make you both something to eat." "Ma –" Joh Stu "I am so fucking sorry about this," Joh "It's okay," I replied, clasping my hands together tightly. "Your Mam is really nice." "She's something alright," Joh My brows shot up. "What about her?" "Do you need to be at home?" he asked, cringing a little in obvious discomfort. "Helping her out or anything?" "She's at work," I replied quietly. "Shit, yeah, you said that already," he muttered, ru I nodded. "And you already said that, too," he muttered with a shake of his head. "Shite, you told me not to talk about it." "I know," I whispered. "It's done," he promised. "I won't bring it up again." I smiled weakly. "Thank you." He looked at me for a long moment, as if he was trying to figure something out in his head, before exhaling a heavy sigh. "Right. We better go in." "I don’t have to," I quickly offered, feeling awkward and unsure. "I can wait out here if you prefer?" "What –no!" He climbed out and opened my door. "I don’t want that."