Binding 13

I knew that.

"And Sha

Dad sighed heavily. "Sha

My heart sank.

"She left me," I croaked out.

This was it.

This was the start of it.

I wasn’t worth shit without rugby.

"No. She stayed with you," Dad corrected. "When you were demented out of your head and anyone in their right mind would have run for the hills, that girl stayed right by your bedside, listening to you talk out of your arse."

"Yeah, well, she's gone now, isn’t she?" I muttered, feeling thoroughly fucking sorry for myself.

"When your back was to the wall last night, who sat here with you?"

I stared at him.

"Who held your hand, Joh

"Dad –"

"Who waited for the ambulance with you?"

"Dad, stop–"

"Who came to check on you when you were at your worst?"

I looked at him.

Did he…?

"Yes, I'm well aware of what happened between you two in that changing room." Dad smirked. "Your Coach told me all about the compromising position he found you and Sha

"That fucking traitor," I grumbled.

"He's your teacher, Joh

"Her parents?"

"I would presume they are aware of the situation."

I shook my head. "For fuck's sake."

He sighed heavily before adding, "I suspect she's in quite a bit of trouble herself for sneaking over here."

"Fuck." I dropped my head in my hands and ignored the searing pain that shot up my legs. "Fuck, Da, I was a complete dick to her when I woke up."

"Then fix it," he replied calmly.

"You don’t get it," I strangled out, feeling like the worst piece of shit on the planet. "I panicked and I reacted on her, but she's fragile, Da. She's so… And I'm so in –

"Love with her?" Dad smirked. "Yes, we all know, Joh

"Shite," I groaned. "Was she freaked out?"

"Your mother certainly was," Dad laughed. "When you told her Sha

"Jesus Christ," I whimpered. "Why didn’t you stop me?"

"We couldn’t," he replied. "You would only settle down for Sha

Ugh.

Christ.

"I'm going to go get a coffee, and check on that best friend of yours," Dad a

"I don’t remember a bleeding thing," I groaned. "Everything's all hazy."

"You might not remember," Dad chuckled as he walked over to the door and opened it. "But she'll remember for the rest of her life."

I waited until Dad had left the room before reaching for my phone.

My father.

My father.

Why the fuck was I hearing Sha

And why was my heart telling me it was vital?

Jesus, they must have knocked me out with some strong ass, Class A drugs.

Focus, Joh