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“And I might disappoint him,” she mumbled.

I stopped walking. “What do you mean?”

She turned back to face me but didn’t respond.

I studied her pained expression and blew out a breath. “Claire, you couldn’t disappoint anyone if you tried.”

“Yeah.”

“I mean it,” I pushed. “And least of all Gibsie. Headoresyou. It’s as plain as the nose on his face that he’s mad about you.”

“Because hecan’thave me,” she muttered. “Because I’m the one girl who hasn’t given in to him.”

“I don’t think that’s it,” I replied slowly. “Not in the slightest.”

“Listen, this isn’t a new thing, Shan. You know that. Gerard and I have been like this since as far back as my memory goes. He’s always ‘wanted me’ and I’ve always played it down—” Her words broke off and she groaned, like talking about this physically pained her. “Because I don’t believe him.”

“You don’t?”

“No, I don’t.” Her brown eyes burned with vulnerability as she spoke. “I know Gerard Gibson better than anyone on this planet—hell, I know him better than he knows himself—and trust me when I tell you that boy can’t pay attention to anything for longer than aday. I’ve seen it—the way he is with girls. He’ll give a girl everything for one day and then he’s on to the next one. I don’t even think he can help it. I know he doesn’t do it on purpose.” Her cheeks flushed bright pink. “But I can’t be just anotherdayto him—just anothergirl. I don’t want to pour my heart out to him, only for him to turn right around and realize that the chase was more fun than the catch.” Shrugging helplessly, she added, “I think it would break me.”

“Have you talked to Lizzie about this?” I asked. “What did she say?”

“I haven’t told anyone,” she whispered. “Just you.”

My heart cracked. “Oh my god,Claire…”

“It’s fine,” she hurried to say, slapping on a bright smile. “I’m fine.” Breaking into a brisk walk that had me jogging to keep up, Claire yanked open the glass door of the main building and ushered me out first. “Everything is fine.”

It clearly wasn’t.

“I’ll come over,” I blurted out breathlessly, struggling to keep up with her long strides as she trudged through the courtyard. “If you think it’ll be okay with your parents?”

“You will?” Her whole expression brightened. “Of course! My parents love you.”

I nodded and continued to waddle-run. “Okay, just let me tell Darren—and slow down. I’m not a racehorse.”

“Sorry.” She giggled, slowing her pace to what I considered a brisk walk. “Thank you for doing this.”

“No problem,” I replied, swallowing back a groan at the thought of facing Darren. “Anytime.”

When we reached the car park and my eyes landed on Darren’s blue Volvo, I missed my step and stumbled a little. I stumbled even further when I noticed the silver Ford Focus parked three spots up—not to mention the four boys leaning against the side of said Focus, with their heads down, deep in conversation. Righting myself before I face-planted in the gravel, I straightened my shoulders, took a deep breath, and walked over to the Volvo. The smile my brother was wearing slowly slipped when he registered that I was moving toward the driver side of the car rather than the passenger side.

“What are you doing?” Darren asked, winding down the window when I tapped on it. “Climb in—I’ve got to get the boys home for training.”

Glancing into the back seat, I smiled at my three little brothers. “Hey, guys.” Ollie and Sean smiled back at me, but Tadhg ignored me, keeping his glowering stare fixed on the back of Darren’s head.

“What’s going on?” Darren asked, dragging my attention back to him.

“I’m going to go to Claire’s house for an hour,” I said, forcing back the wordsif that’s okay. He was my brother. I didn’t need his permission.I didn’t.“I’ll be home later, okay?”

“Shannon, we talked about this.” Darren’s expression darkened. “You need to come home straight after school.”

“No.” I shook my head and tightened my grasp on the shoulder straps of my schoolbag. “You and Mam talked about this. I never agreed to stay inside twenty-four seven.”

“She’s going to have a coronary if you don’t come home,” he bit out. “You know the way she gets. I can’t handle her like that, so I need you to come home andhelpme.”

“I don’t care,” I shot back, and surprisingly, I meant it. I didn’t care. Not anymore. “I’m going to spend some time with my friend like a normal teenager and then I’ll come home.”

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