Page 328 of Keeping 13

Jesus Christ… “Yeah, okay.” I patted his back. “I’ll be sure to tell the pilot to not kill me.”

“Thanks,” Ollie replied, mollified, as he skipped away. “’Cause I’m going to miss you.”

“I’m going to miss you too, lad.”

“I’m proud of you, son,” Dad said as he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me. “More than I can say.”

“Thanks, Da.”

“I love you, Jonathan—” His voice cracked and he cleared his throat before adding, “Very much.”

“I love you, too, Da.” Slapping him on the back, I took a step back and waited for my next mourner.

“My baby,” Mam sobbed, throwing her arms around me. “My little boy.”

“I’m six foot three, Ma,” I coaxed, squeezing her tightly. “And eighteen. I’m a grown man.”

“I don’t care. You’ll always be my baby,” she cried, dragging my face down to smack half-a-dozen red lipstick kisses to my cheeks. “Now, you mind yourself over there, ya hear? Don’t be taking any lifts off strangers. And only drink from bottles, not glasses, when you’re out. And don’t be letting any of the older lads on the team lead you astray—”

“It’s okay, Ma,” I soothed, resisting the urge to roll my eyes to the heavens. “I’ll be in camp most of the time, so you have nothing to worry about.”

“Don’t be talking to any strangers, either,” she added. “And if they look dodgy and they offer you anything, then you say no. Do you hear me, Jonathan?”

“Come on, Edel.” Dad chuckled, physically removing my mother’s arms from my neck. “He’ll be fine. You raised him well.”

“I’ll see you real soon, okay?” I said, crouching down to speak to Sean who was tugging on the leg of my tracksuit. “I’ll bring you back a big present.”

“Onny,” he sobbed, lip wobbling. “Me want Onny.”

“I’ll be back,” I coaxed, feeling my heart crack in my chest. “I promise.” Tipping his chin up, I wiped a tear off his cheek and smiled. “Are you going to take care of Sookie for me?”

Sniffling, he nodded.

“Good lad,” I told him, ruffling his hair. “Now, no more crying because I’m going to phone you up, okay? I’m going to call the house and say ‘Dellie, is my Seany there?’”

He smiled. “And me say, ‘my Onny there?’”

“That’s right.” Chuckling, I gave him a cuddle and stood back up while I still could and shouldered my carry-on bag. “I’ll see you really soon.”

“Come on, boys.” Mam sniffled, shepherding the Lynchs like they were her own personal flock of baby lambs. “John’s going to buy us something in the toy shop.”

“Score!” Ollie and Tadhg hooted as they barreled after my mother, with Sean and my father trailing behind.

“Yeah, I really needyouto not do that,” I choked out, feeling everything inside of me crack clean open at the sight of her midnight-blue eyes filling up with tears. “Otherwise, I’m walking right out of here and coming home with you.”

“I’m s-sorry.” With tears streaming down her cheeks, Shannon hiccupped a small sob and walked straight into my arms. “It’s j-just—”

“I know,” I choked out, dropping my bag off my shoulder to wrap her up in my arms. Burying my face in her neck, I inhaled the smell of her, desperately trying to keep my shit together. “Me too.”

“I love you,” she whispered, fingers digging into my neck as she pulled my face down to hers and kissed my lips. “A crazy fucking amount.”

“I love you, too—” My voice cracked and I exhaled a strangled breath before adding, “Most in the world.” Cupping her face in my hands, I just stared at her, locking away the image of her face in my mind and then coming close to losing it when I thought about how long it would be until I saw her again. “I’m coming home,” I told her. “Regardless of what happens.” Brushing a tear from her face, I kissed her damp cheek. “I’m coming back to you, Shannonlike the river.” Heaving out another ragged breath, I stroked her nose with mine. “I promise.”

“You t-take your time,” she sniffled. “You g-go and shine, o-okay?”

I nodded sadly. “Okay.”

“I want you to s-succeed,” she continued to say, breaking me with her tears and putting me back together with her words. “I want you to k-kick ass, and be the b-best damn outside center this country has ever seen—” She paused to kiss me. “But don’t forget that you’ll always be my 13.” She sniffled and wiped my cheek with her fingers. “My binding 13.”

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