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“Did he ever touch you?” The words came out of his mouth in a rush. “Sexually.” He closed his eyes as a pained groan tore through him. “Did he do that to you?” Opening his eyes, he looked at me, expression torn, and said, “Did he rape you, baby?”

“No.”

“No?” Relief flooded his eyes for the briefest of moments before doubt poured back in. “You can’t lie to me, okay? Not about this. I need you to tell me the truth.”

“He didn’t touch me like that,” I croaked out, heart bucking wildly in my chest. “Nothing likethatever happened to me.”

Johnny stared hard at me for the longest moment before releasing a shaky breath. “Okay.” Nodding to himself, he whispered, “Okay,” several more times as his shoulders sagged. “I’m sorry for asking you that, but Ihadto.”

“It’s okay.”

“But I need you to know that you’re not on your own in this. Not anymore.” His voice was steady and strong now. “You have me.”

My heart leapt in my chest. “I do?”

“Absolutely.” His brow touched mine then, achingly tender, and his blue eyes bore into mine, silently asking for permission. To do what, I had no clue, but I was willing to say yes to whatever he asked of me. “I’m here,” he whispered, stroking my nose with his. “And I’m going nowhere.”

Oh god…

“Johnny?” My hands moved of their own accord, knotting in the fabric of his hoodie. “If you’re going to let me down—” Dropping my head, I closed my eyes and inhaled several shaky breaths before tipping my chin up and opening my eyes. “Then I need you to do it now, okay? Don’t wait until it’s too late, andplease…please don’t make it hurt—”

Johnny silenced me by putting his lips on mine. Stunned, I could do nothing but sag against him, giving him all of my weight and trusting him not to break me. It was a soft, innocent, almost feather-like peck on the lips, but it was everything in that moment, and it meanteverythingto me because it was from him. Because for the very first time he kissed mefirst.

“I won’t,” Johnny whispered, our brows touching, his lips gliding against mine as he spoke. “I’ll always be careful with you, Shannonlike the river.” Exhaling a shaky breath, he tucked my hair behind my ears and cupped my face in his hands. “I promise.”

“I’ll be careful with you, too,” I told him, trembling from head to toe.

He smiled. “That’s good to know, because I’ve got a feeling you could do some serious damage to my—”

“I’m not sure where he is now, hewasright behind me, but if he could just have a minute with her… Never mind,” a familiar voice said. “I’ve found him.”

“Shite,” Johnny mumbled. Releasing my face, he leaned back in his chair and offered a half-hearted salute with his hand. “Hi, Da.”

“Glad to see that your listening ears are as absent as always, son,” Mr. Kavanagh replied in a mild tone. “Shannon.” He gave me a sad smile. “It’s lovely to see you again, although the circumstances aren’t ideal.”

“Hi, Mr. Kavanagh,” I whispered, feeling my walls rise up at a rapid pace. I wasn’t sure if it was the sight of Johnny’s mild-mannered father that caused this reaction or the furious look on my mother’s face as she stood in the doorway beside him.

“Well,” Mam choked out, clearly upset. “I think he’s had more than a minute.”

“Mam—” I began to protest, but Mr. Kavanagh interrupted me.

“Understood.” He looked at Johnny and inclined his head. “Let’s go, son.”

“What?” I stared in horror at my mother. “Why?”

“Because I said so,” Mam replied, tone shaky.

“No.” I shook my head and looked to Johnny. “No, you don’t have to go anywhere.”

“Yes, he does, Shannon,” Mr. Kavanagh interjected. “Come on, Johnny.”

Johnny looked how I felt, completely torn, as he looked from his father to me. Several long moments passed in tense silence before Johnny finally nodded in defeat. My heart sank as I watched him retrieve his crutches and climb unsteadily to his feet. “I’ll be back, Shannon.”

“I would prefer it if you didn’t,” Mam was quick to say. “Come back, that is. At least for a while. We’re going through a deeply personal issue, it’s a family matter, and I really don’t feel like it’s appropriate for you to be here.”

My jaw fell open. “Mam!”

“Oh no?” Johnny shot back, not masking the anger in his voice. “Well, I wouldpreferif you shoved yourfeelingsup the highest part of your—”

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