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“Shannon’s not a child,” I replied, forcing myself to speak and not roar at this woman like I so badly wanted to. I had a feeling she didn’t work on the same frequency as the rest of us and shouting was the only way to get through to her, but I refrained. “She’s going on seventeen. She is her own person, with her own friends, and her own mind, andyouneed to step back and stop trying to smother her in your fucked-up attempt to make up for not protecting her when she actually needed you to.”

“Excuse me?” Mrs. Lynch choked out, clutching her chest.

“You heard me,” I told her. “You were shouting and roaring so loud, we could hear you from the street. You have the gall to throw shite at her while you’re off your face on tablets with three small children upstairs?” I shook my head. “You’re a disgrace.”

“Back the fuck off, Johnny!” Darren snarled. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“I know a lot more than you think,” I sneered. “And you’re all quick to judge me when not one of you are in the position to throw stones.”

“Johnny,” Shannon croaked out, eyes wide. “It’s okay.”

“It’s not okay, Shan,” I said gruffly. “It needed to be said.”

“Get off my property, or I’ll have you done for trespassing,” Shannon’s mother warned before bursting into tears and running back into the kitchen. I felt a smidgen of guilt rush through me, but not enough to take back what I had said. The truth had a bitch of a sting to it sometimes.

“You heard her,” Darren said coldly, glaring at me. “And don’t come back around here, Johnny.”

“Darren,” Shannon choked out. “Don’t say that.”

Another Lynch popped up then, but this one came from behind me. “Kav,” Joey acknowledged in a friendly enough tone as he strolled up the overgrown path in a pair of mechanic overalls, face covered in grease, and a plastic lunch box dangling from his hand. He slapped a hand on my shoulder as he passed by. “Causing more shit?”

“The usual amount,” I replied evenly.

“I bet,” he mused. “Alright, Shan.” Ruffling her ponytail, he roughly shoved Darren out of his way. “You coming in, or are you just going to stand there leaving the cold out?”

“It’s the heat out,” I muttered.

“Maybe in your house,” he shot back, not missing a beat, before disappearing into the kitchen.

“He’s not coming in here,” I heard his mother scream from the kitchen. “Tell him to leave!”

“Christ, could you give it five minutes before you start the crying.” A cupboard door slammed and Joey’s voice filled my ears again. “I’m tired, I’m hungry, and I justgot off work.”

“Go home,” Darren said before closing the door in my face.

The door swung back open seconds later and Shannon popped her head out. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered, eyes laced with pain. “I love you—”

“Shannon, get in here!”

“Bye, Johnny.”

And then the door slammed shut in my face again.

42

Crisis Averted, Everyone Breathe

Shannon

“Why did you do that?” I demanded, furious, as I glared at Mam and Darren. “He was just dropping me home.”

“Look at the cut of you,” Mam choked out. “Going out dressed like that.”

“There’s nothing wrong with what I’m wearing,” I shot back defiantly.

Mam’s face reddened. “You look like a—”

“Whore?” I offered. “Thanks,Dad.”

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