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Darren sighed heavily. “I don’t know where he is.”

“What do you mean you don’t know?” I choked out. “Where is he, Darren?”

“Tadhg didn’t take the news about Dad too well and stormed out,” he muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Joey’s out trying to find him.” Running a hand through his dark hair, he expelled another pained breath before gesturing to the books on the coffee table. “Can you pack up what’s yours so we can go? I’ve left Sean, Ollie, and Mam at home.”

“I don’t think she should go home,” Johnny was quick to say.

“Excuse me?”

“I said that I don’t think she should go home,” Johnny repeated calmly. “She can stay here with me. Your da doesn’t know where my house is.”

“She’s coming home,” Darren replied tightly. “Now.”

“I don’t see why she has to—” Johnny began to argue, but Darren cut him off.

“You need to back off,” my brother warned. “Seriously.”

“It’s okay,” I reluctantly said, wanting to do anything else in the world than go back to Elk’s Terrace but knowing I had no choice. “I’ll go.” Shoulders slumped, I released Johnny’s hand and grabbed the last of my stuff off the table. Tears filled my eyes, making it impossible to see the opening of my pencil case as I tried to shove all of my pens and ruler inside. “Just give me a minute.”

“I’ll wait for you in the car.”

I nodded stiffly, keeping my back to him as I packed up my stuff. “Okay.”

The sitting room door clicked shut and then Johnny was beside me. “Talk to me.”

I shook my head and tossed the pencil case down on the coffee table. Shaking, I pushed my hands through my hair, taking deep, slow breaths, desperately trying to keep my emotions under control. “I…” Snapping my mouth shut, I stepped around him and walked to the window. “I…” I shook my head again, dragging in a sharp breath.

“Shannon, come on,” he urged, following me. “Give me your words.”

“I think—” Pausing, I dropped my head and clutched the sill. “I’m going to cry.”

“That’s okay,” Johnny told me, standing so close behind me that I could feel his thigh against mine. “It’s okay to cry.”

“I don’t want to do that in front of you again.” Exhaling a ragged breath, I clenched my eyes shut and choked out, “I don’t want you to see me fall apart all the time.”

“Well, you don’t have a choice,” he replied, turning me around and pulling me into his arms. “Because I’m not leaving you.”

Shaking my head, I kept my eyes closed and whispered, “Johnny, I can’t—”

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said, tightening his hold on me.

I tried again. “You can’t—”

“I’m not goinganywhere, Shannon.”

“You don’t need to—”

“I’m withyou. All of you. Every part. Good and bad. I’m staying. So don’t hide this part from me.”

I remained rigid for the longest moment. It didn’t faze him because he didn’t let go. He just held me there, refusing to let me go, refusing to leave me alone. And when I caved? When I finally crumbled? It was into him. I broke down. I absolutely lost it right there in Johnny’s sitting room.

I didn’t want to have a conversation.

I just wanted tocry.

Johnny seemed to sense it because he didn’t ask me any questions. He didn’t say a word. Instead, he kept his arms wrapped around my body, holding me close as my life fell down around me.

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