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“Why?”

“Because I’mhard.”

“Oh my god—” Chuckling, I wrapped my arms around his neck and cuddled him. “You make me so happy.”

“I’m gonna make you proud when I’m gone,” he declared, wrapping his arms around me—and tipping half his bottle of beer down my hoodie in the process. “And I’m gonna keep my dick in my pants.”

“Uh, thanks?”

“Sure, sure,” he agreed, still slurring. “Oh shite, babe, did I make you wet?”

“Uh, just a little bit,” I confirmed, wincing when the liquid trickled down my back. Slipping my hoodie off, I rolled it into a ball and threw it in the direction of our tent. “That didn’t go as far as I planned,” I noted, eyeing my hoodie less than five feet from where we were sitting. “Maybe you should have thrown it for me.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Johnny replied encouragingly before downing the last of his bottle and then staring into the rim of the bottle, looking all lonesome and cute when nothing else came out. “Looked like a perfect line out to me.”

“Itwouldlook that way toyou.” I chuckled, thoroughly enjoying this version of him now.

“Where was I?” Johnny asked, looking confused.

“You were talking about keeping your dick in your pants when you’re away with the team.”

“Ah, that’s the one!” He winked and nodded in approval. “And then I’m gonna make all my big plans with you when I come home.”

“Oh, you have big plans?”

“Big, big ones,” he confirmed. “I like kids, do you?”

“Uh, yeah, sure.” I blinked. “I like kids, Johnny.”

“Then we’ll have some,” he announced. “I’ll do the rugby thing, and you’ll do the vet thing, and then we’ll settle down and cook up some babies.” He smiled. “Good talk.”

“You think I’m going to be a vet?” I asked, completely bypassing the crazy baby talk. “Me? A vet?”

“Of course,” he slurred. “You’re so smart, baby, with your science and your way with all the animals. My dog loves you. Brian loves you. My dick loves you. Fuck, you’ll be the sexiest vet I’ve ever seen.”

“But I only told you that once,” I whispered, thinking back to one of the random conversations we had at night when Johnny slipped into my room. “I can’t believe you remembered that—and especially in your current state.”

“You only ever have to tell me a thing one time and it sticks.” He tapped his temple. “I keep track of all your words right there.”

“You’re a brain box,” I teased. “Do you know that?”

“I am,” he agreed. “It’s likewhoain my head all the time.”

“That’s because you’re so smart,” I reassured him. “You’re always thinking.”

“Hmm.”

“What’s the hmm about?”

“I’m not smart with you,” he slurred. “It goes away when I’m with you.”

“Is that bad?”

“It’s so fucking good,” he groaned. “I just… Fuck, I need to stop talking.”

“No, keep talking,” I coaxed, curious. “Tell me what’s going on in that head of yours.”

“In my head right now?”

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