Page 159 of The Alternate Captain
“I gave Danny the ‘C’ for this reason,” he says. “Because I know it’d be the icing on the cake for him, so to speak. Give him the boost he needs to be really seen.”
And Johnny—the most selfless person I know, with a heart the size of the world, kisses me, right there, in front of everyone.
And no one pays us any attention—at least, I don’t think they do. Because I’m all about Johnny.
We’ve planned banners, balloons,and a cake donned with the word ‘Congratulations’ in orange letters—Kelly’s favourite colour.
We’re celebrating. Because Kelly’s been selected as a reserve cellist for a national orchestra—which is a pretty big fucking deal.
“Please tell me Mike isn’t planning a surprise party,” she says, as we pull up outside her student place. “Because I can’t handle it. I’m exhausted. I just want to go to bed.”
“Just let him have his moment,” I say, climbing out of the car and rounding to the passenger side.
It’s the best both of us could hope for—that, and the fact that neither of my legs are broken.
Kelly’s already out of the car, so I open the back door and pull her cello out, carrying it towards the front door as I trail after her.
We hear Bettsy’s voice as soon as we step inside. A loud-whisper sort of noise which has Kelly rolling her eyes at me.
“Make sure you turn the lights off,” he says, and there’s a scrambling behind the closed living room door.
“I’ll just drop off my cello into my room,” Kelly whispers, trying to pry it from my hands.
“Oh, no you don’t. Go in there and act surprised,” I say.
I nudge her forwards, only dipping out momentarily from the route to place her cello inside her bedroom.
When I rejoin Kelly at the living room door, I pause for a moment, letting her take a breath.
“Johnny?” she says, tilting her head to meet my eyes.
“Babe?”
“Imagine where we’d be now if I got that place at the music college. Do you think it would have changed things much?” she says.
“Who knows. But you’re onto something better, right? Sometimes life does that. When you think it’s the worst news in the world, it’s actually setting you on the path that’s meant for you.”
My mind drifts to what could have been for me. A big career, probably a load more money—but nothing compares to what I’ve got now. Because this has no tangible value. This is fucking priceless.
Kelly is priceless. And without all the shit that got me here today, I’d not be where I am— with her.
I make an over-exaggerated announcement that we’re about to enter.
And the whoops, cheers, and party-poppers ascend, celebrating how incredible Kelly is—and I’m so fucking proud of her—demonstrating how tenacious she is. And that’s only one of the reasons I love her.
Kelly sinks down ontop of me as my phone rings.
“Ignore it,” I say, encouraging her to start a rhythm by grabbing her hips. “Just ignore it.”
Shifting my hand from her side, I run my thumb over her clit, just enough to tease her.
She grinds down on me and I can’t think of a time where it felt this good—apart from the other times, but still.
“Johnny, it’s ringing again,” Kelly says, running her hands up and down my chest to get my attention.
But it has the opposite effect. Her touch ignites me and spurs me on. I grip her firmly, breathing, “Just keep going, forget about it.”
“John—”
