AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I heard that,” he shot back, smirking.
Mrs. Kavanagh looked between us and then beamed. “He’s a terrible loser, isn’t he?”
“I am fucking not!”
“I know.” I giggled.
“His father’s the same,” Mrs. Kavanagh added. “You should see him if he loses in court. No speaking for hours.”
“Ma,” Johnny snapped. “Can you just leave us be? Please?”
“I will,” she replied. “Once that poor girl has a warm shower and some dry clothes on her.”
“She doesn’t want a—”
“Do you know what, Shannon, love?” she added, once again ignoring her son. “I might have something in my office to fit you.” She eyed me up and down and tapped her lip before saying, “You’re a UK size six?”
Startled, I just stood there while Mrs. Kavanagh circled me, brows set in concentration.
“Ma!” Johnny bit out. “Back off.”
“No, no,” Mrs. Kavanagh mused, ignoring her son.
Frowning, she stepped closer and pulled at the hem of my skirt and pursed her lips.
“You’re a small four.” Her eyes trailed over me. “With the most amazing bone structure. Shannon, love, it’s a pity you’re not taller. You’d make the most beautiful mod—”
“Jesus Christ, Ma,” Johnny barked, running an exasperated hand through his hair. “She’s not a bleeding doll.”
His mother’s eyes widened in excitement when she said, “Would you like to come see if we can find something for you to wear in my—”
“No, she fucking wouldn’t,” Johnny interrupted as he intercepted his mother and walked her to the door. “She’s not a project, Ma, or a bleeding clothes hanger.”
“Fine,” Mrs. Kavanagh huffed.
“Thank you,” Johnny growled.
Turning to her son, she whispered, “Door open, Jonathan,” and gave him a hard look before walking out of his room, humming softly to herself.
Johnny watched her walk down the hall and out of sight before flinging the door shut and twisting the lock. Exhaling heavily, he turned to look at me.
“Again, I am so fucking sorry about her.” Johnny shrugged helplessly. “I don’t know what’s wrong with that woman today.”
“It’s okay,” I hurried to soothe him. “She’s, uh, she’s very friendly.”
“Yeah,” he muttered. “Just be glad she didn’t drag you into that clothes room.” Shuddering he added, “You’d never get out of there.”
“Really?”
“Oh yeah,” he muttered.
“Oh.”
“Sorry again about the whole sizing-you-up thing,” he said, looking mortified. “She wanted a girl. They were told they were having a daughter, actually.” Grinning sheepishly, he added, “She got me instead.”
“A six-foot-three rugby-playing son,” I mused, smiling back at him. “I can see why you might have thrown her.”
“Yeah.” He chuckled and then pinched his nose in an act of embarrassment. “She and my da wanted a bunch of kids, but it didn’t work out that way for them.” He scrunched his nose up then, obviously thinking about something personal. “Took them a bunch of attempts at IVF or some shite like that.” He shrugged and gestured to himself. “This is what their money got them.”
