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“Johnny, I’ll come back,” I coaxed, exhaling a trembling breath. “I promise I’ll come back, okay?”
I tried to pull my hand free from his, but he wouldn’t let go. He was shaking his head and looking up at me with big, wide, high-as-a-kite eyes.
“I have to go,” I repeated, feeling completely torn. “I’m so sorry.”
“I’ll come with you,” he announced, and then proceed to use one hand to rip at his wires.
“Stop that,” I ordered, capturing his rogue hand with my free one. “You’ll hurt yourself.”
“I want you,” he groaned, pulling at my arms. “Just you.”
At a loss, I glanced up at his parents, who were watching our little wrestling match.
Mr. Kavanagh simply shook his head and led a snickering Gibsie out of the room.
“I’ll go,” I promised Mrs. Kavanagh. “I just need to—” My words broke off when Johnny wrapped his arms around my waist and clung to me.
“You are a lizard,” I muttered in despair, feeling his mother’s eyes on my face.
“Take the lights away and stay with me, Shannon like the river.”
“I’m so sorry about this,” I strangled out as I tried and failed to free myself from his hold. “I’ll just be a minute—”
“Stay with him.”
My gaze snapped up. “Huh?”
“There’s no point in agitating him,” Mrs. Kavanagh stated quietly, gaze locked on her son, who was currently nuzzling my stomach. “If you feel comfortable staying with him, Shannon, then you can stay.”
I didn’t want to leave him. Not back in the changing room at Royce. And not now.
Not ever.
Nodding slowly, I whispered, “I’ll take care of him.”
“Okay, then.” Mrs. Kavanagh sighed heavily. “I’ll be back in a bit.”
And then she turned around and left the room.
“You are in trouble with me,” I told Johnny once the door had clicked shut, leaving us alone together. “When you’re back to your senses, we’re going to talk about what you just did.”
“I don’t care,” he slurred groggily. “I got what I wanted.”
“And what was that?” I asked. “To embarrass your mother?”
“You,” he slurred. “I got you.”
Oh god. My heart.
“Johnny, you’re saying strange things right now,” I murmured.
And you need to stop.
Because it hurts.
“Look at that face,” he whispered, staring up at me with a peculiar expression. “I’m gonna keep you.”
“Okay.” Relenting to his madness, I coaxed him to lie back on his pillow. “You can keep me.”
