AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Break it down for me.”
“It’s like… You know that mad, desperate feeling to get there?” he explained, continuing when I nodded. “Well, it kind of switches up into a mad urge to get her there.” He scratched his jaw as he thought about it for a moment. “It’s like everything you used to care about switches into something deeper. Like your needs go on the back burner because your focus has switched to her.”
“Jesus, that sounds terrifying.”
“It is,” he wholeheartedly agreed. “And it’s not just a mental thing, either, lad. It runs deeper. It expands beyond the mental and emotional to the physical, and then, because she’s good, it’s better than it’s ever been before.”
“So, for you, being with little Shannon is the best it’s ever been because of the feelings?”
“Because of the feelings,” he confirmed with a smirk. “Messed up, huh?”
Sighing heavily, I folded my hands across my chest and stared up at his bedroom ceiling. “Yeah, so I think I have a similar affliction.”
Johnny chuckled knowingly. “You’re only figuring that out now?”
“What can I say?” I sighed heavily. “I’m a slow learner.”
“Nah, Gibs,” he mused. “You’re a lot smarter than you give yourself credit for.”
“Clearly not,” I argued. “Considering she’s going out with someone else.”
“Then do something about it,” Johnny urged. “Change the narrative.”
“Change the what?”
“Go get your girl, Gibs!”
42
Second Thoughts
CLAIRE
“Do we really think this is a good idea?” I asked Lizzie as we wandered aimlessly through the lingerie section of the department store after school on Friday, after inviting ourselves along on our other bestie’s mother and daughter shopping trip.
“Yes, we really do.”
“And Jamie really said all those nice things about me.”
“Hand on my heart.”
“I don’t know, Liz.” I shrugged helplessly. “Maybe I should cancel.”
“Well, I do, Claire. I know, and I am so proud of you,” Lizzie praised, linking arms with me. “Seriously, you’re doing the right thing here and no way in hell are you canceling.”
“But it’s so soon,” I groaned. “He’s supposed to be picking me up at eight o’clock tonight.”
“Good,” Lizzie encouraged. “The sooner, the better.”
“How’d you figure?”
“Because the longer you’re left to your own devices, the more you’ll try to talk yourself out of it.”
“And you really think going to the cinema with Jamie is a good idea?”
“Yes, Claire, I really do.”
“Okay,” I replied, chewing on my bottom lip as I tried to battle with the wave of doubt cresting like a tidal wave inside of my belly. “Let’s hope so.”
