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Resting against the velvet padding interior was a tiny silver locket with the date30.08.99on the front.
“That date…” I blew out a shaky breath. “It’s—
“The first day of first year,” he explained quietly. “The first time I laid eyes on you, and the first time I understood what it meant to have my heart beating for someone outside of my family.”
My heart squeezed so tight in my chest it was hard to breathe. “Joe.”
"When I say I don’t love you," he continued, nuzzling his face in my neck. “It’s the furthest thing from the truth.”
Love.
He was talking aboutlovingme.
“It’s okay, Joe,” I whispered, fastening the locket around my neck. “I’m used to your denial by now. I already know how you feel.”
“Yeah, but you shouldn’t have to be used to it, Molloy. I hear you say the words, and I know that I feel it back. I do. But I just…” He shook his head in frustration. “I just don’t know how tonotdo it.”
“Not do what, Joe?”
“Reject human affection.”
My heart.
My poor, poor heart.
It’s because of your shitty parents.
Because they treat you like a dog instead of a son.
“It’s okay,” I croaked out, shifting closer until I was snuggled up to his chest. “We can handle the words the same way we handle sex.” Pressing a kiss to his chest, I whispered, “Except in this instanceyouset the pace, and I’ll fall in line.”
“That sounds like a plan,” he agreed gruffly.
“Yeah.” I closed my eyes and sighed in contentment. “It does.”
COFFEE WITH MARIE
OCTOBER 3RD 2004
AOIFE
“This is a bad idea,Molloy. A really fucking bad idea. Jesus, how did I let you talk me into even considering this?”
Standing in his driveway, with my hand firmly clamped in his, Joey glared at the bricks of his house like he was sizing up a mortal enemy.
“Every instinct I have inside of me is demanding that I get you as far away from shithole as possible.”
My heart broke.
This wasn’t easy for him.
In fact, this was quite possibly the most riled up I’d seen him behave in a while.
It was unsettling, and I offered him a reassuring squeeze. “It’s going to be okay.”
“No, it’s not.” He shook his head sadly. “You don’t know what you’re letting yourself in for with those people.”
I looked up at him. “Those people?”
