Needing 13 - Johnny Kavanagh

UNANSWERED QUESTIONS

JOHNNY

"Thanks for this."

Joey looked up at me, the corner of his mouth twitching into a cocky smirk. "Well, I was promised some food." His gaze flicked toward my best friend, who was busy hovering over the stove. "How's my breakfast coming along, Chef Gussie?"

"You'll be begging for more when I'm done, Lynchy."

But, as if on cue, a pungent smell of burning food wafted through the kitchen, causing all heads to turn towards the stove. Gibsie paled slightly and let out a nervous laugh. "Or, uh... maybe not."

"Fucking private school boys," Joey expression soured instantly, shoving my best friend aside. "Used to having everything done for ye." With one swift motion, he dumped the charred remains of whatever culinary experiment Gibsie had botched into the trash. "Gussie, make yourself useful and get me a couple of eggs and bacon, will ya?"

Christ, this fella had some pair of balls, waltzing in and demanding breakfast like he was the king of the place.

"Do me a favor, Kav," Joey called over his shoulder, his voice gruff but laced with something else. Trust, maybe. "Go and check on my sister, will you?"

My heart seemed to trip over itself. "Tara?" I asked, the name slipping out before I could stop myself, betraying my desperation to know where she was.

He shot me a look that quickly killed any of my wishful thinking. "Shannon," he clarified. He reached for a plate off the countertop, quickly piling on several crispy strips of bacon and some eggs. "She's outside in my girlfriend's car."

"Why would you leave her in the car? It's freezing out there, Joey!"

"Because she wouldn't come in for me. You can try and get her to come inside yourself if you want, but she's not budging."

The second the words left his mouth, I was already on my feet, moving toward the front door.

The cold air hit me like a slap as I stepped outside, the sharp breeze biting at my skin. My gaze immediately landed on the scene in front of me: Shannon, my best friend, was sprawled on the wet ground with Mam's two rambunctious dogs, Bonnie and Cupcake, happily trampling all over her. Both dogs were wiggling and wagging their tails like mad, their tongues hanging out as they licked her face and clothes, completely oblivious to the chaos they were causing.

I let out a long, frustrated sigh and pinched the bridge of my nose. Christ, I thought, shaking my head. Mam really needed to teach those two some manners.

"Bonnie! Cupcake! Get off her," I snapped, my voice firm. But naturally, neither dog paid me the slightest bit of attention. Instead, they continued their enthusiastic assault, happy to smother Shannon with love and dirt.

Knowing there was no reasoning with them, I waded into the mess and grabbed my best friend by the armpits, lifting her to her feet with a groan. She stumbled for a moment before steadying herself, her clothes completely ruined by a mixture of mud, rain, and dog slobber.

I pulled her behind me, glancing down at the two dogs who were still bouncing around like they hadn't just knocked someone to the ground. "Alright, you two," I warned, my voice low, "out of the way." When they didn't budge, I snatched up a muddy tennis ball from the grass and launched it across the yard. Instantly, Bonnie and Cupcake shot after it, their paws kicking up clumps of wet earth as they dashed away.

"Sorry about them," I said, grimacing as I took in Shannon's state. Her jumper and tracksuit pants were now a patchwork of mud and dog hair, and there was a streak of slobber on her cheek. "Ah, shite, your sister's going to kill me when she sees you like this."