LWP 13

Chapter 9

A couple days later, Johnny seemed to be letting his guard down around Finn. The sun was out and the snow that locked us in was melting away. By now, it was almost gone and newscasters declared it safe to drive. Johnny hadn't kicked Finn out so even though he was acting stern still, I knew he didn't mind him being around.

While we were out at the store, however, I interrogated him. "How er ya an' Finn getting' along?"

He rolled his eyes. "Just fine, I suppose. How does chicken sound for dinner tonight?"

"No problems with him datin' me before?"

"The chicken?"

"No, Johnny. Ah mean, yes, chicken would be great. But Finn."

He sighed to the chicken. "I'm getting over it."

"Yes, Ah know he was a convict an' he hasn't been proven innocent yet but Ah know he's guilty."

"Oh you do, do you?" He smirked then pointed an accusing finger at me. "Then perhaps you are the killer!"

I gasped jokingly and struck a dramatic pose. "Ah was framed, Ah tell ya! It was the butler!"

"Dun dun da!" He laughed. "What a plot twist!"

I laughed with him. "Or perhaps... It was the chicken!"

Johnny gasped then we both laughed. We looked around to see people staring at us. Some annoyed, others amused. I got shy and backed up a bit. Johnny chuckled with a hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry about them, Deer." He knelt to whisper in my ear, "They're jealous of us."

I smiled. "Like ya when Finn first came by?"

He flushed, somehow paler than normal. "I..."

I chuckled. "So ya were jealous! Ah knew it!"

He stood straight. "Fine. Fine. I was just a tad jealous."

"A tad? Ya were sassy ta ma dad when ya met him cause ya thought we dated."

"To be fair, he does look much younger than he is and is a very nice looking man."

"If he was ma biological father, then maybe Ah wouldn't be so pale."

"And somehow better looking than you already are. I don't know where you got it. Neither Jeb, nor your mother are that good looking."

I nodded. "You're right. But I can't compare to you."

He smiled, lifting my face, and shook his head. "That's a lie." His lips met mine. "You're perfect. And I will never let you get away."