Page 96 of Redeeming 6

“Who?”

“That’s the lad Shannon has her eye on.”

“The one you said beat up Ciara Maloney’s boyfriend?”

“That’s the one.”

“Well, go Shannon,” I said, taking in the sight of the ridiculously attractive boy, who was making a ridiculously unattractive attempt at swallowing a quarter pounder in two bites. “He’s a little ridey, isn’t he?”

Joey snorted in disgust.

“Don’t worry,” I teased, patting his chest. “The steroid-head look doesn’t appeal to me.”

“No?”

“Nope.” Grinning up at him, I added, “I’m more into the lean, mean, cocaine-snorting machine type.”

He smirked. “Funny.”

“Let’s go say hi.”

“What?” Joey gaped at me like I’d grown three heads. “Why would we say hi?”

“Because he could be your future brother-in-law.”

His brow furrowed. “Like fuck.”

“Come on.” I laughed, catching ahold of his hand. “Live a little—but be nice about it. Don’t even think about scaring him off your sister.”

“She could do better.”

“She could do a lot worse,” I said, laughing. “Go on, Joe. Go and say hi to him.”

He gaped at me. “Why me?”

I shrugged. “Because she’s your sister, not mine.”

“So?”

“So, shut up and do it already!”

“Why am I constantly being ruled by the women in my life?” Joey muttered, trailing after me. “Johnny Kavanagh?”

“No pictures tonight, kids,” the boy replied, shoulders slumped. “Johnny’s on a time-out.”

Joey gave me a look that said What a dickhead.

I gave him an encouraging nod.

“I spoke to you on the phone the other week,” Joey offered, giving me a pointed look. “You know my sister, Shannon. You dropped her home.”

The boy’s attention quickly sparked to life at the sound of Shannon’s name, and I watched the fog dissipate from his steel-blue eyes.

“You’re the hurler.” Johnny straightened his brick-shithouse shoulders. “Joey.” Smiling proudly to himself, he added, “Shannon like the river, and Joey the hurler.”

Joey gave me a what-the-fuck look.

I choked out a laugh in response. “Like the river?” I grinned. “God, how much have you had to drink?”

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