Part 21 (1/2)

drugs. Just as he'd had no idea, until he had slipped into her, there

on the floor with the candles guttering in their own wax, that it was

her first encounter with s.e.x.

She'd wept a little. Instead of making him feel guilty, her tears had

brought out feelings of protectiveness. He'd fallen completely, and

somehow poetically, in love. That had been more than a year ago, but he

had never been with another woman during that time. Whenever the

temptation came strongly, he would see Bev's face.

The marriage had been for her, and the child, his child, she carried.

He didn't believe in marriage, the foolishness of a contract on love,

but he didn't feel trapped. For the first time since his miserable

childhood, he had something more than music to comfort and excite him.

I love you more than anything.

No, he couldn't say that to her with the ease and honesty she could say

it to him. He probably would never be able to say that to her. But he

did love, and where he loved, he was loyal.

”Come on, my lad.” Barely rousing him, Johnno dragged Brian to his feet.

”It's bed for you.”

”Bev's coming, Johnno.”

Brow lifted, Johnno glanced over his shoulder at the tangle of bodies.

”So's everyone else.”

”She'll meet us in New York.” With a half-laugh, Brian slung a rubbery

arm around Johnno's neck. ”We're going to New York, Johnno. New

tucking York. Because we're the best.”

”That's dandy, isn't it?” Grunting only a little, Johnno dumped Brian on

the bed. ”Sleep it off, Bri. We've got to go through the whole b.l.o.o.d.y