8:27
My head feels like a jackhammer is hammering away on my brain, and my mouth tastes like something crawled inside and died. “It’s too fucking early,” I croak.
“Go away,” I shout when the knocking gets louder.
“Journey! Open this fucking door before I kick it down!”
Stella.“Great.”
Dragging myself out of bed, I stumble to the door, wearing nothing but boxer briefs. When I yank it open, my little sister is standing there with fire in her eyes and two cups of coffee in her hands.
“You look like shit,” she announces, pushing past me.
“Good morning to you too squirt.”
She thrusts one of the coffee cups at me. “Drink this, ya big fat jerk.”
I take the cup gratefully and down half of it in one go, not caring that it burns going down. “Are you here to kick my ass?”
Stella plops down on the edge of my bed, her eyes laser focused. “No. I’m here to tell you to get your shit together and go fix things with June.”
“Sis—“
“I’m serious, Johnny. I spent half the night with June as she cried her eyes out.”
I sink down onto the chair in the corner. “Is she okay?”
“One of your whores shot at her. What do you think?”
“I didn’t—“ I drag a hand over my face. Not much I can say to that. Amy was one of the women I used to hook up with, and she did fire a shot at my girlfriend. “Fuck.”
“You’ve got the emotional intelligence of a doorknob.” She sighs, shaking her head. “But you love her, and she loves you, so you need to fix this.”
“I’m trying to give her space.”
“With anyone else, I’d say yes.”
I arch a brow. “Go on.”
“June has been let down by almost everyone in her life. She needs someone to show up and fight for her.”
I drain the rest of my coffee and set the cup on the dresser, processing my little sister’s advice.
Stella’s face softens. “Johnny, she’s scared. Everything that’s happened in the last few days—it’s a lot for anyone, but especially for someone who’s spent her whole life thinking she has to face everything alone.”
The weight of Stella’s words settles on my shoulders. “I fucked up.”
“Yeah. You did.” She stands and smoothes her hands down her jeans. “So unfuck it.”
“Is that your professional advice?”
A ghost of a smile flickers across her face. “It’s my sisterly advice. Take it or leave it.”
I get to my feet and pull her into a hug. “Love you, squirt.”
“Love you too, dumbass.” She hugs me back, then pushes away with an exaggerated grimace. “Now, please go take a shower. You smell like you fell into a bottle of whiskey.”
Chapter Fifteen
