Chapter One-Hundred and Ninety-Five
Clarissa shook her head, smiling at the sight of John passed out on the couch with Claire resting on his chest. "How long has he been sleeping?" She whispered, noticing how John's arms wrapped tighter around Claire's waist at her voice.
Claire looked at her watch, settling deeper into John's warm embrace. "Maybe an hour."
Thomas smiled, making John let go of Claire before he gently woke him to take him to bed. "Come on, Kiddo, bed time." He pulled John to his feet, knowing that John was far too heavy to be carried to bed anymore.
John groaned, taking Claire's hand as he limped up the stairs to his bedroom. "Sweets…"
John leaned back in his desk as Spanish class started, choosing to doodle in his textbook instead of pay attention. He already knew everything in this class anyway, and without Dominic being there with him, it was even more boring than it had been. He jumped when Toby tapped his shoulder, turning to look at the blond. "What?" He asked, still on edge from his nightmare he'd had the night before.
Toby backed off a little, placing a drawing that his sister had done on his desk. "Emma wanted me to see if you guys would sign this for her."
John gave a little smile, patting Chance's hips as she rolled over in her sleep. "Sure thing, man." He picked up a pen, scribbling his initials onto the paper.
"Johnathan." Miss Hernandez called, raising a brow at the boys. "I know that your album has blown up, but I really need you to focus on this."
John nodded, laughing as Chance jerked awake from her dream of chasing something. "Yes, Ma'am."
Frank chuckled as John rolled up to the shop, shaking his head as he saw that Chance was wearing her own motorcycle goggles. "Hey, Chancie." He smiled, patting the pooch on the head as John took his helmet off and ruffled his hair. "How's the family?"
John smirked, pulling the engagement ring from his pocket. "We're all good." He popped the box open, showing Frank the diamond. "There's about to be a future Mrs. Bender."
Frank grinned, patting John on the shoulder. "Good for you, kiddo." He touched the ring, his heart aching as he thought about how he couldn't even afford a real wedding for he and Julia.
Chad jumped when John dropped a wrench, slamming the back of his head on the hood of the truck he was working on. "God damnit, John!" He held the back of his head in his hand, glaring at John as he picked up the tool. "Don't drop shit!"
John nodded, walking over to the model T Ford he was working on. "PMS?" He smirked with the joke.
"Fuck off John." Chad snapped, pulling on the belt that needed replaced.
John held his hands up, stepping over Chance as she napped beside him. "Dude, you've been way on edge lately." He pushed Chance's bone to the side, starting back to his work. "You're worse than I was when I was high all the time."
"Just work on the car, Kid." He ordered, trying to ignore the anxiety coursing through his veins.