I grinned, wiping at my own eyes. “Takes one to know one.”
Milo, clearly sensing the emotional peak of the moment, got up from his spot and trotted over to Shane. He nudged his head under Shane’s hand, tail wagging. Shane gave a wet chuckle and knelt to scratch behind Milo’s ears.
“I’m gonna miss you too, you sweet bastard,” he muttered. “Don’t let her gaslight you into thinking she’s in charge.”
Milo leaned in harder, like he understood. He probably did.
The screen door creaked behind me. I turned to see Beau step out, drying his hands on a dishtowel, his eyes landing on us.
“Y’all cryin’ out here?” he asked.
“No,” Shane said instantly.
“Yes,” I said at the same time.
Beau’s mouth twitched, biting back a smile. He came to stand beside me and slipped an arm around my waist. I leaned into him without thinking, comforted by the warmth and weight of him at my side.
“You done packin’?” he asked Shane.
Shane stood up, brushing gravel off his jeans. “More or less. The cooler’s a lost cause. I’m gonna have to sacrifice a few t-shirts to make it fit.”
“You want help?” Beau asked.
Shane hesitated. “Nah. If I let you fix it, I’ll never learn.”
Beau nodded like that was fair.
There was a beat of silence, not awkward, just full. Full of everything that had been said and everything that hadn’t. The wind picked up, rustling the trees, sending a few dry leaves skittering down the drive.
“Well,” Shane said. “Guess this is it.”
“Guess so,” I murmured.
He looked at me one last time. Then he leaned in and hugged me again, tighter than before.
“I love you, Noelle,” he said into my hair. “Always will.”
“I love you too, Shane.”
He pulled back, gave Milo one more pat, and offered Beau a firm handshake—more than a handshake, really.
“You take care of her,” Shane said. “And if you suddenly switch sides and decide Noelle isn’t your type anymore…I’d better be the first person you call.”
Beau let out a quiet laugh. “Noted.”
Shane nodded solemnly, then turned back to the car and gave the back hatch one final shove. Miraculously, it stayed closed this time. He looked up at me, almost sheepish.
“You’ll call if anything weird happens?” he asked.
I tilted my head. “So…like tomorrow?”
He grinned. “Fair. Just…don’t forget about me.”
“Never could,” I said. “You’re my favorite pain in the ass.”
“And you’re mine.”
He opened the driver’s side door and paused, his hand on the frame like he wasn’t quite ready to cross that threshold yet.
