“Sounds good.”
There was a movie theater close by,just a few blocks from Coffee Beans & Love. Without even talking about it, we decided to walk. Shane fell in line beside me, his hand brushing mine every so often. Getting a sense of bravery, I closed my fingers around his and held his hand tightly in mine. He looked up at me,questions dancing in his eyes. I shrugged, giving him a small smile.
He returned that smile and gave my hand a squeeze. I had a moment of fear, thinking that he would actually let go of my hand, push me away, and cancel the movie. But he didn’t.
“I was wondering if you’d be interested in starting over. This date could be like we had just met,” Shane suggested, shrugging.
“So that means we never had sex.”
Shane laughed, shaking his head. “No, that means we get to do it for the first time again.”
I grinned, liking the sound of that.
Shane’s laugh deepened, sending a flutter through my stomach. I enjoyed making him laugh. I also enjoyed when he smiled. It lit up his face, as cliché as that sounded, and made everythingrightin this world, seem almost nonexistent. He was kind, passionate, a hard worker, and I could easily fall for him.
“I thought about what you said.” Shane coughed. “About Brady I mean.” He took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “I do still have feelings for him, but I don’t think it’s the way you assume I do. He’s my best friend. Noah and Presley are as well. They’re my family.”
“I can understand that. Manny and Kyle are my best friends, so I feel the same toward them. Even though they drive me fucking crazy half the time.”
“I’m the one who told Brady to go for it with Cam.”
My head whipped around. “Really?”
Shane nodded. “He went out for dinner by himself and saw Cam looking at him. I told Brady to go for it and to have some fun.”
“And look what happened. My son found the man of his dreams.” I liked Cam from the very beginning. Met him years ago when he approached me about teaming up for some of our businesses. At first, I had no idea he was fucking my boy.
“He did and I hope to find my own some day,” Shane said softly.
“Look, I…Fuck it.” I tugged Shane’s hand, spinning him around until he crashed into my front. Slamming my mouth down hard on his, I gave his bottom lip a gentle bite.
He moaned, slipping his tongue between my lips. He latched on to my shirt, pulling me even closer.
“Slow down, baby boy.” I broke the kiss, placing a soft peck on his forehead. “I didn’t mean to do that, but I wanted you to know that I’m here. I’m just here.”
He nodded, looking up at me with lust in his eyes and a rosy tint to his cheeks. “I’m here too.”
“Good.” I pulled away from Shane. “Now let’s go see that movie.”
TWELVE
Shane
Rhett and I endedup seeing an action movie that was new to both of us. It had some big actors in it with lots of explosions and deaths. It was perfect and kept our minds off of each other.
When the movie was over, he drove me home. Once we pulled up in front of the apartment building I lived in, he killed the engine and gripped the steering wheel tight.
“I’m giving you an out.”
My head whipped around. “What?”
“I’m giving you an out,” he repeated, keeping his gaze straight ahead. “If this is too weird because of Brady, I get it. It’s weird for me too. But...”
“It’s not. Not for me anyway. But if it is for you...” I was really regretting my life choices at the moment. Brady and I never should have fucked but we had been bored. One thing led to another, and we began sleeping together for months. At one point I thought he was the one, but I learned quickly that it was just sex. No matter how much I wished at the time that it wasn’t.
“It’s not,” Rhett muttered but he still wouldn’t look at me.
I nodded, opening the passenger door. “Thank you for the movie and for driving me home. See you later, Rhett.” Before he could say anything, I left his vehicle and closed the door. Making my way to the apartment building, I didn’t bother looking behind me to see if Rhett was following me. The sound of his engine starting was an answer enough all on its own.
