Defusing the bomb, Anna thought.Please let it blow up. Let it blow everything up.
“Are you kidding me? Do you know what I’ve offered to give up for you? Half a ranch, a huge wad of cash and potentially my career. They’ll fire one of us when they find out.” Her voice was furious and loud. Very loud.
Shane tensed at that. It must be hurtful being seen as a payday, she thought. And she knew that from bitter experience.
“You haven’t given anything up yet. We can walk away, both of us. No harm. What do you want me to do here?” His voice was now pleading.
“You know what I want. Leave Anna and her Heidi bullshit behind. Be with me. This is just a teething problem, and you know it. We’re tense as fuck because of the secrecy. The pressure is making us crack,” April said, her voice turning from harsh to soft. What was the Heidi reference, Anna wondered.
“Here, baby come on, let me help you feel better,” she cooed.
The voices became fainter. They’d obviously moved inside. And Mason had obviously followed willingly. It wasn’t the stab in the heart she thought it would be.
“Fuck this,” Shane said. “They seem too happy. Ready for Rosa’s revenge?” he asked, referencing something she’d told him the car.
“Definitely. Got the spare phone?”
He handed her an old work phone that had no current owner. The number wouldn’t be in either April’s or Mason’s contacts.
Anna sent a message from her phone to the spare phone, then took it from Shane. Done. Who could have a better friend than Rosa? She’d taken a headless semi-nude that she was very proud of. “I have a good ass, I know it,” she’d said. “The thought of being in Mason’s wank bank is foul, but I’ll take the hit for you.” An original shot would ensure Mason couldn’t reverse Google image search the very sexual photo to placate April or claim it was a fake message.
Missing you, Mason. Let me know when Anna’s gone and I’ll come over for another dick appointment. *image attached*
With great satisfaction, Anna hit send. Hopefully their balcony door was still open. What good was dropping such a catastrophic bomb if she couldn’t hear the fallout? Sweet merciful God, their doors were still open. She heard his phone ping.
Silence. Then a shrill voice.
“What is it? Show me,” April demanded.
“I don’t know what it is, I swear,” Mason responded desperately.
She must have snatched his phone, or he willingly showed her (doubtful).
“Who the fuck is this, Mason? I can’t fucking believe you. Three of us? I believed you weren’t still fucking Anna, but you’re definitely giving it to this bitch! You’ll regret this. I promise you! Shane won’t tolerate you messing around with me. You’re dead,” she seethed.
Anna turned to Shane, who smirked and shrugged. He couldn’t be less bothered by Mason’s actions with April. Was he supposed to bothered by his wife’s secret lover cheating on her with yet another woman?
“I swear, I don’t know who this is. Maybe Lilah? Using a different phone?” His voice was high pitched, and you could almost feel his desperation through the walls. Was he nervous about losing April or was he nervous about the havoc she could wreak upon his life?
“Doesn’t look like Lilah. This woman is toned as fuck. Is that what you want? Toned with a big booty?”
“No, I swear. I don’t know who that is and I haven’t been with Anna since I’ve been with you.”
Anna looked at Shane and bitterly shook her head.What a lying asshole.
“Whatever. You’re on the sofa tonight. I’m going to bed. Use the night to sort yourself the fuck out. And stop lying to me!”
Shane and Anna, though well and truly behind the French doors, took another step back when they heard Mason move onto the balcony.
Anna’s heart softened, the slightest bit, when she heard sobbing. Mason was crying. He was out on the balcony crying. She hardened her heart. Potentially losing his lover must be upsetting, she thought bitterly.
Chapter 21: Shane/Mason—Messy lunches and new beginnings
Shane
After the awkward tension last night, Shane and Anna had watched some television and gone to bed. The same bed. They had stayed on their own sides, though he had itched to reach out and touch her many times during the night. She slept on her side, shifting from facing the wall to facing him several times throughout the night. They were less than an arm’s length apart. She fell asleep easily and quickly. He could sense she’d been tired. Weeks of emotional anguish would do that. At one point, he reached across and touched her soft hair. She turned away, mumbling in her sleep.
He hadn’t slept well. Sexual frustration and constant rumination had ruined his sleep, but not his peace. Lying next to Anna while she slept was peaceful. Comforting. Despite her being out to the world, being next to her felt companionable. He didn’t feel alone after feeling alone for so long.
