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Chloe approached us with somewhat unsteady steps and pointed back and forth between our heads. “I didn’t know anything about this.”

“Oh! Chloe didn’t know what?” Shane’s laugh was dirty.

I wasn’t quite sure how to react.

Chloe tapped his nose and Shane growled at her playfully.

She narrowed her eyes. “I always know everything. This must be new.”

“Totally new,” Shane continued nonchalantly. “We’ve only known each other since June.”

I flinched. I knew he was messing with her, but somehow this description seemed eerie to me.

“Nonsense! Never!” she protested. “You could never have fooled me like that.”

“Once again, you can see how good your instincts really are, dear Chloe! Poor. Completely poor.”

She glared at him so fiercely that I was afraid the sparks flying from her eyes would set me on fire. She took a step toward us, and Shane had the nerve to push me in between the two of them using me as a shield.

“Come on!” I protested, but Shane ignored me.

Chloe shook her head. “You’re a terrible boyfriend, Shane. Shame on you!”

My blood ran cold. Boyfriend. How could she use that word so casually?

Shane didn’t seem to notice my inner turmoil at all. “I’m not. I’m the best. Say it, Ruben! Help me out here.”

Fortunately, the two of them were preoccupied with each other that they didn’t expect me to answer. I wouldn’t have known what to say, anyway. We weren’t even together. Or were we? Shane was just messing around. Right? I had already gotten myself completely caught up in this and been overwhelmed by the situation. But this time, I would go into it with my eyes wide open.

What situation? What did I know about what Shane wanted to do in six months? I didn’t even know what I wanted to do myself. Damn.

Above all, it was getting obvious that I was more interested in Shane’s plans than my own. That wasn’t good.

I was officially overwhelmed.

The thought stayed with me for the rest of the evening. What did I want? Should I enjoy the moment and let things happen?

That wasn’t me. It went against every fiber of my being. The way I worked, the way I prepared my workplace to be ready for any eventuality that evening, was the way I lived. But that wasn’t always possible. I knew that.

Running away gave me a sense of control.

But control over what? Over being alone?

The thought was not at all desirable, with Shane’s words still fresh in my mind.

Later, as we lay in the beds that were still pushed together provisionally, he had already closed his eyes.

“Didn’t Chloe’s comments bother you?” I suddenly had to know.

Shane’s eyelids twitched slightly, but he didn’t open them. “Nah. She talks all day long. You don’t have to take Chloe too seriously.”

While I was still thinking about what to make of this statement, Shane’s breathing deepened. His chest rose and fell slowly.

If his words were meant to reassure me, they had missed their mark.