Book 1: Echoes Of The Past

Chapter 43 - Revelations

Jared stood there with his hands on his hips and watched as Ivy walked out after Shannon. He exhaled deeply. What a shitshow this was about to become.

Ivy followed out after Shannon and the motion of her walking outside triggered the sensor of his outside light, which sprung to life, casting a golden glow about the decking.

She looked about, and finally spotted the glowing end of a cigarette in the eerie darkness and crossed over to Shannon.

He was leaning on the railings of his veranda, looking out over the lake that was now illuminated by the moon casting down its silver gleam and hitting the ripples on the water.

Hesitating for a while, Ivy tried to think carefully about what to say to Shannon, as he was clearly distressed about what had just gone down.

Taking a deep breath, she made her way over to him and lightly placed a hand on his forearm. She felt him flinch under her touch and he hesitated in bringing his cigarette to his mouth.

She didn't say anything for a while; just gave him some space and some time, softly rubbing his forearm with her hand, before moving it across to his back and soothingly running it over the vast muscular expanse.

Eventually, Shannon turned his head to look at her, but didn't say a word. The fire that usually burnt in his eyes was completely gone and she could only see sadness.

Moving to stand closer to him, she slid her arms around his waist from behind, and rested the side of her head on his back.

"I don't deserve you Ivy." He muttered, still looking out ahead at the lake.

He took one more drag of his cigarette before stubbing it out and placing the butt in a nearby ashtray.

"I just don't like seeing you so sad, Shan." She stood on tiptoe and kissed his neck.

He slid a hand behind himself to rest it on her thigh and stroked it, before sighing deeply.

Suddenly pushing himself away from the banister, he reached out and grabbed one of her hands.

"Come with me."

"Where are we going?"

"Somewhere I go to think."

"That's great Shan, but could you elaborate maybe?"

He chuckled and made his way back inside the house, dragging Ivy after himself.

Jared was sat on his couch, frantically typing away on his phone, he looked up when he saw the two of them come rushing in.

"We're going out and I want you gone when I get back." Shannon snapped at his younger brother, snatching up his truck keys from where Ivy had placed them on his kitchen island.

"W-what? Where-" Jared looked completely confused.

Shannon ignored him and proceeded to still drag Ivy after himself towards his front door.

"Shannon! Wait! I haven't got any shoes on!" Ivy exclaimed.

"You don't need any, I'll carry you." He opened his front door and then proceeded to lean down and quickly swept Ivy off her feet.

"Shannon! Put me down!" She exclaimed, laughing.

"You said you didn't have any shoes on, so I thought I'd carry you to my truck. Hold on." He got to his truck and cracked open the passenger door and set her down in the seat. "Buckle up."

Jared came rushing to Shannon's front door.

"Shan! What-where are you going?" He made to run down the steps into the driveway, but Shannon was already busy climbing into the driver's seat.