"BETROTHED" ✔️

Chapter Forty Two (Pleasant Surprise)

***

As the party went on, everyone had fun except me. I decided to go the dark spot in the garden where Shane and I had gone the last time. I needed to take some air and try to relax.

When I got there, I saw Shane. He was leaning against a tree trunk and looking in the opposite direction. He didn't see me approach him.

"Um, hey." I mumbled. He turned to me.

"Hey. What's up?" he managed a smile.

"Just around. And you?"

"I can be okay."

"I'm not sure. You don't look okay." I murmured. He looked at me. Those grey eyes made me breathless all of a sudden.

"You think?"

"Yeah. What's the problem?"

He silently stared at me.

"You're the problem."

"Shane, do you think it's easy for me?"

"Did I say that?" he asked. I was silent. He stood up straight and tried to walk past me. I caught his arm.

"Where are you going?" I asked confused.

"Far from more mistakes. You should probably do same."

What?

"Shane, why are you telling me this?"

"Because I love you. Don't feel hurt."

I felt my eyes prickle a little.

"You're right "

"Honestly, if I didn't appreciate Sloane as much I do, I wouldn't give a fuck about her feelings and would've probably convinced you to go away with me. I feel horrible for giving her hopes. She's always been my best friend. I don't have the right to hurt her."

"Nor do I. I'm glad you see things that way."

He looked at me.

"I'm not glad." he replied firmly and got out of my grip. He was about leaving when we spotted Sloane at a distance. She was coming towards us.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I came to ask him what was wrong. He doesn't seem well."

"That's what I asked him when we were inside. Anyway, I was looking for you, Shane. I need to talk to you."

"Go ahead."

"Here?"

"Um, I think I should go." I mumbled.

"No stay. I finally want her to listen." she smiled at me. I gulped nervously.

She turned to Shane.

"Honey, " she smiled and caressed his cheek, " I know you're not well and it's the same reason I've not been well for the past days."

I got confused.

"What?" Shane asked

"Shane I–" she looked slightly nervous, "I love you very much."

Oh gawd. I was breaking into pieces from within. But I had to get a hold of myself. Shane stared at her speechless.

"Um I–"

"Shhhhh." she cut him, " But as a brother."

'What?'

My eyes widened and that of Shane too.

"What?"

"Let me finish. I've tried Shane and I know you've tried too. But honey, it's not working." she smiled a little.

Surprisingly, he smiled back. He smiled back? Was I the only one finding the situation awkward and definitely not something to smile about?

"How did you figure it out?" he asked.

"I know you, Shane. I know you too well. And there's a time you got cold at my advances. "

I was lost.

"I swear I didn't know how to approach you." he mused.

Poor Shayenne didn't understand a thing. I was really lost.

"So you're breaking up?" he asked with a smile. She smiled back .

"That's the message."

Shane chuckled.

"Well, thank you."

She laughed.

"Hahahaha, that's why you're the best. Thank you?"

"Yeah. I swear you're taking off some heavy weight from my shoulders. No kidding. The guilt was real." he mused.

"It's a relief for me too. I was afraid to hurt you."

"I was afraid to hurt you too."

"You're like a brother to me."

"And that'll never change."

With a smile he spread his arms and they hugged tight.

I stood there watching in confusion and like a dumbass.

They parted and he smiled mischievously at her.

"So, now that we're just friends, who is he?" he asked, smiling knowingly at her.

Sloane giggled.

"I don't know what you're taking about."

"Oh, cmon. I know you too. Very well. All the weekends you spent away in the name of travelling and Dubai. Who did you go to stay with?" he poked her playfully. She laughed.

"Alright, alright. I'm caught. I was with Deuce."

Shane's eyes widened and mine too.

"Wait, Deuce Crowell?" he asked.

"Yeah."

Deuce was the lead actor in Shane's movie, Summer Disaster.

"Since when?"

" Two weeks."

"Hard." Shane laughed, "Hope he treats you well."

"He's alright. Not as good as you in bed yet, but I'll teach him."she joked.

My brows shot up.

"Sloane Donovan, you'll never change." he smiled.

"Exactly." she laughed.

She smiled and then turned to me.

"Shane?" she called though her eyes didn't leave mine.

"Yeah?"

"I noticed how Shayenne looks at you all the time."

My mouth dropped slightly open. She smiled.

"W– what?" I stammered.

"Don't worry dear, I know. Just convince Shane to love you back because I don't know how to read his feelings. But I know he's got a sift spot for you." she hugged me, then Shane. "See you two later."

I stood speechless as she walked away. That was the most friendly break up ever.

"Did you just hear all that?" Shane asked amused.

"Uh..."

He smiled.

"Come here." he pulled me so fast that I  soon found myself in his arms.

"Shane–"

"Shhh, no barriers this time."

And before I could say another word, Shane kissed me slow and nice. I melted against him. Oh, I'd missed this.

It still seemed so unreal.

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