A Sense of Guilt ✔

Chapter 10

Shannon had been on another date with Donnie and even she couldn't play it off as friends just getting together, however she felt a little apprehensive. She couldn't deny he was attractive, and she enjoyed his company but she wasn't certain it could go any further.

'So are you taking a date to Joe's wedding?' Donnie asked as he drove them towards her apartment.

'Good lord, I haven't thought that far ahead,' she said laughing but that was a lie, she'd thought about the wedding many times. She hadn't officially received her invitation, and she held onto the hope that when Katherine and Joe came to the final numbers she wouldn't make the cut.

Donnie raised his eyebrow. 'You really haven't thought that far ahead?'

She grimaced, he knew her too well. 'Do you wanna come up for a nightcap?' she asked instead. If he'd been any old date she wouldn't have offered but he was a friend, so it seemed rude not to ask.

'Yeah sure,' he said parking up and cutting the engine.

'You know I can't actually believe Joey is getting married,' Shannon said as they entered her apartment. She made her way to the kitchen, instantly locating a bottle of wine and two glasses.

'Why's that?' Donnie asked taking a rather large glass of wine from her.

'I don't know,' she murmured 'I probably still see him as the teenage boy who was almost scared of girls.'

Donnie chucked. 'Nah he was just scared of you.'

'Yeah he was, wasn't he?' she said her words starting to slur. 'You know I had to make all the moves to get him to you know what, cos he was like this good Catholic boy.'

'To get him to 'you know what'?' Donnie laughed. 'How old are you Shan?'

She cocked her head to one side. 'I'm not crude like you Donnie.'

'No? Well maybe you should be,' he said grabbing her around the waist and pulling her closer to him.

'Donnie...' she said uncertainly, knowing he was about to kiss her. She stood frozen in his arms as his lips met hers, and she braced herself for a crushing kiss. However, he kissed her softly until she found herself responding, wrapping her arms around his neck. When they broke apart she looked at him almost nervously.

'Joe was a fool for letting you go,' he said.

'Donnie I...' She hesitated not knowing what she wanted to say.

'It's ok, I know you don't want to rush into anything,' Donnie said and she felt some of the tension leave her.

'It's not cos of Joey, it's just my ex, things ended badly...'

'Shannon you can tell me when you're ready to, if you want, right now I'm just enjoying your company,' Donnie said sounding heartfelt.

'Wow when did you get all mature,' she said with a small laugh, relief flooding through her.

'I've got a few years on you remember.'

'Yes but if you recalculate your man years to my woman years I bet I'm twice as old,' she said with a giggle.

'Well I did say I wanted a cougar,' he joked and she slapped him playfully. They took their drinks and went into the sitting room.

'You can stay on the sofa tonight if you want,' she offered. He was her friend and she wasn't going to turf him out, especially when he'd been drinking and was in no state to drive. However, she wanted to make it clear that she wasn't up for a one night stand either.

'Thanks,' he said picking up on what she wasn't telling him. 'I do like you Shan, but I won't push it.' She smiled at him almost hoping that she would fall for him.