Love Thy Neighbor

Chapter 15

The morning after Christmas-tree-day, Shawn comes by for coffee. He brings doughnuts.

"So I see the Instagram post got your fans in a frenzy," I mention as we sit on my couch, half a dozen doughnuts later.

Shawn laughs, "Yeah, but no one seems to know what to think."

"Wearing pajamas was probably a mistake," I suggest. "I think people jumped to conclusions about the mystery person sleeping over."

"We know the truth, though," he says. "That's all that matters. And no one knows who you are, so at least you are spared from any of the obnoxious comments."

The obnoxious comments are there even if they aren't directed at me personally. It makes me wonder what it would be like if we ever became a couple and went public. It seems like half of his fans hate anyone he has even the remotest interest in, and the other half go a bit crazy shipping him with whomever he is currently seen out with. Where are the people who are chill and don't really care? Why does being a fan seem to turn so many people obsessive? I really should talk to Elsie about this, since she's a fan. I might not want to know which type she is.

Before Shawn leaves, he asks me about the rest of my day. I have no plans.

"Want to come to Pickering with me? Sunday dinner is always good at my folks' house."

How can I turn down an offer like that?

On the car ride there, he tells me about his high school girlfriend, what their relationship was like, and why it eventually ended. There are many similarities between their relationship and the one I'd been in. For one thing, there was the whole 'first everything' scenario for both. The break-ups were very different, though. Instead of one person breaking the other's heart in two, which I'd experienced, they had grown apart because of his career and demanding schedule. He didn't have any bitterness towards her, and I envied him that.

Dinner is wonderful. The Mendes family shares many stories with me about younger Shawn. The bulk of these are embarrassing, which makes them even more enjoyable.

I learn how he got the scar on his cheek, how his parents knew he snuck out a few times, even though he thought he had ninja-like skills, and how he was was horribly moody in middle school.

Shawn leans over to me after his mom finishes the last tale and whispers in my ear, "Someday I am going to meet your parents and payback will be a bitch."

I shake my head because I know that if he were to meet them, it would be true.

"Remind me to never introduce you, then," I say.

We drive back to downtown Toronto. It's snowing lightly but I feel secure with Shawn. I realize as we're driving on the dark quiet highway, listening to Jon Bellion, that I am totally relaxed with him. I still don't really know where things are going, but for now, things feel pretty great.

At my door, Shawn takes me in his arms for a hug.

"Thanks for giving me another chance," he says into my hair.

I pull my head back and look up into his beautiful brown eyes. "I think it's me that should be thanking you."

And then I just know he's about to kiss me. He looks at my lips and then back at my eyes. I bite my bottom lip instinctively. He leans in, closing his eyes. I close mine, too. It feels like an eternity before his lips reach mine, though it was probably less than a second. His lips are soft and warm. And so gentle. The kiss starts out light and feathery, but deepens slightly as he pulls me closer to him. It's the perfect first kiss.