Love Thy Neighbor

Chapter 28

Shawn and I could choose to be invisible in Toronto. For one thing, we could stay at home as much as we wanted. It was winter, so it was nice to stay in all the time. Maybe things would be different when it warmed up, since we'd inevitably be spending more time outside, out in the public.

When we went to spend the weekend in New York City to see Hamilton, invisibility was not an option.

It's not like the paparazzi followed us around. Maybe Shawn's not a star of that caliber, or maybe our relationship just isn't newsworthy, but there weren't a bunch of professionals stalking us.

There were, however, dozens of fans tracking Shawn's every move.

Initially we had a hotel right near Times Square and Broadway. Totally convenient.

We were spotted getting out of the cab and walking into the hotel. Pictures were taken. Shawn's location was shared. When we walked out of the hotel door a couple hours later, hoping to walk around the city a bit, there was a crowd of 20 waiting for him.

It should be noted that Shawn does not bring security with him on these private trips. It's just him. And me, in this case. There was not much I could do security-wise, though.

Pictures were taken. Shawn was just as kind and genuine as always. We started to walk away to grab lunch and we were followed. For blocks. It was aggravating.

So now we're in Brooklyn at my Nana's house. I'd called a family member who had a key and she met us and gave it to us. There's no kitchen since it's under construction, but the house is still furnished and in decent shape.

"Jess, I'm so sorry," Shawn says for the tenth time.

"Sorry we aren't at a hotel? Psssh. Hotels are overrated," I say, snuggling closer to him on the couch (or divan, as Nana called it.)

"At least no one knows we're here," he says.

Our first night in the city, we order pizza and watch Netflix on the computer. It's not particularly romantic since it's my grandmother's house. Despite that, Shawn makes a move, and I panic.

"What's wrong, baby?" he whispers in my ear as he tries to unbutton my jeans.

I jump up. "I can't. Not here."

"You are kidding me, right?" he asks with a chuckle.

"It's weird. Like doing it at your parents' house."

"Hold on," he laughs, "You can't do it at your parents' house? Or mine?"

"Neither. You can?"

"I can do it anywhere," he says proudly.

"Maybe we should have stayed at the hotel," I say.

"Naw. This is no big deal. We can even sleep in separate bedrooms if it's so strange for you," he says.

"I'm not that much of a prude, but we're not sleeping together in Nana's bed. We can take the guest room."

So we have a nice (but chaste) weekend, Hamilton being the highlight.
When we get to Toronto on Sunday night, we're eager to get to his condo.

We're in the elevator and Shawn has me pressed against the back wall, kissing me ferociously.

"I should hit the emergency stop button and take you right here," he says in my ear, his voice rough.

"Mmmmhmmm," I moan.

He hits it. An alarm goes off and lights start flashing.

"Oh fuck!" he exclaims, hitting it again to make it stop.

Instead of continuing up to our floor, it goes back down to the lobby where the doorman is standing, looking very concerned. Shawn and I are both bright red.

"So sorry!" Shawn blurts out. "My elbow hit the button!"

After the doorman resets the alarm, Shawn hits our floor's button and the doors slide closed.

We break into hysterics.

"That was a bit embarrassing," I say between giggles.

"Do you think he knows?" Shawn asks.

"Yeah. He knows."

We make it to our floor with no more mishaps. The door opens and we exit. Standing in the hall outside my condo is Jules. She's crying.

Shawn gives me a sympathetic look and says quietly, "I guess I'll see you tomorrow."

Jules rushes into my arms and I take her into my living room and get her situated on the couch with a box of tissues. I pour us each a glass of wine and sit down next to her.

We had not seen each other since New Year's Eve. We'd talked, because after a while she could not avoid my texts or calls. Those talks had been brief and superficial. I honestly have no idea where things stand with the married guy. I quickly find out.

"It's over," she says between sobs.

I take her hand in mine. "I'm so sorry you are hurting, Julesy."

I want to tell her that it's obviously for the best, but I bite my tongue.

"Do you want me to see if Liz can come over?" I ask.

Jules shakes her head. "She hates me for doing this. She sent me a long text about how her dad cheated on her mom and it broke up their family. She thinks cheaters are the lowest of the low."

I tend to agree, based on my own personal experience, but again to refrain from offering judgement.

"Why did it end?" I ask.

"He told me that he was separated. He had an apartment. He said he was in the process of a divorce."

"And?" I ask.

"It was all a lie. I mean, he did have an apartment, but it was for affairs."

"Affairs, plural?"

"Yes!" she wails. After Jules composes herself she continues, "He is never divorcing his wife. They have two small kids. He loves his family."

I pull her in for a long hug.

Jules leaves a couple hours later. It's midnight and I have to be up early tomorrow for work. I really want to see Shawn, though. No, not for the sex we'd been planning on. I want to see him because listening to Jules makes me thankful for how good we have it. Maybe this weekend was not perfect because of his fame (and my hang-ups) but we're pretty devoted to each other. Just each other.

Me: You up?

Shawn: That's booty call talk

Me: I just don't want to sleep alone.

Shawn: Opening the door right now

I cross the hall into his arms.

"Jules okay?" he asks as we walk to his bedroom, our arms around each other.

"Not right now, but she will be."

We crawl into bed and I rest my head on his chest.

"Promise me that if you ever have any desire to cheat, you'll break up with me first," I say quietly.

He kisses my head. "Don't let someone else's bad relationship make you start doubting ours, Jess. We're good. We're happy. You know I love you, right?"

I nod my head and then turn so I am looking up at him. "I love you, too."

"You know what you need right now?" he asks.

I have an idea about what he's going to suggest, but I play innocent.

"What do I need, baby?"

"Sleep."

He gives me another kiss and rolls me over so that he's spooning me. I feel so warm and safe in his arms.

"But we're waking up 15 minutes early tomorrow morning," he says quietly in my ear.