All These Years

Chapter 4

I left him with a noncommittal answer. He drove me back to my apartment himself where we exchanged numbers and he dropped me off. I finally climbed into my own bed around five am. My mind raced wildly but I quickly fell asleep.

I awoke around noon in my tiny apartment still alone and still thinking of Shane. I closed my eyes and all I could see was his huge 6 foot frame standing by his desk in that dark grey fitted suit. His chestnut, wavy hair falling down over his forehead and The way his arm muscles moved as he pushed it back with his hand. Or the way his grey eyes narrowed as he looked at me.

It had been six years and one look at this man and I was right where I was back in high school falling all over him. I rolled over into my pillows and groaned. I felt like I really needed to consider all I had been told. This definitely wasn't just high school anymore. This was apparently life and death, this was an illegal way of life and it was all or nothing.

I rolled back over grabbing my phone to call my favorite Thai delivery food place. I couldn't think about anything on an empty stomach. I decided I'd spend the day inside eating and thinking before I had to go back to work tomorrow, hopefully before I had to give Shane an answer.

I took a quick shower before my food came and put some black shorts and a grey tee shirt on throwing my long damp black hair into a bun.

Finally a few minutes later there was a knock at the door and I ran to it with cash in hand to collect my food. I tipped the delivery guy and went back to my bed turning on Netflix and opening my noodles.

My phone chimed a few minutes into my Netflix binge. My stomach dropped and I hoped it would be a message from Shane almost as much as I didn't want it to be. I didn't want to answer him yet about a date. But at the same time, I wanted to talk to him. Curiosity got the best of me and I grabbed my phone off my nightstand checking the text.

" hey Thea, it's Shane. Did you get some sleep?"

I could definitely make small talk. That would be easy.

"Yes, finally. I haven't stayed out that late in a long time. Ha"

I had to turn my show back on to keep myself from watching my phone for his response. I knew he was busy. But to my surprise he texted back pretty quick.

" well I hope running into me ended up being a pleasant surprise and that you had some fun. What are you doing now?"

I looked away from my phone. I looked at the half eaten Thai food boxes on my nightstand, my blankets and pillows all roughed up and my disheveled clothes. I was glad I had ran into him after all this time. But I still wanted time to process it all. I hoped he didn't ask me to meet him somewhere today. I was thinking about how different our lives seemed now as well. I lived in a tiny one bedroom apartment alone. While I was very happy and proud of myself because I maintained it all on my own, it was completely different from the life I had walked into last night, the life that Shane lived.

He was clearly well off and had anything he wanted. All I could do was hope that the boy that I grew up with was still there. So I finally responded, telling him what I was doing

"That sounds amazing. I haven't had decent Thai in so long."

I started to relax and our conversation stayed completely small talk. We caught up on the past few years. Mainly what I've been doing, how long I've been at my apartment and my job. Part of me wondering if he already knew the answers if he had the protection order out. But I made myself keep the conversation light. And filed that question for another day. He didn't ask about our date and I was relieved. I wanted to go on a date with him more than anything. I just needed to make sure that I wanted to align myself with all of this. That was a big decision. One I had to force myself to think about instead of just tell him yes.

We finally said goodnight and I went to bed with a smile on my face and Shane on my mind. I dreamt of him that night as well. I woke up for work the following morning restless. Being around Shane, after so long, had made all those feelings rush back all at once and my mending heart was falling all over again.

I tried my best to piece it all together, the death of his father while we were in school, leaving him to take over the 'family business' and his decision to leave me out of this world, subsequently leaving me all together. As hurt as I had been all those years ago, I understood his reasoning now that I knew the full story.

While I got ready for work I couldn't help but think, I knew that I would accept him no matter what. I'd give up whatever was needed in order to be apart of his life.

Walking into the bank to start my day was uneventful. Margo wouldn't stop talking about the party and going on and on about how much fun she had, from what parts she could remember. Thank goodness she didn't remember me leaving, I wasn't going to explain that to her.

When Lunch finally rolled around and I was ready to get away from work completely. Shane filled my every thought and I wanted to see him again. I sent him a text asking him what he was up to and got his response moments later.

'In a meeting, are you on lunch at work yet?' He asked me. His quick response made me smile

'Yes. I was hoping you weren't busy. Honestly I wanted to see you for a little while.'

His second response was longer than his first, but a few minutes later my phone buzzed with his answer.

'I ended my meeting. I'm on my way I'll see you in a moment.'

That wasn't what I expected at all. I knew his business had to be important I didn't think he would be ending meetings to come eat lunch with me in the middle of the day. But then again he was the head of this organization so I guess he could do whatever he wanted.

About ten minutes later a black suv pulled up out front and Finn got out and stood sentry against the passenger side door. I quickly walked to the door before Shane could make his way inside giving anyone anything to ask me questions about. He was standing next to Finn by the time I reached the front doors, a smile spread across his face.

"Hi"

" Shane, you didn't have to end your meeting just to come see me." I tried my best to scold him but my giddy smile didn't allow me to

" Oh but I definitely wanted to. Come on let's get lunch."

We climbed into the truck and took off downtown. We ended up at a nice restaurant a few blocks away that I had never been to and walked in.

We ate, talked and laughed like there had been no time lapse in between when we'd last hung out like this. I noticed the way he glanced at me and the way it made me feel.

" Would you like to come over and watch a movie or I don't know just hang out tonight?" I found myself asking him when I caught his eyes on me again.

" I'd love that" he simply said with a smile on his face.

" Would Finn have to come too or could it be just us?"

" Finn doesn't follow me everywhere, I can handle myself." He smiled again.

I know my face was red beyond belief. I wanted him alone to tell him that was going to accept this life, Site unseen, Because I wanted him. That I'd accept anything to be with him. Even though I think he already knew it.

"Come on. I'll take you back to work."

~~~~~
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