Chapter 9 9

MEL (2009)

Ryan was asleep, and I was lying next to him and going crazy thinking about what these two are doing in the guest bedroom.

They stayed in the hot tub for a long time, and even Trish's squeals and chuckles could be heard here. I wanted to get down and tell her to shut up.

Finally, a couple of hours later, there was silence.

I got hot - Ryan's body was like a hot stove. I got thirsty.

I silently slipped out of bed, I pulled on Ray's T-shirt, which came to my mid-thigh, and, trying not to make any noise, went down the stairs.

I took a bottle of water from the refrigerator, instead of returning to the bedroom, I went out through the sliding doors to cool off a bit.

The night breeze pleasantly blew my face. I enjoyed such a rare peace and quiet in this house.

It didn't take long for me to realize that I was not alone here. I turned my head slightly to the side and I noticed Shane sitting in a wicker outdoor chair. He held a bottle of beer in his dangling hand and looked out over the shimmering pool water.

So far, he had not noticed me and there was a chance to leave undetected, but for some reason I did not do this. I looked at him until he felt my gaze. Shane turned to me and frowned, but then he got up and didn't take his eyes off me, but he didn't try to get closer.

We just stood in our place and stared at each other. It was like a contest to see who could last the longest. And I gave up first. I stepped back and turned around to go back to the house.

I was shaking because just now I was fighting with myself.

I left, but I really wanted to go back to him.

MEL (2017)

I thought it was a bad idea to hire Shane's company, even if he's not doing the renovations.

I was going to the meeting to tell him in person that I've changed my mind. I'd rather go to someone else.

I should keep my distance from him, because he may not feel anything for me anymore - but I didn't.

My feelings for him never faded, no matter how hard I tried to suppress them. And now, when I came back and saw him after all these years, I understood it in the best possible way.

Ryan felt it. Part of our failed marriage is on my conscience, because I never completely belonged to him. There was always a part of my heart that he couldn't get because I gave it to Shane and couldn't get it back.

When the truth about his betrayal was revealed to me, he accused me of being the first to start it. I cheated on him with his best friend, and it broke him.

This was not an excuse for all his jambs, but in some ways he was right. I betrayed him first. Shane and I did it.

What began with betrayal, could not end in anything but a crash.

Mancini's office consists of a few wagons, and I saw a lot of construction equipment in the surrounding area. Looks like this is serious.

When I got out of the car, the workers left the site one by one - the working day had come to an end. I was a little late, but Shane promised to wait for me.

I walked up to the trailer he pointed out to me when a plump middle-aged woman got out of it, shouting: "So long, boss," she went down the small stairs.

"You must be Miss Wallace. He's waiting for you," She informed briskly, and then left.

My nerves were on fire. I knocked on the door and a moment later Shane's voice invited me in.

He was wearing work clothes, I believe: a gray T-shirt, faded jeans, and brown suede boots. Light stubble covers his face, and his whole appearance as a whole...

The bottom of my stomach tightened sweetly, that's how I reacted when I saw him.

I don't remember the last time a man made me that excited. And given that there were only two men in my life, and one of them is here, his influence on me has not weakened even after so many years.

My body still remembered every touch and all his caresses. These memories will be buried with me.

I wondered how it would feel with Shane from the present - matured and more experienced.

I kicked myself as my fantasy raced ahead: I'm in the middle of a divorce, a new romance is the last thing I need.

"Have a seat."

Shane pointed to one of the chairs.

"Do you want water or coffee?"

"No, thank you, you don't need anything."

"Yeah, okay." He took a seat at the table. "What specific services are you interested in?"

He didn't look like the guy who saw me naked. A random person would not have guessed that once we were lovers.

Shane carried himself confidently and calmly, which I cou;dn't say about myself.

"There's no need to build something new, but my grandmother's house needs repairs."

"Do you live there?"

"Yes, she left it to me as a legacy," I explained.

My parents moved out of Payson a couple of years ago when my dad retired and they wanted to live down south where my mom was from. They are now settled in Virginia and my father is happy with his little vegetable garden.

Shane asked questions about the renovation and made notes in his notebook. And I still dared to tell him that it was probably a bad idea to hire him.

"Tomorrow I can drive up and figure out how much and what exactly is required. Will ten o'clock be convenient for you?"

He looked from the notepad to me.

"Yes, but..."

"What?"

"Don't you think it's weird?" I felt stupid, but we need to figure this out before we make a deal.

Shane frowned.

"What exactly?"

"This situation. Our past... Will it make a difference?" Suddenly despair overwhelms me: Am I the only one thinking about this?

"Why should this interfere?"

He looked genuinely puzzled.

I shrugged my shoulders: I had nothing to answer.

"I have no problem with that. Do you?"

I thought for three seconds. If I have problems because of this, I will not confess to him.

"I guess not."

Shane smiled, and my goddamn heart began to play tricks.

"Then we decided. Who said we can't be friends?"

I looked into his open, calm eyes and I wanted to hit my face against the table.

Are we friends with Keller?

We never were. But if he thinks that we will succeed, then he really has matured. And I don't seem to. Because I don't want to be his friend. I want "Wallace," to be whispered in a tremulous whisper in my ear as he gets closer to me.

"No one," I forced myself to smile, and Shane nodded, considering the topic is closed.