Page 24 of Chosen By Love

“Say what you want to say and then leave,” I stated. I stood back and allowed him to enter my home.

“How did you find me?”

“I have my connections, Shawn stated. Nice Place,” he added.

I knew that I didn’t owe Shawn a thing, but on the other hand I had to admit I was slightly curious as to what he had to say.

“Have a seat,” I said once I had closed the door. Shawn took a seat on the sofa, and I took a seat opposite of him. I couldn’t help to notice the lines around Shawn’s full lips looked tense.

“I’m sorry for the way I treated you all those years ago. I was young, dumb, immature, and just plain ol’ stupid. I should have never walked away from you.”

“What?” I asked to be sure I heard him correctly.

Shawn shook his head slowly. “You heard me right. Can you ever find it in your heart to forgive me?”

“What brought this on Shawn? Why are you just now seeing the error of your ways? Are you sick or something?” I asked peering into his eyes.

Shawn didn’t look ill. He looked as attractive, and in tip top shape as he ever did. I held my breath and waited for him to answer. I knew that even if Shawn hurt me in the past, I would never wish him ill.

“No I’m not physically sick. But now I know firsthand what it feels like to have one’s heart broken. I was a complete idiot when it came to you. I should have—”

“What happened Shawn?”

Shawn shot me a saddening glance. I couldn’t be sure but it looked like his brown gaze shined with wetness.

“The woman I married betrayed me. She lied during our entire marriage. I learned that our sons aren’t mine at all. She was cheating on me with her ex-boyfriend during our entire marriage!”

Shawn stood to his feet and began to pace the length of my living room. Shawn’s profile was strong and his sharp jaw clenched tight in anger. He stopped in front of where I was sitting and gazed down at me with pained filled eyes.

“Look, Becca,” he said leaning down and bracing me in with his forearms on the arms of the chair I was sitting in. His eyes searched mine and I caught a whiff of the same cologne he wore years ago. “I’m sorry I hurt you. I get it now. I want to make up for what I did to you in the past. I want us to start over. I hope you want the same.”

I don't believe it. How can this grown man think he can go back and change the past?

“I don’t think it works like that Shawn,” I said forcing my way out the chair to put distance between us. “You did hurt me but I’m over it. If it’s my forgiveness you want, you have it. I’m sorry your wife caused you hurt and lied to you. Trust me, you will one day get over it. You just have to get up each day, put one foot in front of the other, and keep it moving. I’m a living testament to that fact.”

“You don’t want to start over?” Shawn asked facing me.

“No. I have someone special in my life. I now realized what we had all those years ago was infatuation, Shawn. It wasn’t real love. If you’ve said all you need to say I think you should leave. It was—”

A knock at the door interrupted my speech. I walked over to the door and opened it. This time I knew who it was. Brett stood in the doorway with a smile on his handsome face, a pizza box in one hand, and a bottle of wine in the other.

“Hey baby,” he started to say as he entered the apartment. The smile instantly was wiped from his lips when he saw Shawn standing in the center of my living room.

“Who the hell are you?” Brett scowled placing the items in his hands down on a table.

“Ahem, I’m Shawn, Becca’s ex—”

“Oh! So you’re the scum who left her in her time of need.”

“Yeah, basically I am,” Shawn admitted. “I was an asshole and whatever other name she wants to call me. I only came to apologize.”

“It’s true,” I said to Brett. I touched his forearm to gain his attention. “Shawn was just leaving, isn’t that right Shawn?”

“Good. Don’t let me stop you,” Brett stalked over to the door to pull it open. His lips were formed in a tight line as he glared at Shawn.

Shawn glanced at me. “So this is the man you fell in love with?”

Brett’s brow arched as he stared at me. A cocky grin tilted his lips from Shawn’s words. “Yes, he is,” I admitted as my heart slammed against my chest.

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