Page 105 of Frisco

He lifted his chin in response, but didn’t move to follow.

I took my time in the bathroom before washing and heading back out. When I did, Shane was there. It was déjà vu from the hotel. He put his hand on my stomach and ushered me back into the bathroom, grabbing a Closed for Cleaning poster and sticking it to the outside of the door.

Back inside, I stepped away, not liking how he was looking at me. “Don’t.”

“What’d she say to you?”

“Can’t you guess?” Going to the mirror, I washed my hands. Again. I needed to do something. My stomach rolled, and Shane could see inside of me. It was uncomfortable. “She’s with the bartender, whose sister owns the place.”

“I know that already, but what’d she say to you?”

I jerked up a shoulder. “Nothing you haven’t said yourself or that I didn’t already pick up, but the gist was that if I stay with you, I lose her.” I stopped fiddling with my hair, meeting his gaze in the mirror.

His eyes were dark. He wasn’t letting me read him.

“You’ve known her all your life.”

I nodded, my throat swelling up.

There was no leeway here. It was what it was. It was harsh, but it was smack dab in front of my face. No way around it. How could I make a choice like that? So soon?

He took the pain away.

She didn’t know that.

“Okay then.” He turned to leave.

“Hey!” I was across the room, my hand on his arm. “What are you doing?”

“I’m letting you have some space. She’s family to you, and she gave you that. Seems like you’d need some time to sort your thoughts.”

Good grief. I wanted to shake him and kiss him at the same time. “You followed me in here. Why don’t you stay and hold me?”

His eyes never changed. They were still so dark, but he put his arms around me and pulled me to him. We weren’t teenagers. I wasn’t going to get worked up about it. Aly could be handled. It might take time, some delicate maneuvering, but as Shane held me and I savored it, I knew I wasn’t going to lose Aly.

I also knew I wasn’t going to give Shane up. Before tonight, I hadn’t known I’d made that decision.

I knew now.

“Kali,” he murmured.

“Hmm?” I tipped my head up.

He was looking down, so intently. “It gets to a time where you gotta make a decision between me and your girl, let me in on it.”

“Sure, but it’s not going to come to that. We’re too old for that.”

“Just let me in on it, no matter the decision.”

I could tell this was important to him and I frowned slightly. “Okay. Yeah.”

“I have a thing about masks. I don’t want you to ever feel like you have to wear one with me. I could tell you wore one in high school. Broke my heart even back then. I don’t want you to do that, not with me, not where we are. You get me?”

I nodded, my mouth dry again. I got him.

No masks.

34

---