Page 20 of One Last Chance

“Well, no one fucking wants you here, so how ‘bout you get the hell away before I make you leave for trespassing?”

As charming as usual, Jordan.

Hope lifts her chin, looking down on me all smug. Suddenly, I’m tired—exhausted—of this fucking nightmare. I can’t deal with it anymore, and it certainly isn’t worth it being here over spending time at home with my kids. “I took away her phone, so don’t expect a text back,” I utter and turn to go to my car.

“Whatever,” I hear her say behind me. Jordan snorts, probably thinking he won some sort of dick-measuring contest, but I don’t care.

Once I close the car door behind me and put my seatbelt on, my hands tremble with an entirely different emotion than before. I feel powerless. As always, the regrets and guilt cometo me. ‘I must have done something wrong. Maybe I was the horrible, toxic alpha unable to cater to my wife’s needs like she claims.’ I know there’s no point in entertaining these thoughts, but they weigh on me anyway, pressing down on my chest.

I decide to leave Mina with Mother that night and only take a sleeping Mac home. After I carry his limp, snoring body upstairs in my arms, I savor it as one of the last few moments I will probably be able to do that.

I lay down with him, brushing his hair and humming until we both fall asleep.

?

The next morning, I decide I won’t let Hope ruin my weekend and keep me down. All the shit that happened the day before—the ruined date with Dayton, the horrible things Mina said to me, the fight—I push it aside. I remind myself I can’t change it, and most likely won’t be able to get through either of them right now, so I focus on what I can control.

After the compulsory watch of the Snow Prince, I pack up lunch and take Mac on a surprise trip. On the way there, while the chaotic sounds of Mac’s GamePad behind me blast in my ears, I glance at my phone.Should I have texted him apologizing? Explaining?

No—this is something I have to speak to him about in person. Once my head is clear.

“Oh my god!” Mac’s scream nearly gives me a heart attack. I swerve the car ever so slightly, glancing up at him in the rearview mirror. “Shawn! Shawn, Shawn, Shawn, are we seeing Shawn, Dad?!” He bounces in his seat with excitement, grinning.

Trying to breathe through my heart nearly stopping, I let out a chuckle. We’re just entering the campus parking lot, but I’m surprised Mac recognizes it—we’ve only visited twice since Shawn started college. “Yes, we are,” I say. It’s been too long. And sometimes the calls just aren’t enough.

We make our way through the campus. Mac with a spring to his step. I, not so much. All my lovely memories of youthful, naïve love have been tainted. They come especially bitter after last night. All I can do is hope Shawn is going to enjoy himself as much as I did back then, and ends up more fortunate.

The hallways of the dorm building are bursting with people. Just as we reach Shawn’s room, the door open, and his roommate slips out, nearly walking into us.

“Oh!” he blurts, looking up at me.What was his name… Jacob?He’s a short, blond guy with a fuller figure. An omega. When we helped Shawn move in, we chatted for a bit, and he seemed like a great kid. “Mr. Hall!” His surprised face quickly changes to a sweet and polite expression.

“Hey, Jacob. Is Shawn in?” I ask, well aware he was heading somewhere.

His smirk tells me all I need to know. Keeping the door slightly open, he steps away. “Yep, but he’s still asleep.”

Mac and I share a gleeful, devilish look. “Thanks,” I say, nodding at Jacob.

Bending down to give a shushing gesture, I let Mac in first and carefully close the door behind us. The drawn curtains block most of the light from entering the room. It doesn’t smell as bad as one would expect from two young men, and it’s also quite tidy. I’m pleasantly surprised, but that won’t save him.

All giddy, Mac stands by Shawn’s bed—he sleeps on his back, mouth open, snoring. Lifting my index finger up, I squeeze theedge of the curtain, getting ready. Mac nearly foams at the mouth with excitement.

“Go!” I yell, and the moment the word leaves my mouth, Mac bounces on Shawn like a starved tiger, screaming. With a wide smile on my lips for the first time today, I draw the curtains open, adding to the terror of jolted-awake, groaning Shawn.

“Surpriiiseee!” Mac keeps shrieking, jumping all over Shawn who just tries to get his bearing and open his eyes.

I stand over them, chuckling to myself while I rest my arms over my chest. “Morning, dear son.”

“God, stop! Enough screaming!” He moans, rubbing his eyes. After wrestling the giggling Mac off, Shawn finally focuses his gaze on me. “What the fuck?” he growls, voice gruff. Rolling his head to the side, he lets out a deep sigh.

“Dad, Shawn said a nasty word!” Mac doesn’t waste a second, but the moment he looks at me, Shawn reaches out and drags him toward himself, getting Mac in a headlock while he rubs the top of his head.

Smiling, I sit down on the edge of the bed. “I’m sure what we did just now is punishment enough, so I'll let it slide this time.” Laughing, Mac finally manages to get free and jumps down. We let Shawn wake up for a few more seconds, until he finally sits up, still rubbing his face.

“What time is it?” he asks, reaching for his phone.

“Almost twelve.”

“Oh? Shit,” he murmurs, pushing his short hair back.

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