Page 18 of January's Bad Boy: Shane

"Oh, perfect! Sister-in-law time! Atlas is visiting Shane, so we have time for just us girls. Come in!" She greets me enthusiastically, bringing me in for a big hug.

"I know he's at Shane's. He sent me home because he's a big fat hypocrite!" Immediately, I feel bad when the smile drops from Bex's face.

"Sit down and tell me what is going on. Do we need wine or coffee?" she asks.

"I want wine, but I need to be able to drive, so can I have coffee please?"

She makes two cups and hands me one before joining me on the couch sitting sideways to face me.

"Okay, what is going on?" she asks.

"Atlas is all pissed because Shane and I fell for each other, which is rich, considering he fell for you." Right away, I realize how that came out. "I love you, but you were the daughter of one of his friends."

"I get what you meant. And yes, I love you too. Atlas and Malice weren't friends anymore when we met. Turns out my dadlied to not only me, but to a lot of people, Atlas included. Atlas saved me in many ways. But you are correct. When it comes to you and Shane, he really doesn't have a leg to stand on. At least Shane didn't kidnap you. Did he?" Bex asks, frowning.

I about snort coffee out my nose at how casually she talks about my brother kidnapping her.

"No, he didn't. We got snowed in at a cabin and one thing led to the next." I don’t go into detail.

"Oh, that's so romantic. Tell me how it happened," she urges.

I do just that. I enjoy my time with her, and we gossip about things going on in town and all sorts of stuff. Since we’re becoming friends, I want to tell her all about Shane and how Shane and I started seeing each other beginning as friends. How it moved to more. As I'm finishing my story, in walks Atlas.

He smiles at Bex, but then frowns when he sees me.

"Want to tell me what happened?" Bex stands up from the couch, confronting Atlas.

Atlas looks at me. Though he’s still glaring, he has yet to say a word. I know he wants to go off on me, but he won't dare chance upsetting Bex.

"You know, in one fight with your sister you invalidated our relationship. You were worse because you kidnapped me. At least Caitlin went willingly," Bex says.

The anger melts away from my brother's face. He quickly deflates, almost collapsing into his recliner while pulling Bex onto his lap.

"Why are you so against this? Is it because he was in jail?" I ask, trying to understand.

"No." Atlas scoffs. "He didn't even do what he was accused of. Malice set him up."

Then he looks at his wife."I'm sorry, baby"

"It's fine. I know my dad wasn't a good person," Bex says.

My head is spinning with the new information from Atlas. Shane went to jail for something he didn't do? Why didn't he tell me?

"You didn't know he was innocent? That Malice set him up?" Atlas asks.

"No. He didn't tell me," I whisper.

"And you wanted him and accepted him, even though you thought he was guilty of what he did?" Atlas asks again.

When I look up at him, the guilt in my brother's eyes is clear as day.

"Yes, I did. He paid for his crime."

"How can you deny them what we have?” Bex asks. “Just because it makes you uncomfortable right now doesn't mean you get to make two important people in your life miserable."

I swear my respect for this girl skyrockets.

"You are right and I'm sorry, Caitlin. I do want you to be happy. Though I just never expected it to be with Shane, of all people."

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