Page 61 of Matched Up

‘Your brother really hates me,’ Shane said.

‘Well, you know that stuff you said about your dad?How you want to impress him?Niall’s like that with our dad too, and I guess you taking his position hurt his pride or whatever.’I shrugged.I knew exactly how much it must have hurt him.

‘Ah, OK.Well, what if I stepped away?Went back to Ferndale, would that help?’

‘You can’t,’ I said.Shane leaving would mean seeing him less.

‘But if it made things easier?And you know I don’t want the position.Not really.’

I took a deep breath.‘I hardly see you as it is.And you’d have to tell your dad,’ I said.

Shane inhaled and looked away before turning back and staring into my eyes.‘I’d do it for you.I mean, we’ve just outed ourselves to everyone, so I guess that makes us official?And couples do things for each other.’He pushed a strand of wet hair from my face.

I reached up and kissed him.‘I think I might be falling in love with you,’ I whispered into the night.

He smiled.‘Might be?’

I laughed.‘Iamfalling in love with you.’

And he didn’t hesitate.‘I was thinking the same thing.’

I leaned into his chest, listening to the thud of his heart andreplaying the words we’d just said to each other over and over.We stood like that until I started to shiver.Then I snaked my arms round his waist and under his shirt.

He jumped from the shock of my cold hands.

‘Sorry.’

‘You’re freezing!’

‘I know, my dress is soaking.’My teeth started to chatter.

‘Ah Lexie, you need to get home.’

‘I’m fine.’

He laughed.‘Let me walk you back to your car.’

I let him lead me towards the car park.‘Do you want a lift home?’

‘From my girlfriend?Sure.Thanks.’

He grinned and I smiled back.

We held hands the whole way to the car, and when I drove, his hand was on top of mine as I moved the gear stick.

‘Did you have any girlfriends at St Anne’s?’I asked, a bit scared of the answer.I knew if he said yes, I’d be jealous, even though that wasn’t fair.But I wanted to know how experienced he was.

‘Nope, it’s always just been school and football,’ he said.‘I never met anyone I really liked.Not like this.’He squeezed my hand.‘What about you?How many posh boys have you been out with?’

I laughed.‘None.Same, school and football, and hanging out with Niall and Megan.’

‘Are you guys still not talking?You and Megan?’

I took a deep breath.‘Nope, and now I guess it’ll be even worse.’

He sighed.‘Aw, Lexie.I’m sorry I’m making such a mess of your life.’

I wanted to stop the car right there in the middle of the road, grab his face and show him that all he’d done was make my life better, despite all the other stuff.‘You’re not.Not at all.I’ve spent so long just being this other part of Niall, I didn’t even think about what could be beyond that.And you’ve given me that.You know what I mean?’I looked over at him and for a split second I thought I saw his eyes glisten.

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