Page 130 of Sharing Shane

“What if she falls in love with someone else?”

Shane frowned. “What?”

“What if she falls in love with someone else?” Wyatt repeated. “It’s just as plausible a scenario. You’ve never thought about it?”

“Well, no.”

Wyatt shrugged. “We’ve both seen it happen. Are you going to be okay with it if it does?”

“I don’t...I don’t know.” Shane looked at Wyatt, a ball of misery in his gut. “I’d probably need some time to get used to it.”

“You don’t think she deserves time to get used to this?”

“Of course, she does,” Shane sighed. “Shit, Wyatt. I panicked.”

“Yeah, I get that. I still don’t understand why.”

“Because I’m in love with her,” he said quietly and looked up into Wyatt’s knowing eyes. “I love her, Wyatt.”

“I know,” Wyatt said quietly.

“I never loved Beth, or any of the others. I couldn’t, or I didn’t let myself, I don’t know which it was. And that was fine because they couldn’t love me either.”

“Couldn’t love you while you loved me, you mean.”

“Yeah. But I think she can, Wy. And it scares the crap out of me.”

“Why?”

“Because if it all goes to hell, it’ll break me.” He took a deep breath and forced the words out. “I want everything with her. A home, babies, a life. I want what you have with Seth.”

“Well, Seth and I aren’t having any babies anytime soon,” Wyatt teased gently.

“You know what I mean.”

Wyatt sobered. “Yeah, I do. What are you going to do about it?”

“I don’t know.” Shane dragged a hand through his hair. “Do you think she can forgive me?”

“How’s your groveling game?” Wyatt wanted to know.

“Rusty.”

“Well, brush up on it,” Wyatt said briskly and slapped him on the shoulder. “You’re going to need it.”

Veronica pulled her car to a stop and switched off the engine. She dug out her phone, scrolling through the contacts until she found the one she wanted. Opening up a new text, she typed Hey. Are you available to chat, or are you busy with the little one?

Almost as soon as she sent it, the little dots appeared that told her Lucy was typing out a reply. Baby’s napping, Jack’s at work, and Glory’s making dinner. I’m supposed to be folding laundry, but I can do that and talk. What’s up?

It’s complicated, Veronica sent back. Would be better if we could talk in person.

Sure. You can come over if you like. How long will it take you to get here? Feeding time is in an hour.

I’m in your driveway, she wrote back.

This time the little dots didn’t appear, but in less than a minute the front door of the tidy little bungalow opened, and Lucy stood in the doorway in shorts and a loose tank top. She held a hand over her eyes to shade it from the glare of the sun, then gave a beckoning wave.

Veronica climbed out of the car, slamming the door behind her, and made her way up the flower-lined walk. “Pretty,” she said, keeping her eyes on the flowers. “Who’s the gardener?”

---