Page 38 of Unmasking You

I change the sheets while Shane’s finishing, and when he calls me back in, I’ve found my balance again.

“Come on, I’ll take you back to bed, and you can rest,” I say, when he yawns, and his eyes close.

I have some thinking to do.

I hide in my room, needing to be surrounded by familiar things. My phone vibrates, and I pull it out of my pocket. I let out a sigh of relief when Ruby’s name is on the screen. She always knows when I need her.

“Hey, babe, how are the living arrangements going?”

“I just gave him a sponge bath.”

“Oh, lucky you. From what I saw online, he’s a fine specimen of man.”

“He’s also the boy who broke my heart and my soul. Should I just forget everything he did?”

“Babe, of course not. However, you can’t live with this weight all your life. Talk to him, curse him, kick him in the balls if you have to, but don’t let the past ruin your future.”

“I want a future.” Visions of a house with a garden and a couple of dogs come to mind. “But how can I let anyone touch me?”

“Babe, don’t get mad, but you know you like him. Even in your lowest moments, what you couldn’t let go of was him. The boy you first met, the boy who offered you his friendship without asking for anything back.”

“Mmm,” I murmur, because I can’t deny it.

“This could be your chance to ask why, to understand his actions, and maybe to let go for good.”

“You’re right,” I whisper. But why does my heart hurt at the thought of letting him go completely?

I hear a bark through the phone, so I ask about Queen, and I laugh when Ruby puts her on the phone and she whines, making my heart soar at being needed by someone.

“You’ll be home soon, baby girl,” I tell her and then make plans with Ruby.

Once I end the call, I feel a bit better. I’m just setting my phone down when it pings again.

Alexi

Hey, mate. How are you holding up?

Jamie

All goo—

But then I think better of it and delete the message and instead press the call button.

“Hey,” I say as soon as the call engages.

“Hey.” His chirpy voice greets me.

“There’s something I need to tell you.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Do you remember the guy we met at the club?”

“Shaz?”

“Yep, him. He’s Shane…” I let my words die, waiting for his reaction.

“Shane?ThatShane?”

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