Page 105 of Conflict
AFTER THATnot-quite-so-tiny hiccup with Mr. Wellsley, my wannabe knight in shining armor barging into WC, and the subsequent aftermath, Shane and I settle into a fantastic rhythm. It’s comfortable. The pace our relationship is progressing, probably faster than I expected. But since we lost so much time together over the last year (nice going, Alyssa), it’s like we’re making up for lost time.
While I appreciated that Shane wanted to take things slow in the beginning, I’m even happier that, once we slept together, things moved full steam ahead. It took a few weeks before we graduated to weekday sleepovers. During that time, I’d spend my entire week looking forward to Friday night when I could see him again. After two weeks of longing, Shane started a ritual, taking me on a date every Friday, because in his words, he “doesn’t want to get boring.”
I tried to tell him it wasn’t possible, but the truth is I actually love and look forward to Friday Date Night, even now that we’ve started staying together during the week, too. Especially because instead of having to leave the next morning, I get two uninterrupted days with him. And getting that fix is paramount now that I’m addicted to him.
That doesn’t mean there aren’t some nights I spend in my bed, alone, due to late meetings, needing to work from home, or whatever. In hindsight, it’s kind of silly. We end up Face Timing for at least an hour before calling it a night. An hour during which Shane likes to remind me that we could be doing other things in the presence of each other.
But honestly? As much as I love being with him physically, there’s just something so damn sexy about watching him jack off on camera.
When we aren’t together, my days usually start with a text message. Usually something along the lines of…
Shane:I’m not a morning person, but if I woke up every morning next to you, I would be.
Suffice it to say, I begin my days with a smile.
I usually end them that way, too.
When we reach the four-month mark with no engagement ring or baby on the way, I suggest we celebrate. Ariana, however, doesn’t find it as funny as I do. Of course she gets me back soon enough. One of Branson and Shane’s friends is getting married in Vegas, and when the four of us head there for a long weekend, my sister sweetly suggests Shane and I find our own chapel while we’re there.
My sister knows exactly how to shut me up.
After two days of lounging by the pool during the day and playing the slots at night, Ariana and I are about to check an item off our bucket list.
“Are you sure you don’t want to come?” I ask Shane, laughing at the hesitation on his face. “The Backstreet Boys are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I swear you’ll getsolucky tonight.”
“Yeah. I think I’m good, babe. Branson and I will do just fine on our own.” He presses a kiss to the tip of my nose. “Something tells me I’ll get lucky anyway.”
“Your intuition is quite strong, Mr. Wellington,” I tease, Then I give him a lingering kiss before my sister ushers me out the door, declaring that she’ll cut me if I make her miss a single song.
We make it just in time and spend the next three hours singing boy band ballads to our hearts’ content.
Once we’re out of the concert, I check my phone and see I have a text from my friend Sarah, whom I haven’t seen in ages. Apparently, she saw my Instagram and was none too happy that I hadn’t informed her I’m in town.
Sarah:You’re in Vegas and didn’t call me?! Hooker, you know I moved here three years ago. Is that hot piece of ass scrambling your brain?
I grin. That’s so Sarah. I type out a quick text, and after a few minutes of back and forth, we’ve made plans to meet up in half an hour. Something about going for a joyride out in the sand dunes and not having lived until you’ve checked out the stars under the Vegas desert sky.
Exactly thirty minutes later, a Jeep pulls up outside the hotel and Sarah jumps out. We do the ritual squealing of friends who’ve been apart far too long. She hugs Ariana, whose baby bump is now on full display.
My sister yawns. “As much fun as doing donuts in the sand sounds, I’m exhausted. I’m going to sit this one out if that’s okay.”
“I can come upstairs with you if you want,” I offer, and she just smiles with a shake of her head.
“I have a feeling I’ll be asleep the moment my head hits the pillow. Go, have fun. I’ll see you the morning.”
Sarah and I catch up on the drive out to the desert. I’ve never been to Vegas before, so I’m out of my element, just going along for the ride. And what a ride it is. We’re having so much fun flying across the sand under a clear Vegas night. Just as we’re about to make our way back to the hotel, something blocks our path.
The lights come out of nowhere, shining more like a spotlight than headlights. Sarah mutters a curse then flips the Jeep into reverse and tries to get around the large vehicle. He moves in unison, making it so we can’t get around him.
My heart pounds against my chest as Sarah curses again.
“Sarah, this is freaking me out. What’s going on?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t want to say anything back there, but I saw the truck come up from the west without his lights on. I thought it was just some drunk idiot, but now, I’m not so sure.”
Fear creeps in, and without a second thought, I whip my phone out to call Shane. I get his voicemail, and I start to leave him a message, but then my phone dies halfway through.
“Dammit!” I yell.
