Page 75 of Always a Roommate
He gave me a watery smile. “I’m going to transfer to a school out there. She lives in a house right on the beach. Can you imagine it?”
“It sounds amazing.”
His smile widened. “I leave tomorrow.”
“Wow, that’s soon.”
“I just wanted to see you before I left and say thank you. For everything.”
I stood, rounding the table to lean down and give him another hug. “Thank you, Trevor.” Having this kid in my life had changed me, made me see things differently.
I stayed for a few minutes longer as we talked about what his future looked like, but then I had to leave.
I was going to be late getting to the venue to meet Lola, but there was one stop I had to make. Mrs. Kelly mentioned Shane was working at the Hut, doing some touch-ups before they did the second coat of paint outside tomorrow.
When I got there, the only people present were Shane and Tanner. They both looked up from where they’d been examining a small bit of damage to the wall.
Tanner smiled, but Shane showed no indication of how he felt at seeing me. I was over it. Over guessing and wondering. Over him hiding his feelings and protecting mine. I didn’t know if he saw our brief affair as anything other than enjoying roommate benefits, but I did.
I wanted him. Every part of him.
And it was time he knew.
So, I stopped in front of both boys, the ones I went through so much with in this very Hut. One was a good friend, and the other was the infuriating man I couldn’t stop thinking about.
“I heard what you did for Trevor,” I said, continuing before he could speak. “You said you couldn’t make a difference, but you didn’t stop trying, and now you’ve changed his life.”
“Rae—”
“No, I’m going to speak, and you’re going to listen to me. Okay?”
He nodded. Tanner smiled, but I ignored it and focused on Shane.
“You make me so mad, Shane. Some days, I don’t know whether I want to kiss you or wring your neck. I have spent my entire life thinking I was in love with you without ever really knowing you. It was a fake feeling, an infatuation but not love.
“And then, you kissed me after the hurricane and that changed. I couldn’t stop thinking about kissing you. So, I thought we were having fun. But you, being the infuriating man that you are, had to weasel your way into my heart. I have no idea how you feel about me, and I don’t even have time for that conversation because I have a bride waiting for me to help make this the best day of her life.
“I refuse to let her down, so I need to go. But even if you feel nothing for me, I had to get this off my chest. I’ve been falling in like with you for years, and when you walked out of our house, walked away from me, I realized the last month was different. There was no more like. I’m not even sure I like you now, but for freak’s sake, I think I love you.”
I stepped back, unable to look at Shane for fear of what I’d see. But when my eyes settled on Tanner, he looked about as stunned as I felt at what had come out of my mouth.
Embarrassment flooded me, and I turned on my heel, fleeing to the safety of my car.
My face heated as I drove away and thought of everything I’d said. But I didn’t regret it. My truth was out there.
Now, it was time to help someone else live hers.
When I walked into the bride’s dressing room, Lola turned, a wide smile on her face. She wore a gown from a local designer that was both simple and elegant. Like her.
I smiled despite the churning inside me. “Okay, who is ready to fall in love all over again?”
30
SHANE
I stood there watching the spot Rae had disappeared from, no clue what to say or do.
Hadn’t this been what I was waiting for? To know what she was thinking.
