Page 76 of Always a Roommate
I’m not even sure I like you now, but for freak’s sake, I think I love you.
I think I love you.
I think I love you.
When a hand landed on my shoulder, I flinched.
“Shane, I think you need a milkshake.” Tanner hadn’t waited for me to respond as he started packing up all our supplies.
Most people would say I needed a drink, but in the Kelly clan, that wasn’t how we dealt with our issues. Our mom and dad had instilled in us that alcohol was something to be enjoyed but never something to be used to deal with stress or depression.
For that, we had milkshakes.
It wasn’t until we were sitting at the diner with Johnny and Finley that Tanner brought it up again. “So, you and Rae? Didn’t see that one coming.”
Johnny swallowed a mouthful of milkshake, his expression incredulous. “Seriously?”
“I already knew.” Finley shrugged. “It was actually pretty obvious.”
Tanner sent her a playful scowl. “Well, apparently, she loves him. Did you see that coming?”
“How could you possibly know that before me?”
“Did she even tell you they were seeing each other?” Tanner stuck his tongue out. We Kellys were mature.
“We weren’t seeing each other,” I muttered.
Three pairs of eyes turned to me.
“Of course you were,” Finley scoffed.
I shook my head. “We were just…” I wasn’t sure what.
Their expressions softened as they shared knowing looks.
I heaved a sigh, trying to sort through everything. Tomorrow, I’d say goodbye to my favorite student, the best I’d ever had. My bank account was empty after helping Tanner. Everything was changing.
And yet, Rae was all I could think about. The way her hair grew even brighter when the sun reflected off the auburn strands. How she’d laughed as Cane covered her in suds on the bathroom floor. The fire in her eyes when we fought.
Finley smiled. “Right now, he’s cycling back through all the moments that should have made him realize he was falling in love. Been there before.”
I could feel my siblings’ eyes on me, waiting for me to say something, do something. And all I wanted was to find somewhere to hide.
Which, I realized, was the problem. I’d never truly faced the distrust Diana placed in me or the way she’d made me feel so utterly disposable.
Not until Rae. Even when we argued, she believed in me. She wanted me. She loved me.
Finley reached across the table to grip my arm. “We’ll forgive you if you don’t finish your milkshake. This once.” She nodded. “Go.”
Go. It seemed so simple. And yet… “What if I’m too late?” I’d stood there, silent like an idiot as she poured out her heart. I hadn’t even gone after her. But for the first time in my life, I wanted to chase.
Finley kicked me under the table. “Don’t be ridiculous. Get out of here.”
She was right. This was my chance. I slid from the booth, and as I practically ran out of there, Finley called, “Don’t mess it up, Shane. We all love her too.”
I didn’t plan to mess it up.
The drive to the house I’d shared with Rae seemed to take forever and no time at all. I’d barely cut the engine before I jumped out and ran to the door.
