Chapter 21
Shane
With my coffee mug in hand, I grab Jaime's backpack from the table and hand it to him as he finishes his breakfast. He takes it eagerly, sliding his arms into the straps, his face bright with morning excitement.
"Ready for school, buddy?" I ask, ruffling his hair.
"Super ready!" Jaime replies, his voice full of energy.
"Great," I say, smiling as I walk him to the front door. Mr. Jacob, one of my most trusted drivers, is waiting by the car in the driveway.
"Good morning, Mr. Matthews," Jacob says with a nod as we approach.
"Morning, Jacob," I reply, holding the door open for Jaime. He climbs into the back seat, his small feet barely touching the floor of the car.
"Have a good day at school, bud," I tell Jaime as he settles in.
"I will, Uncle Shane!" he says, his excitement palpable.
"And drive safe," I add to Jacob, who gives me a reassuring smile before closing the door behind Jaime.
As I turn to head back into the house, I hear Jaime's voice calling out, "Uncle Shane!" I turn around to see him leaning out of the car window.
"Yeah, buddy?"
"Don't forget about my field trip on Thursday! I need the things on the list the teacher gave me."
I pause, realizing this is the first I've heard of a field trip.
"Just ask Nicole," Jaime adds, sensing my confusion.
Nicole. Of course. She always has things under control. I smile at Jaime, giving him a thumbs up before Jacob pulls away from the curb. As soon as they're gone, my thoughts turn back to Nicole. I haven't seen much of her lately, and when I have, she's seemed distant—like she's carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. I head upstairs to her room to ask about Jaime's field trip, and maybe, just maybe, get a glimpse into what's been troubling her.
As I reach her room, I hesitate before knocking. I know she might still be asleep, and I don't want to disturb her, but the thought of hearing her voice, even for a moment, pulls me forward. I knock gently.
"Come in," she says, her voice soft but clear.
I open the door to find Nicole standing near her bathroom, wearing just a bathrobe. The sight of her catches me off guard. She's looking at herself in the mirror, adjusting the robe as if contemplating something deeper than her appearance.
"Hey, sorry to bother you," I start, trying to keep my voice light. "Jaime mentioned something about a field trip this week…"
She turns to face me, a small smile playing on her lips. "Yeah, I've already taken care of it. Everything on the list is packed in a camping backpack I bought for him. It's in the closet downstairs."
"Ah, great," I say, relieved. "Where are they going camping? I don't remember hearing about it…"
"Shane," she interrupts gently, her eyes locking onto mine. "Why don't we talk about that later?"
There's something in her gaze that holds me captive, something that feels both familiar and entirely new. She reaches for the belt on her robe, untying it slowly, letting it hang open just enough to reveal a narrow strip of her naked body. I stop mid-sentence, my breath catching in my throat as I watch her.
She pulls the robe down around her shoulders, holding it there for a moment before letting it slide off completely, pooling at her feet. The air between us crackles with tension as she walks toward me, her movements slow and deliberate, pushing me back onto the bed.
Laid back on the bed, I watch as she climbs on top of me, her bare legs straddling my hips. The warmth of her body seeps into me, her skin soft and moist from her recent shower. Her breath carries the fresh scent of mint as she presses her lips to mine, her breasts brushing against my chest. The familiar sweet and citrus smell of her perfume, laced with a hint of something spicy, both calms and arouses me.
She begins to undo my pants, her hands moving with a mix of urgency and finesse. "Take off your shirt," she says bluntly as she unlatches my belt. There's a command in her voice that I haven't heard before, one that stirs something deep within me. I quickly unbutton my silk blue designer shirt, our eyes never leaving each other's gaze.
I briefly feel the cool air of the room against my skin as my pants come off, but Nicole is on me in an instant. She slides down on top of me, her wetness enveloping me as her eyes fill with anticipation. I run my hands up her thighs, grasping her buttocks as she begins to move, shifting back and forth, her body fitting perfectly with mine. Her eyes close, her head tilting back as she begins to moan, her hands roaming her neck and breasts.
"Shane," she murmurs, her voice thick with desire, her eyes shut as if lost in a trance. Her fully erect nipples call to me, and I can't resist. I pull her down and lightly caress them with my lips and tongue. She pushes me back roughly, then leans over me, her hips still grinding, sliding me in and out of her slowly. She looks me in the eyes again and kisses me, her tongue caressing mine as she bites my lip just hard enough to inflict a bit of pain, sending a thrill through my entire body.
She moves her mouth to my ear. "I want you to take me as hard as you can," she whispers, her breath warm against my skin. Then she runs her tongue lightly up my ear, the sensation sending shivers down my spine.
She climbs off me and lies on her back, inviting me with her eyes. I position myself above her and thrust into her, her body arching to meet mine as she gasps, her hands grasping at my arms and back. I respond to her every request, her moans driving me further, faster until we're both lost in the rhythm of our bodies.
When we're done, we lie next to each other, quietly catching our breaths as we stare at the ceiling.
"Shane," she says suddenly, breaking the silence. "I just want to say I'm happy working here and being a part of your and Jaime's lives. I don't think I've ever told you how much I appreciate you and all you do for everyone."
"You're the gift, Nicole," I say, turning over on my side to look at her. "One neither of us could have expected or even knew we needed. We appreciate you just as much."
She looks back at me, a soft smile on her lips. She reaches out and pinches my cheek lightly with her fingers. "You're sweet," she says, her voice tender.
Now is my chance , I think. The words are right there, on the tip of my tongue, but something stops me. It's been so long since I've seen her smile when we've made love like this. I don't want to ruin the moment. I stroke her cheek gently. "I've got to get ready for work," I say, feeling the moment slipping away.
"Go on," she replies, her smile still in place as she leans in to kiss me. It's a soft, lingering kiss, one that feels both like a promise and a goodbye.
"Let me know about the field trip, when and where."
"Yeah, I guess it slipped my mind. I'll forward you the letter from the school."
"Thanks," I say, gathering my clothes and giving her one last smile before heading back to my room, still naked and smelling of her.
That night, I get home late. The house is dark and quiet as I walk into the kitchen. A note on the fridge reads, "Lasagna's in the oven," with a time and temperature to heat it up. I'm still stuffed from the late-night subs with the staff, so I skip it and pour myself a glass of scotch instead. As I pass by Jaime's room, I peek in to see him sleeping soundly, his little face peaceful in the dim light. I notice Nicole's light is still on, but I don't bother to disturb her. I've been surrounded by people all day, and I need a moment to myself.
I head out to the second-floor terrace that overlooks the pool. From here, I can see Nicole's balcony just across the way. Her curtains are drawn, but a sliver of light escapes around their edges. I'm lost in thought, the cool night air wrapping around me like a blanket, when I hear footsteps behind me.
Nicole slides up next to me, resting her arms on the railing just as I am. We both look out into the night, the silence between us comfortable yet heavy with unspoken words.
"You know, I realized at work that you'd already texted me about the field trip," I confess, trying to break the tension.
"Yeah," she says simply, her voice carrying a strange finality.
"I'm so lucky to have you," I say, the words slipping out before I can stop them.
"For as long as I'm around, Shane, I'm happy to help out."
"For as long as you're around?" I question, the ominous tone of her words making my stomach twist.
She hesitates before answering. "I just mean… life is unpredictable."
"That's why it's good having you around to remind me," I say, trying to sound reassuring, but her words have planted a seed of worry in my mind.
"Yeah, but anything could happen, Shane—to you, to me. One of the most important things I've learned from Jaime and you is that changes happen, sometimes tragically, and you have to adapt. You have to be flexible if you don't want it to break you."
I look at her, my eyes searching her face for some sign of what's really going on. But she keeps her gaze fixed on the horizon, her expression unreadable. The way she's talking, it's as if she's preparing herself—or maybe even me—for something. The thought sends a cold shiver down my spine, a feeling of dread creeping in that I can't quite shake.
"So… I wanted to know how you felt about us going out for two days near the end of this month," I say, trying to steer the conversation back to something lighter, something that could bring her back to me. "No Jaime, just us on the yacht. There's a great little island a few miles off the coast that's having a festival. I thought it might be a nice getaway."
Nicole turns to look at me, her eyes soft but distant. "Sure, Shane. That sounds really fun," she says, but there's a lack of enthusiasm in her voice that makes my heart sink. "But let's talk about it later," she adds, her gaze slipping away from mine once more.
Frustration starts to bubble up inside me. I've been patient, I've given her space, but this… this distance between us is growing, and I feel powerless to stop it. "Why'd you even come out here with me if you didn't want to talk?" I ask, my voice harsher than I intended.
Nicole goes quiet, surprised by the sharpness in my tone. She doesn't answer right away, and when she does, her voice is small, almost fragile. "Because I didn't want to be alone," she says, and there's a vulnerability in her words that catches me off guard.
I take a deep breath, trying to push aside my frustration. "Nicole, I need you to tell me what's going on with you," I say, my voice softer now, pleading. I turn toward her, taking her hands in mine. "Please. I can't help you unless you do."
She remains silent, her eyes downcast. I can feel the weight of whatever she's carrying, and it's crushing her—crushing us.
"Whatever you need to fix it, if I have the means, it's yours. But please tell me what I need to do. If it's money, I'll pay you more. We can work this out," I offer, my desperation creeping into my words.
Nicole looks up at me then, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She reaches up and touches my face, her fingers trembling. "Shane, it really means so much to me… you mean so much to me," she says, her voice thick with emotion. "But I just need to take care of this myself for now."
She leans in and kisses me—a slow, tender kiss that feels like both a goodbye and an apology. When she pulls back, she looks me in the eyes and says, "I'm sorry."
And with that, she turns and walks away, leaving me standing alone on the terrace, the cool night air swirling around me. I watch her go, a sinking feeling in my chest. As I take another sip of my drink, I realize just how impossible holding us together might be.
I stand there for a long time, staring out at the dark, still water of the pool below, the reflection of the moon rippling across its surface. The weight of what just happened presses down on me, and I can't shake the feeling that I'm losing her—that I've already lost her. The life I've been trying so hard to build with Nicole and Jaime feels like it's slipping through my fingers, and I don't know how to hold on.
When I finally pull myself away from the terrace, I walk back through the silent house, every step feeling heavier than the last. I pass by Jaime's room again, pausing for a moment to listen to the sound of his gentle breathing. It's a small comfort, but it does little to ease the turmoil in my mind.
I head to my room, but sleep eludes me. The bed feels too big, too empty without Nicole beside me. I toss and turn, replaying the conversation on the terrace over and over in my mind, trying to make sense of it, trying to find some way to fix whatever's broken between us. But the more I think about it, the more I realize that this isn't something I can fix with words or money. Whatever's going on with Nicole is deeper than that—something that she feels she has to face alone. And that thought terrifies me.
I close my eyes, willing myself to sleep, but all I can see is the look in Nicole's eyes as she walks away from me—the look that says she is already gone.