Chapter 24 Anna—The morning after and car park confrontations
Anna walked behind Shane as he carried their luggage to his car.
Last night had been amazing. Sweet, soft, rough, dirty, meaningful, and eye-opening.
Sex was amazing. She knew it wouldn’t always be so new and fresh with Shane, but she also felt excitement about becoming familiar with him and overly comfortable.
She could already see them, bundled up in sweats in front of the television, with Barnabus meowing at them for food.
She could also see beautiful date nights, sexy nights away at hotels, and comfortable relaxed sex at home.
She had no plans to move at breakneck speed.
She called her dad that morning and filled him in.
Of course, he wanted to break Mason’s neck, but she urged him to relax and began drip-feeding him information on Shane.
Of course, she held off on the sexy details, merely telling him she’d met April’s husband, and they were friends and potentially more in time.
Her short updates to Mel and Rosa were welcomed with no judgment.
Mel texted her a screenshot of her previous message about Shane being her HEA, congratulating herself on her psychic abilities.
Anna sent back a laughing emoji with the message “Early days yet girl. Calm down.”
“Ready for the road trip home?” Shane pulled her close after loading up the car, kissing her forehead before rubbing his hands up and down her back. She pushed her face into his chest, loving the sound of his heartbeat and the feel of the vibrations in his chest when he spoke.
“Yep, totally different playlist this time. I think it’s—”
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” April sneered. “And we’re the cheaters! Hah!”
“Yep. You are,” Anna stated serenely.
Mason was behind April, hunched over and looking like tired rubbish.
He turned to face Anna and Shane, opening his mouth when he took in their embrace.
Then, he shut it. Mason raised his eyes to meet Shane’s.
He looked tired. So tired. He shifted his gaze to Anna, like he wanted to say something, but saw the look on Shane’s face and his shoulders slumped.
For a proud man, his posture screamed defeat.
For a second, he appeared to be physically afraid of Shane.
Maybe that’s why he avoided talking to me, Anna thought. Mason turned to April.
“Get in the car now,” he demanded harshly. “Or get the fucking bus. I don’t care.”
“You couldn’t even afford the bus. I hope you’ve got enough gas to get home because you’re getting nothing more out of me, you lying piece of shit. All the times that I’ve …”
Shane and Anna tuned out April’s rant.
“Trouble in paradise,” Shane whispered in her ear. Anna smiled up at him and touched his face.
“Hey, April? Don’t bother using the joint card. I’ve removed your name from it,” Shane informed her.
They got in the car, leaving April and Mason arguing about gas money and where they could find the cheapest lunch.