Chapter 463
Chapter 56
I don’t bother going to sex class again tonight. Until I speak with Shane, I’m not sure where we stand. Hopefully next week we can get back to class, but that will very much depend on if we talk and resolve our issues this weekend.
I’m busy pouring over numbers for my Finance homework, giving myself a headache, when there’s a soft knock at my door.
I frown. Since nearly everyone is in sex class at the moment, I have no idea who this might be. I open the door, shocked to see Shane standing there. He has a bottle of whiskey in one hand and two glasses in the other.
“Whiskey talk?” he asks. I can see the vulnerability in his eyes. He’s feeling as unsteady about our friendship as I am, I guess.
I smile, looking at his hands. The whiskey is top grade. “Where did you even get that?”
“Your brother. He said if it works, he’s next.”
I shake my head and chuckle, stepping back to let him in.
He walks in, setting the bottle and glasses on my desk then turning to me. “I owe you an apology, T,” he says at the same time I say, “I’m so sorry, Shane.”
We both stop, staring at each other, then burst into laughter.
“Let me go first,” he says.
“Okay, let’s pour our drinks and sit,” I say.
We do, sitting on the love seat together and turning to face each other.
He takes a deep sip of his whiskey, staring at his glass before finally looking at me. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about what Cole said. He’s right, you know. This was never about you or Christian. It’s about me not trusting myself. I’m sorry I doubted you. I’m sorry I questioned your intentions with me. When Cole laid it out the way he did, I realized how utterly absurd it sounded, that you would be using me to get ahead here. That’s my doubt, my insecurities. You’ve never done anything to make me think that you’re less than genuine in everything you’ve done or said to me. I hope you can forgive me,” he says.
I feel tears stinging my eyes as I reach out to take his hand. He grips it in his, our fingers intertwining.
“Of course I forgive you and I hope you can forgive me, too.”
“For what? Being the first to defeat The Beast? Well done on that, by the way.”
“Thanks, but no. I was too hurt by the betrayed look in your eyes to realize that your break had nothing to do with me. It felt so personal and it … fuck did it hurt to see you looking at me that way.
“I’m so sorry,” he says.
“}
I squeeze his hand. “But I should have realized it wasn’t about me. Even my mom told me it wasn’t personal, but it felt personal. I’ve done a lot of thinking about what Cole said too. He’s incredible with insight.”
“Yeah, he is,” Shane agrees. “He’s a good friend and he’s going to make
a fantastic Alpha.”
“Yeah, he is,” I say, remembering what Dane said to me earlier. I tuck that away for a later discussion.
“Anyway, my point is, I should have seen this for what it was, but I didn’t. I took it personally and rather than being there for you, I pushed you away. Can you forgive me?”
He pulls my hand to his lips, kissing it. “Already done. Does this mean I don’t have to worry about you tearing into me like you tore into Dane today?” he asks, grinning.