***
“Aw come on you two.” Shane laughed. “Are you trying to burst my eardrum?”
And even though Shane and Chris knew Abigail had already prepared some food for them, they bought a family-size pizza and ate with Adele. By the time they got home, Adele was fast asleep. Shane took her to her room, changed her dress for pajamas, and tucked her in. When he got back downstairs, he heard laughter coming from the kitchen. Shane got to the kitchen to find Chris laughing with Abigail, with a plate of food sitting on the Island in front of him. He wasn’t even seated. And the fork in his hand was poised over the food, ready to dig in.
“Dude, I thought you said you were full,” Shane said with surprise written all over his face.
“Come on, this is Abby’s food.” Chris laughed. “I couldn’t resist.” He said, digging in.
“Would you want me to fix a plate for you, Mr. Lewis?” Abigail asked Shane.
“Thanks for the offer, Abigail. But I’ll pass. And you can retire for the night. We’ll be fine.” Shane said, rubbing in his eye.
“Oh, I don’t mind…” Abigail started.
“Don’t worry. I got it.” Shane insisted.
“Alright. Good night.”
“Good night, Abigail,” Shane responded.
“Night Abby,” Chris responded with a full mouth, making Shane almost roll his eyes. “Open up.” Chris murmured, holding up a heaped fork.
“Chris…”
“Hey, come on.” Chris moved to pin Shane against the Island with his body and slipped the food into his opened mouth. Chris watched as Shane munched on the food, smiling at the obvious pleasure on Shane’s face. “Good?”
“Delicious.” Shane moaned.
And standing on their feet, right there in Shane’s kitchen, Chris fed them both till the plate was empty. Then he washed and dried the plate, looking around to make sure the kitchen was spotlessly clean.
“You could have used the dishwasher you know,” Shane murmured, looking amused and impressed.
“This was faster,” Chris said, putting out the light in the kitchen. Back in the living room, he bent to pick up his car keys from the center table. “I gotta go.” He said when he straightened up.
“Stay.” Shane breathed. “Please.”
“Hey…” Chris leaned in and took Shane’s mouth in a soft kiss. “I plan on doing just that one of these days before the weekends. Just not today. Tell me you’ll be okay.”
Shane gave a deep sigh. “I’ll be okay.”
“Good.” Chris turned and headed for the door, but then stopped and turned back to face Shane. “I wanted to ask. Why did you stay out of the public eye?”
Shane stiffened. Then he shrugged and said quietly… “I was hiding from you.”
Chris went as white as sheet. “Is that why you changed your name?” Chris couldn’t believe he’d never actually asked Shane why he changed his name. Well, Shane was his middle name but still…
“Yes,” Shane whispered.
Chris suddenly wanted to bawl his eyes out. He wanted to scream. To let out the pain that was squeezing his heart that very instant but he knew he couldn’t do that. Chris nodded, took a deep breath, and plastered a smile on his face.
“Okay. See you tomorrow.” Chris’ voice remained steady even though his heart rate sped out of control. He needed to get out of there before he broke down, he told himself.
“Hey, are you okay?” Shane asked softly.
“I’m fine,” Chris said and turned towards the door.
“Can we come and take you out for lunch tomorrow?” Shane asked.
“I’ll love that.” Chris turned around to respond.
“Okay. I’ll take Adele to the office for a brief meeting. From there, we’ll pick you up.”
“It’s a date.” Chris nodded. “And don’t forget to give Adele her medication.”
“Yes, mum.” Shane with humorously but Chris didn’t even crack a smile.
“I’ll call when I get home.”
“Chris…”
“I’ll call, Shane,” Chris said hoarsely.
And after Chris left, Shane stared unseeingly at the wall, feeling terrible that he had to tell Chris the real reason for his antisocial lifestyle. But they did promise each other to always be honest and face problems head-on, hadn’t they? He hadn’t been bothered when Mary had mentioned that same issue because he was used to telling anyone who asked that he stayed out of the public eye because he was a private person and preferred to stay private. He couldn’t possibly have given Chris that crap could he? Shane had known the truth would hurt Chris because he remembered Damon telling him how Chris had searched for him. On the other hand, Shane felt that Chris was a grown man and didn’t need any sugar-coated truth.
But he couldn’t shake off the look in Chris’ eyes when he’d dropped the bombshell. That look of pain and defeat had torn at Shane’s heart. All he’d wanted to do at that point was to take Chris into his arms, but for some reason, he couldn’t. Twisted as it may seem, he’d also felt some sort of satisfaction within at Chris’ pain. Was it possible he was still a teeny-weeny bit angry at Chris, Shane asked himself. He knew without a doubt that he loved the guy…was head over heels in love with Chris. Shane really wasn’t comfortable with that dark satisfaction he always felt whenever he said something in connection to their past, that ended up hurting Chris.
“Shit.” He breathed, starting for the stairs.
Shane knew he needed help. He needed to talk to someone, he thought fiercely. Much as he’d already told Chris not to be surprised if he brought up what he’d put him through once in a while because he’s human and all, he couldn’t keep hurting the man he loved. If it was the last thing he did, he would get help, talk it out, and love Chris with a clean heart, Shane thought fiercely. Shane went to check on Adele and headed for the bathroom. Just as he was about to step under the shower, his phone rang. It was Chris.
“Are you okay?” Shane asked immediately he picked up.
“I’m fine,” Chris responded, though he couldn’t shake off the pain within.
“I’m so sorry, Chris…”
“Hey, don’t be,” Chris said gruffly. “I’m glad you were honest with me. I’m not happy you did what you did but I understand and respect it because I know why you did it. Hell, I might have done the same had I been in your shoes.”
Shane went quiet for a moment and then gave a deep sigh. “I’m about to take a shower. May I call you back?”
“Sure. I’m about to hit the showers myself. Talk to you soon.” Chris said and hung up.
And that night, Shane talked to Chris on phone till he heard Chris’ even breathing, indicating that he was asleep. Shane stayed on the line, listening to Chris breathe, missing him with everything in him. He’d managed to talk Chris out of the shitty mood he’d obviously been in because of what he’d revealed earlier that evening. And when Chris had confessed that if he’d been told some months earlier that he would love someone that much, he wouldn’t have believed it, Shane have fallen even deeper in love with him. It was hands down the greatest feeling. Shane chose not to disconnect the line. He went to sleep listening to Chris breathing softly on the other end of the phone.