�Shan?� Pam asked knocking on the door. I opened my eyes and saw Pam standing in the doorway. �Um, Shane�s here and he said he isn�t leaving until he talks to you�. I glanced at the alarm clock by the side of my bed. �Midnight?� I thought silently to myself, �I must have dozed off�. I pulled the covers back and headed into the living room. Shane was sitting on the couch rubbing his eyes with his hands. He looked up at me. I couldn�t help but think how rough he looked.
Shane stood up and walked towards me, he opened his arms to hug me. I pushed him away and shook my head at him. His face seemed to get even sadder than it already was. �Look� he said in a hoarse voice �can we go into your room?� he asked, looking at Pam who was sitting in the kitchen watching us.
Shane followed me down the hallway to my room. He shut the door behind him and sat down on the bed next to me. �Look, I didn�t kiss Beth, she kissed me. I would NEVER have done that to you, dammit I love you. I have been completely miserable these past few days, I haven�t eaten or slept.� He said. I could tell, his eyes had dark circles under them and his skin looked ashen.
I couldn�t speak; I was still trying to figure things out in my head. Shane stared at me, �Baby?� he asked seeing if I was paying attention. I turned to face him �I don�t like people like Beth. The ones who don�t care if the men are single, married, or taken. She wants them and she will have them and it upsets me that she is around you so much.�
Shane nodded, �I really don�t want her around but there is only so much I can do� he said. Shane placed his hand on top of mine. He gently squeezed it and placed his head on my shoulder. I ran my thumb over his hands and sighed. �Shane, I swear if anything like that happens again, your fault or not, i'm gone.� I stated firmly so I would get it in his head that I was serious.
Shane laid down and pulled me with him. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close to him. He softly kissed my forehead. �I love you� he whispered. �I love you too� I said breathing deeply, his scent was almost intoxicating. We quickly fell asleep.
*****
The next morning, I woke up and crawled out of bed. I tried not to wake Shane since I knew that he hadn�t slept in a few days. I walked down the hall into the living room and flipped on the TV. I continued my trek and went in the kitchen to make a pot of coffee.
Once it was finished I settled in onto the couch and watched the morning news. Pam came out, made herself a cup and joined me. �So?� she asked, looking at me with sleepy eyes. �Its ok, Shane explained. I swear if I ever see that girl messing with him again i�m going to go off.� I answered, still agitated about the whole situation.
Pam chuckled and picked up the remote. The news was over and she switched it to SpongeBob Squarepants. Pam looked at me as the credits came on. �Oh who lives in a pineapple under the sea?� We started singing loudly �SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS. Absorbent and yellow and porous is he. SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS. If nautical nonsense be something you wish, then hop on the deck and flub like a fish� Pam and I were cracking up. We had been singing so loud that we didn�t notice Shane standing in the kitchen watching us. �Nice� he said walking out with a cup of coffee. Pam and I looked at each other and laughed. Shane sat down and kissed me on the cheek. �Feeling better?� I asked curiously. �Much� he answered, smiling.
Shane and I decided to spend the day at his race shop and then we would go to Jr�s for dinner.
Shane showed me around the shop and introduced me to the people that I didn�t meet at the race. A tall slender blonde walked out of the front office �Mr. Hmiel, you have a meeting with Billy at 10� she said looking at her watch. Shane introduced me to the woman and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek as she was walking away. �Hey why don�t you call Jr and see what he wants us to cook for dinner. You can run to the store and pick it up. By the time you get back I should be finished with my meeting.� He said. He walked out and I found the exit. I got into Shane�s truck and drove to the Kroger that was about a mile from the shop. I called Jr while I was sitting in the parking lot, we chatted for a few than decided on Steaks. I turned off the truck and went inside to shop.
