His Return

Chapter 3

Dinner was delicious, but awkward. Mallory was clearly uncomfortable, and he knew it had something to do with him. Maybe she believed everything that he was charged with. He wasn’t sure.

They were sitting on the porch, a warm summer night with the sun still up, drinking iced tea with his aunt and uncle. The conversation had slowed to a lull, and he knew the night was about to be over.

“I guess I need to carry you over to your place,” Mark said, groaning as he stood up.

“I can run Shane back to his place,” Mallory volunteered.

He nearly spit his drink out in shock. She’d been giving him the cold shoulder all night and now she was volunteering to spend more time with him? Well, it was just a ten-minute car ride, but it was odd.

“Thank you, dear,” Mark told her.

“We can head out when you’re ready, Shane,” Mallory sent him a small smile and headed inside with her glass and Mark’s that he’d left outside.

“You be nice to her,” Lorraine told him.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” He asked, confused.

“I have no idea,” Lorraine answered, that one sentence sounding more like she had some idea.

Shane swallowed and went with the easiest answer. “Yes, ma’am.”

“It’s good to have you home,” she patted his cheek and left him outside with his thoughts.

His thoughts had kept him company for far too long to let himself linger with them more than he needed to. Less than a minute later, he was following everyone inside.

Mallory was washing dishes as Lorraine attempted to stop her. Mark was in his recliner, halfway to sleeping already.

“Go on, take him home, you have to work in the morning,” Lorraine tossed a dish towel over her shoulder and used her hip to shove Mallory out of the way.

“She’s not going to let me help, so we can head out if you’re ready,” Mallory walked over to him.

He nodded to her and went to Lorraine, giving her a hug. “Thank you for everything,” he whispered to her.

“Go on, get,” she swatted him with the towel, “you’re going to make me emotional.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Shane put up his hands and backed away in mock surrender.

Mallory had grabbed her purse and was waiting by the front door. He took his time and gave Mark a hug in the recliner before leaving.

“I hate that you have to drive me around,” he confessed as he got in the car.

“I don’t mind,” Mallory put the car in gear.

“Can I ask a small favor?” He wasn’t sure if she’d agree, but he thought he’d try.

“What’s up?”

“Would you mind swinging by the gas station?”

“Oh, of course,” Mallory offered him a small smile before looking back at the road.

It wasn’t far, and she pulled up and parked, not getting out. He set his mind to being quick and ran in, grabbing a six-pack of beers and some snacks before heading to the register.

There were condoms behind the counter, and on impulse, he asked for a pack. It wasn’t like he had any specific plans right now, but soon he’d be trying to make some best to have one in his wallet.

Mallory laughed as he got in the car. “If you had told me what you wanted, I could have told you what you have in the apartment.”

“I didn’t look before we left.” He grinned. “I probably shouldn’t have any, might not, but I won’t have a way to get some if I change my mind.” Shrugging, he buckled in for the short ride.

They pulled up in the back instead of out front where she and Mark had been parked earlier. The setting sun was turning the sky hues of pinks and purples, and he took a moment to admire it before unbuckling and reaching for his bag.

“Do you need anything?” Mallory looked at him questioningly.

“Company?” He teased, confident she would say no, but hopeful as always.

She bit her bottom lip and he couldn’t help but wonder how many times he’d pictured that exact thing over the last several years when thinking about her. She didn’t know how much he’d lusted for her even before he was locked up. He’d done his best to keep her as just a friend, scared that he’d lose her if he even acted on it.

“I can come up for a little bit,” she cut the car off and got it.

Shane scrambled to get his tall frame out of her compact car quickly. He wanted to at least get to the door before her. She knew what to expect, having helped Lorraine, but something in him wanted to play the gentleman.

“I forgot, I have a key from helping Lorraine,” she played with her keys at the door. “I’ll give it to you when I get the right one.”

Shane stepped around her, unlocking the door and holding it open for her. “keep it, it’s fine.”

She stepped in around him and waited for him to close the door. “Umm, kitchen or living room?” She asked.

“Couch for sure. Have a seat, I’m going to put these in the fridge.” He slid the six-pack into the fridge and grabbed two, popping them open with his key.

He carried her one and sat next to her on the couch, handing her a beer before grabbing the remote and flipping through some channels.

Shane kept an eye on her, looking for any reaction to what she might want to watch. After getting no reactions from her, he stopped on some random channel and looked at her directly.

“This is awkward,” he admitted.

“I’m sorry,” Mallory played with the label of her bottle.

“It’s nothing you need to be sorry for, I just, I don’t know what to talk about or do,” it wasn’t just with her, it had been the same with his aunt and uncle.

Mallory stood and held out her hand for him to get up. “Let’s go watch the sunset instead.”

Nothing had sounded better to him. He stood and took her hand, letting her lead him outside to the small porch where she sat on the wood, looking out over the parking lot. He sat next to her and watched the sky.

“Is it weird?” She asked.

“Being out? A little.

“Can I help?” Her voice was so soft that he’d barely heard it.

He sighed and looked over at her. He missed her more than anyone else and had done his best to let her go. She was always on his mind, but he didn’t want her to come to see him or write to him. He wanted her to live her life and not be mixed in with his s**t.

Maybe it was also that he didn’t want her to be the one to stop. It was easier on him if he did it. He was a selfish asshole.

“Just talk to me?” He finally answered, “tell me anything, everything.”

She looked over at him, her eyes big and her mouth formed an “O”. “I, um, I’m not that interesting.”

“You are to me,” he told her, honestly.

Before he could talk himself out of it, he acted on the impulse he’d had forever and brought his hand up to her cheek. He waited for her to react, expecting her to pull away, but she leaned into his touch instead.

Shane leaned forward, pressing his lips to hers. A quick kiss, testing, probing. She closed her eyes and sighed, opening her mouth just enough for him to deepen the kiss.