Chapter 44
1017words
He smiled back then held my hand and leaned over to kiss my cheek. We couldn't kiss kiss because my dad could change his mind. Like I cared now. I wasn't a teenager anymore.
"Thank you very much, sir. I won't let you or her down."
"You better. Else, you're the next going to jail."
Shane's smile faded a little at my father's serious tone.
I laughed. My mom too.
"Oh, James. Don't scare the young man."
"I'm not scaring him. I'm just warning him."
"I've understood, sir." Shane mused a little.
"Good. So when are you marrying her?"
The question shocked everyone. Even my mom.
"What??" Shane asked, lost.
"You heard me."
"Sir, I don't have that in mind yet."
"I'm pulling your legs, son." he suddenly laughed and we stared in surprise before joining him.
"Oh, dad." I mused.
"But it wouldn't be a bad idea, would it?" he went on to tease.
"James." my mother raised a brow at him and we laughed.
"No, it isn't." Shane agreed with him to our surprise. He looked at me and smiled.
"The thing is, I really do see myself with Shayenne. I don't think I'll ever want to leave her."
"You sure?" I joked with a little laugh, "We just got together."
"True. Don't try to give her hopes." my dad teased and Shane chuckled a little.
He held my hand again
"Honestly, I want to be with Shayenne until she finishes school and graduates. That's in three years from now. And if I'm still with her, which I hope I will be, then I don't see why I shouldn't put a ring on it after a few years with her."
I stared, my amused smile fading a little after realising that he was actually serious. Even my mother stared.
My dad mused at his answer.
"We'll see about that, son. Don't be so sure to be the one my daughter will end up with."
"Is it a bet?" Shane mused, "Cuz I like challenges. I really want to be with her. And in the years to come, you'll see that. And hopefully you'll accept me completely."
"Hmmm." my dad nodded, "Time will tell."
"It definitely will." Shane smiled warmly at me and kissed my hand. I smiled back, goosebumps covering my skin.
My mother smiled in amusement while she stared at my father who was watching us. Then she looked at us.
"I'm entirely on your side." she mused and we chuckled.
**
That night, I sneaked into the room in which Shane was. I wasn't going to leave him alone, was I?
"You know I wasn't going to leave you alone, right?" I mused and joined him under the sheets.
He smiled and wrapped me up in his strong arms.
"You know I meant all I'd said earlier at the table, right?" he started
I looked at him.
"Shayenne, I really want to build something strong with you. I surprise myself because in such a short time, I fell for you. Deep."
I was quiet.
"You're the first person I've sincerely loved, you know? I've never said I love you to anyone else. I don't know if it's your shy and innocent nature that attracted me so much that I fell in love? I'll never understand."
I smiled a little.
"I love you too, Shane. And yes, I hope we'll be something strong. It's just the beginning. Time will tell if we're meant to last or not. But honestly, I hope we will."
He smiled and kissed my forehead.
"I can't wait for you to graduate from that university." he said and I giggled.
"I'm sure the next three years will pass faster than you think. And hopefully we'll still be together."
"I hope so too. I know we will."
Goosebumps covered my skin sweetly.
He caressed my cheek and then gave me a slow passionate kiss. This bad boy had turned out to be a good one and hopefully the one for me? The one I was going to stay with? I had a good feeling about this new relationship. I felt it. I trusted it. We both did.
"I love you." he whispered softly against my lips.
"I love you too. I just hope we'll still be in love as we are right now in three years to come."
"Oh, we will. We will." he smiled and we snuggled up against each other.
Epilogue
-Three years later, Shayenne did graduate. And so did Keisha.
As promised, Sloane was able to get them jobs in her father's productions.
Shayenne and Shane were still going strong and a year after she'd graduated and was fully independent and with a good job, he eventually asked her hand in marriage and she said yes. That was enough to shut her father's mouth up given than even after those years, he was still very doubtful of Shane.
Seven months later, Shayenne and Shane did get married and couldn't be happier. With time they would have three kids but for now, the lived their new life as one. As a happily, young and wedded couple.
As for Josh, well, he was where he was supposed to have been a long time ago. Not only was he charged for rape, violence, physical abuse and other mini charges were added to his case. He wasn't going to be bothering anyone for the time being.
FIN.
***
Shayenne watched her three kids asleep in their bedroom. She smiled to herself. It had been five years after her marriage to Shane and so far, not once has she regretted had decision.
She was a happy woman now. Her life was better. She had a loving husband that cared for her and three children that adored her. Her hurtful past was behind her. Josh was away in jail, paying for his offenses while her parents were endlessly trying to regain her trust and love. She thought of how miserable her life would've have been if Shane had not come to her.
