"Stop."

"Why?"

"Because you're embarrassing me."

"You're naked on a public beach, but my complements are embarrassing you?" Shane sniggers.

"Shut up. It's different."

"You're crazy," he kids, "I love you, but you're crazy."

"Do you think now that you have me back, you're still going to want me?" I ask out of the blue.

It suddenly dawns on me that maybe it was the thrill of 'getting' me that drew Shane back to me - not me, the person. Now that he has me, he might not think I'm as incredible and amazing as before.

"Absolutely." Shane sits up, "I told you I would never leave again and I meant it. You're stuck with me now."

I giggle, "I guess I could do worse." I think back on my night with Chad, "actually, I have."

I sit up and wrap my arms around my knees. "I love you, Shane. I hope we can make this work."

"If we want it to work, it will."

We sit quietly staring out to the ocean. It's dark but the moon casts a glow over the water. It's so much like the first time we came here. Back then, we were kids in love. What we had was real, but we knew so little about life and love. This time is different - a new 'first' - if you will. My only hope is that this time, it won't end.

Shane

Awesome. Fucking amazing. Incredible. Unbelievable.

I didn't plan on having sex with Beth - really. I thought it would be pretty cool to take her back to the beach we used to go to. Okay, she lost her virginity there - with me - but that's not the reason I drove there. It just seemed fitting for the occasion.

Even if I had planned it, I never could have imagined that fucking Beth would be as mind blowing as it was. No. That wasn't fucking. That was making love. Now I remember what the difference is. There's no way to be any closer to another person than to literally be inside them, yet, the intimacy Beth and I shared is like nothing I have ever felt - not even with her eight years ago.

Were we in love back then? Yes. It was different though. We've been through so much. We've each experienced love and loss. We've lived and grown and become adults. There is much more to love than we ever knew then. Now that we do know, our love is only deeper, and that is the difference between Beth and every other woman on earth.

We drove back to my hotel in the middle of the night. Beth didn't want to go back to her house - I don't blame her. I also don't want to be away from her ever again. I know that's not reality, but right now, I need her here.

Beth and I made love again when we got back. I fell asleep spooning her. She fits me perfectly. The sun is up but I don't want to get out of bed. I watch her sleeping next to me. She's beautiful and peaceful. I brush her hair back gently with my fingertips. She begins to stir. I didn't want to wake her, but I'm glad she's getting up.

"Morning, baby," I say quietly, still petting her head.

Beth smiles, "morning." I pull her closer into me.

"I was afraid last night was just a dream," she says.

"Nope. It happened. I was pretty fucking amazing though, so I can see how you might think that."

Beth laughs, "yes, you were. Feels like you're ready to go again," she says, noting my morning wood.

"I've been waiting eight years, babe. We have a lot of lost time to make up for."

Beth reaches her hand back and grabs my ass, pulling me into her in agreement. I massage her breasts in my hands, both of us enjoying the feeling. I run my hands over her belly and down between her legs. She's already wet and ready for me. I sink myself inside her and groan.

Fuck. I love this woman. I'm never going to let her go - not again.

Beth

"So, what happens now?" I ask Shane. He's getting dressed for a meeting.

"You can stay here and look pretty until I get back."

"I've been here for two days now. I think I have to get back to work."

"Do you want me to go with you?"

"Definitely not. That's a terrible idea." I laugh at the thought of walking into work with Shane on my arm.

Shane and I spoke about me going back to work with the Westbrooks. It's going to be weird. Even if they want me to stay, I can't. I have to find a new job with a different agency.

I have a feeling they don't know about Chad and I yet. I would think Claire would reach out to me if she did. Chad's been texting me that we need to talk, but I haven't answered yet. Whatever he told his parents doesn't matter. I'm going to make sure they know the truth. Fuck him.

Normally, I wouldn't care what they thought about me, or why Chad and I are breaking up but the Westbrooks have a lot of power around here. If I want to keep my reputation in tact, and be able to find work anywhere, I need the truth to be told.

"I'm going to take care of it today. I can't hide out here forever."

"Sure you can," Shane replies, raising his eyebrows, "I'll keep you here as my sex slave. I won't tell anyone."

"Sounds fantastic," I joke. "Speaking of 'not telling anyone', what are we going to do about my father?"

"Big Dan? Don't worry. I'll take care of Big Dan."

"Want me to go with you?" I offer. I still have no idea what happened between them, but I love Shane. I want things to go well this time around.

"No, thanks. You take care of your business and I'll take care of mine."

Thinking about what might transpire concerns me. Shane can see it in my face.

"Don't worry, babe. I got this. We got this."

I walk over and hug him, "you're right, babe. We got this."

Shane drops me off at my house on the way to his meeting. I don't expect to run into Chad - I told him not to come back. Besides, he's such a creature of habit, he wouldn't be home this time of day anyway.

As soon as I enter, I'm disgusted. I hate this house and everything it represents. All the white, pristine furniture. Everything neat and tidy. The fancy gadgets. The huge television. Everything Chad ever wanted - I agreed to. What an idiot I was. That's not like me. This house isn't like me. Now that I'm finally free, I see everything for what it is. I've been living a lie.

I walk upstairs to shower and put on some fresh clothing. I want to look professional when I go to the office today. I take my time getting ready, I'm procrastinating, dreading the day ahead.

Since I'm wasting time anyway, I decide to call Abby. I should fill her in on what's been going on. She answers just before her voicemail picks up.

"Hey, sista," she greets me.

"Hey, Abby. How are you?"

"Pretty good. The semester is just about over so I'll be able to relax again soon. How are you?"

"Good. I've had an interesting couple of weeks."

"So I heard," Abby replies.

"You heard? What? From who?"

"Come on. Just because I'm not around doesn't mean I'm out of the loop."

"Seriously?" who would she have spoken to? "What do you know?"

"Let's see. I know Shane's back - you told me that. I also know Chad is now officially the douchebag we all thought he was."

"How do you know?"

"Tommy told me. He wanted to run a couple things by me."

"Shit. I didn't realize you guys spoke so often."

"We don't speak often - only when our sister's boyfriend is a cheating asshole and her ex-lover who disappeared for eight years returns to try and win her back."

I laugh, "you make my life sound so interesting."

"Are you kidding? Your life is like a made for TV movie. I mean, right now it is, anyway."

"I guess when you break it down like that, it sounds pretty crazy."

"So tell me what's going on with Shane. Is he still gorgeous?"

"I knew you always had a crush on him," I kid.

"Of course. What girl didn't back then?"

"True. I was lucky, wasn't I?" I reply, dreamily. "Well, Chad and I are over."

"Thank God."

"I never knew everyone disliked him so much."

"No one really disliked him. We just didn't care for him - not for you anyway."

"I wish someone would have pointed this out sooner," I say matter of factly, "would have saved me a lot of trouble."

"You wouldn't have listened. You're stubborn like that."

She's right. "Well, Shane and I have been hanging out."

"Hanging out?"

"Yeah. I guess we're kind of back together."

"Kind of? Like, you're fucking?"

"No! I mean, well, yes, but not really. It's so much more than that."

"You guys always did have something special," Abby says seriously.

"Yeah. It was special. It is special. It's nothing like what I had with Chad."

"That's a good thing. Have you told Mo and Big Dan yet?"

I hesitate, "No. Why? Did you or Tommy?

Abby laughs, "Hell no. That's all you. I'm just glad I'll be there next week to see it all go down."

"You'll be too late. It's going down tonight."

"Tonight?"

"Yup."

"Are you scared? There's a fair chance dad might try to kill Shane."

"We're adults now, Abby. I think they can talk it out - whatever it is - or was."

"You keep telling yourself that."

"Ugh. I know," I admit, "I'm a little nervous."