“Save me, Shayne.” Felicity runs toward Shayne.
My heart stutters as Shayne bends down and swoops Felicity up as if they’ve been doing it for years.
“I’ve got you.” Shayne kisses her cheek, putting her on her hip. “Good morning,” Shayne says.
“Do family yoga with us.” Felicity twirls Shayne’s hair that’s come loose from her bun.
“Yes, you should join us,” Emma says, giving her a smile.
“Are you sure?” Shayne asks.
“Of course. You’re family,” Clara says, taking Emma’s lead.
“Ok, let me change.” Shayne puts Felicity down, kissing the top of her head before heading down the hall to my room.
I can feel all five pairs of eyes burning a hole into me. “Don’t say anything.”
“We weren’t going to say anything,” Ben says with a smirk. “We were going to ask questions.”
“Come on Felicity, let’s go set up in the backyard for family yoga.” I help Felicity jump on my back and we head outside.
Shayne’s ass is up in the air and I can’t look away. Fuck, I don’t want to look away.
Axel smacks me on the back of my thigh. “Pay attention.”
“Believe me, I am.”
Axel smiles at me as Emma rolls her eyes in the front of the class. “Alright, that’s it for the day. Felicity has a playdate.”
We roll up our yoga mats with practiced ease. Shayne works in unison as if she’s done this with us from the beginning and something tugs deep in my chest. My whole family hugs Shayne as they take off, each one of them slipping me a wink like they know a secret.
We walk into the kitchen and Shayne stretches her arms toward the ceiling. “I didn’t realize how much I needed that.”
That thing tugs harder in my chest. “We try to do it at least once a week. It was more, but Emma’s classes are filling up and she keeps having to add more at the club.”
“I’m excited to get started on her website.”
I kiss her, knowing she’ll do a great job working on it. Shayne’s a visionary and her graphic skills are on point. “I’m really glad you’re here.”
Shayne smiles, lighting up the room more than the sun pouring in through the windows. “I’m really glad I’m here too.” She grabs her phone off the counter and glances at the screen. “I have to get to class.”
I wrap my arms around her thin waist. “Maybe you can skip for a day?”
Her green eyes grow wider. “Damien Jamison is suggesting I skip class? Who are you?”
I crack a smile. “It’s just one day.”
She raises a hand, checking my temperature on my forehead. “Are you feeling ok?”
“I’m feeling really good actually. I just don’t want you to go.”
She gives me a quick kiss. “The old Shayne would be skipping class all the time, but I really want to be more serious with my future. I’m taking your lead.”
“I really like that about you.” And for the first time in a long time I feel a sense of pride wash through me. I want to be the man to help Shayne build a sustainable future. And she’s rubbing off on me, too. My brothers for the longest time have told me I need to let loose a little more, and maybe having Shayne around is helping with that.
I know one thing’s for certain, this girl is doing things to me. And, it’s all for the better.
13
Shayne
The thought of skipping class and spending the day with Damien was very enticing. Leaving the house was probably the hardest thing I’ve done in a while. But, with his support and confidence in me, I’ve now found some in myself as well. I want to be the woman he can be proud of, that’s why I kissed him goodbye and rushed off to school before I could change my mind.
“Mr. Patrick?”
“Hey Shayne. What’s up?”
I stand straight with my shoulders back as I approach my professor. For months I’ve been too afraid to look for jobs, worried my graphic skills were only subpar. But with Damien and his family hiring me, it’s given me more confidence with my skills.
“I’m almost out of the program, and I was wondering if you knew of any companies that need some freelance work?”
Mr. Patrick puts down his pen, smiling up at me. “I was hoping you would ask me something like that. You’re the most talented student I have.” He stops and raises his bushy eyebrow. “Just don’t tell any of my other students I said that. I will deny it.”
I hold up two fingers. “Scouts honor, your secret is safe with me.”
He laughs a little before typing on his computer. “I have three companies that have requested student work.” He types some more. “I’ve sent them your email address, and they should be getting in touch with you by the end of the week.”
I could totally hug this man, but would never. The happiness beaming from me is pretty evident in my smile, but I try not to act like a five-year-old. “Three? Thank you so much, Mr. Patrick. I promise I’ll do my best.”
“I have no doubt you’ll do me proud, Shayne. In fact, one of them is for a company in New York. Devonshire. Their in house graphic designer quit recently and they are on the lookout for a new young rising star.”
“Devonshire?” Everyone who is anyone has heard about the biggest company in graphic design. To work for them would be a dream come true.
“I don’t know if I’m ready for that.” I resist biting my lip, thinking of being a part of a graphic design team with Devonshire. Damien’s face flashes through my mind, feeling like a punch in the gut. Would I really want to leave him?
Mr. Patrick breaks into my thoughts before they can ride away on a tangent I’m not prepared to go on. “Give yourself more credit, Shayne. If you hadn’t come up to me I would’ve pulled you aside before you graduated, and offered you the same opportunities I’m offering you now. You are a very talented young lady, and I can’t wait to see what you do with these jobs and future ones.” He stands up putting his hand on my shoulder. “Have faith in yourself, and if you don’t feel like you can do the job, then have faith in me when I say, you’re good enough.”
I nod. “Thank you.”
He smiles. “You’re going to do great.”
“Thank you,” I say again as I head out the door.
The whole drive to the club my mind spins with possibilities. Devonshire. Wow. I can’t even wrap my head around it all. I can’t even think about the thought that I’d have to leave Damien.
Could I really leave him?
I shake my head as if the action will get the thoughts in order. Pulling into the parking lot, I push the thoughts to the back of my head. I won’t have time to think about it so there’s no reason letting them have real-estate in the forefront of my mind.
My phone pings and I glance down at it. Two emails with freelance work. I can’t believe how quick they responded. I can’t believe this is all happening so fast.
I open the emails, scanning the info really quick before leaving the comfort of my car.