Free The One That Got Away by M. B. Feeney

Now I feel guilty.”
    “Why? It’s not your fault,” he repeated. “I just need to get hold of my dad to see if he can spot me the money until payday, but there’s no answer at home or on his mobile.”
    Seeing Shane, with his size and general prettiness, sitting forward and running his long fingers through his hair in stress was a huge contrast to the physical strength he’d displayed in the alleyway. My internal voice was screaming at me to get up and leave, that I needed to get away from him. Yet I couldn’t move, it was an effect he’d always had on me. I lit another cigarette as he pressed redial on his phone, only to huff in frustration seconds later.
    “Still no joy?”
    He shook his head. “I’ll have to head over and talk to him in person.”
    I took hold of his hand, causing him to look at me in shock, probably unsure of what was going on. “Come on, I’ll drive you home.” Where the hell had that come from?
    “You don’t need to do that.” There was a hint of nervousness in his voice.
    “I know I don’t, but I want to. I can’t go home and leave you stranded, so come on. Besides, I wasn’t due home till tomorrow anyway so no one will be the wiser if I get back late.” I watched him pause and think about it for a while, worry etched on his face. We argued for a few minutes about the journey being too far, and how much it would put me out.
    Eventually, he grabbed his bag so I led him to my car. The feel of his gaze watching me while I walked ahead was nice. I liked it.
    While he stowed his bag on the back seat, I made myself comfortable at the wheel. Was I courting trouble by driving him home?
     
    :: ::
     
    Shane:
    Silence surrounded us while Heidi navigated through London, toward the motorway. I was unsure what to say to her. When I’d woken up, I’d planned to meet up at the coffee shop, talk, and then get my train home to stew in the memories we’d spontaneously created at the reunion. Every time I thought about it, I ended up working my way out of the situation of knowing I was a cheat, something I’d never wanted to be. Something I hated myself for becoming.
    The only thing I was certain about was the need to have a serious discussion with Mel about our future. Surely she would see that we’d stagnated and our relationship wasn’t moving anywhere. At least I hoped she would.
    “Penny for them.” Heidi’s voice made me jump a little. “Sorry, champ, I didn’t mean to scare you.” Her laugh was light. I wanted to hear it again and again.
    “I was just thinking about Mel.”
    “Oh.”
    Shit. Not the best idea to discuss the girlfriend with the woman you cheated on her with. “I mean . . . I’m trying to work out how to initiate a discussion about us ending this as amicably as possible.”
    “I see.”
    I didn’t think she did, but I couldn’t blurt out how much I wanted to thank her for fucking me, which in turn finally gave me the balls to see how much Mel and I were over. It’s all well and good plodding along in a relationship out of habit, but there comes a time that enforces how doing just that isn’t helping anyone.
    “It’s been in the cards for some time. The other night just made me realise it needs to be done now.” I looked over at her when we pulled to a stop at a set of traffic lights leading to the start of the motorway. There was a serious and thoughtful look on her face. We were more than a little confined in her small car, and I didn’t want there to be any awkwardness between us.
    “Will you tell me about her?” Her voice was quiet, but a steely quality ran through it.
    The question took me by surprise. “What do you want to know?” I really wanted to know why , but this seemed safer.
    “I don’t know. What drew you to her?”
    I thought back to when I first saw Mel. She’d been different then, more carefree and up for a laugh.
    “Her laugh, and the way her eyes crinkled up when she did it.” If I was honest with myself, Mel had reminded me