– Final Decisions
***
Well, that weekend arrived quite fast. We took a private flight first class.
While I enjoyed being taken care off, Shane was as nervous as ever.
"Shane, everything is gonna be fine. I promise."
"I know. I hate meeting dads. That's my problem."
I laughed. He always succeeded in making me laugh. Even when he was nervous.
***
We arrived safely. We reached my parents house and Shane was welcomed appropriately. He was given a different room of course.
"Hope you don't mind sleeping in a different room, son." my dad had told him.
"Um no problem, sir." Shane chuckled.
"You two should go freshen up. We'll discuss during dinner time." my mom cut in with a smile.
"Okay."
**
Evening reached and we were all seated at the table. At first there was silence. But then my mom broke it.
"What do you think of the food, Shane?"
"It's very delicious ma'am. Absolutely appetising. I now see where Shayenne got her great cooking skills." he smirked at me. I smiled.
"Thank you very much. Happy you like it." she smiled.
Guess he'd won one more bit of my mother's favour.
"I'd like to know about you, Shane. I'm talking about your parents, childhood and the rest." my dad continued.
Shane looked at me then back at my dad.
"Um, okay."
Shane told them everything he'd told me. Even Sloane and their relationship. He didn't want my parents to try and research on him and discover something he had not already told them.
"Sir, my past might not have been an exemplary one but I'm a new person now. I make my clean money and I avoid everything that has to do with the past. The fact is, I want you to believe that I really love you're daughter. More than I've loved anyone." he concluded.
My dad stared straight into his eyes. I could clearly see that Shane was uncomfortable.
"And what about the tattoos? I don't like them." my dad stated firmly.
Shane smirked at this to the surprise of everyone.
"I'm sorry Sir, but there's nothing I can do about that now." he replied casually.
I smiled at that. I loved him the way he was.
My dad looked at my mother for a while, then turned to Shane.
"I know. Was just letting you know." he told Shane who looked very amused.
"Well, thanks for letting me know then." he replied.
My dad chuckled a little and shook his head before turning to me.
"And you, do you love him?" he asked me.
"Yes, dad."
"I see." he turned to Shane, "I do hope you're feelings towards my daughter are sincere because I'm not gonna lie, I still got doubts."
Shane turned and smiled at me. Then turned to my dad.
"You have nothing worry about. I assure you. I love her very much. If I didn't take this relationship seriously, trust me, I would've never accepted to follow her here. That's a fact."
He wasn't lying.
My father nodded and looked at my mother.
"So, do you approve me being with your daughter? I love her very much."
He stared at Shane.
"Do I have a choice?" he asked and I found myself smiling.
"Is that a yes?" I mused.
"I believe it's time for you to decide who you want to be with, darling. You're a grown young woman. I just hope you make the right choices."
"I will. I've began making them." I smiled happily, looking at Shane.
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.
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