After about an hour had gone by, all four men sat in the living room of Shane's spacious loft-style apartment. There was a definite change in the atmosphere that surrounded them. It was a complete change from the tension that loomed around them only a short time before. And Shane hadn't forgotten the promise he had made to Mike, Dave, and Evan. He just wanted a small break from the events and tension of the evening, even if only for a short-lived period of time.
"So when is Marissa supposed to be stoppin' by with the boys, Shane-O?" Mike asked.
Shane shrugged his broad shoulders. He was wondering the answer to that very question himself. He hoped it was sometime soon. Seeing his sons was an escape for him in a way. His sons gave him the distraction needed from the events of the evening. "I'm not entirely sure, Mike. I hope it's soon, though, because I have been looking forward to seeing them all day. I haven't seen them in a week." he replied.
"Really? That's kind of unusual isn't it?" Dave asked with a hint of shock in his voice.
"Yeah, it is, but Marissa and I both have been really busy lately. I talk to them on the phone every night before they go to bed, but with both of us being so busy lately, we just can't seem to coordinate our schedules. And she did say she had to run some errands before she brought them over."
Evan looked at Shane with determination in his eyes. He was not going to let the older man off that easy. He was not going to let him out of the promise that he had made only a short time before at Titan Towers. "Well, since it might end up being a while before she gets here, why don't we have that conversation you owe Mike, Dave, and I. That way we're not talking about what happened around Declan and Kenyon." he said.
Shane sighed. Not in frustration this time, which came as a relief to him. The sigh was meant more as a way to steel himself for the impending conversation. "Like I said before, I don't even know where to begin." he replied.
"Well… you could start with explanin' where Brooke fits into this feud with you, Randy, Ted, and Cody." Mike quickly responded.
"And you could explain why the hell you have turned into "Mr. Overprotective, Jealous Boyfriend" all of a sudden. You really pissed Brooke off and hurt her feelings to no extreme just so you know." Evan added.
Shane silently cursed himself for that. He didn't need Evan, or anyone else for that matter, to tell him what Brooke was feeling. It had been blatantly obvious to him. He had seen the hurt and fury in her eyes. "I know, Evan. I know. The conversation may have taken that direction, but I swear that was not the way I meant it." he replied.
"Then tell us what the hell is going on, Shane-O. We're here to help you." Dave said.