Chapter 70: Right Person.

Downstairs, Shane and Denise were engrossed in a movie, their laughter punctuated with the crunch of a shared bag of chips. Occasionally, Shane would steal glances at Denise, whose entire focus was locked onto the screen. "I can't wait to be loved like this," she muttered wistfully, admiring the affection between the movie's lead couple.

"Do you want to be loved like this?" Shane asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Yes," she answered instinctively, popping a few chips into her mouth, momentarily distracted.

"Then you need to bring down the walls you've built around yourself," he replied, turning her attention away from the movie and back to him.

"Love can't seep in if you don't let those walls down," he continued, his tone measured and sincere.

"I'll give you credit; you're very smart... and observant," she said, her tone shifting slightly, though a hint of defensiveness lingered. "But the walls can't come down."

"But you just said you want to be loved..." he said gently, concern etching his features.

"Forget what I said," she interjected, the firmness in her voice betraying the vulnerability lurking beneath. "It’s just wishful thinking."

Shane studied her for a moment, the toughness in her expression overshadowed by the flicker of pain hiding in her eyes. “Have you ever been heartbroken?” he asked quietly.

“No,” she shook her head slowly. “I think it’s just life’s toll on me... Going through enough hell in life makes one shield themselves from further disasters.”

“And you think love is that disaster waiting to happen?” he challenged, holding her gaze with unwavering determination.

“Is it not?” she countered, her attention shifting back to the flickering television.

Shane leaned back on the couch, his eyes steady on Denise, who seemed nearly oblivious to his unwavering observation. It struck him that love, in her mind, was more of a puzzle she no longer wished to solve.

“But what if love is worth the risk?” Shane ventured, his voice gentle yet firm. “It can be beautiful, even amidst its chaos. You can’t just assume love will lead to disaster. Sometimes, it’s the very thing that helps us heal.”

Denise paused the movie, the screen frozen on a dramatic moment between the characters. Turning to Shane, the glow of the screen highlighting her features, she revealed a deeper layer. “I don’t want to get hurt, Shane,” she admitted, her voice softening, vulnerable. “It feels safer to just… not get involved. I’d rather invest my time and energy in myself and my friends than risk my heart on something uncertain.”

“I understand where you’re coming from,” Shane replied, his sincerity evident in the warmth of his gaze. “But what if holding onto that perspective is what keeps you locked away? You deserve to experience joy—not just as a bystander in films or stories, but in your own life. Opening yourself up doesn’t guarantee hurt; it offers a chance at something real.”

Denise felt a flutter in her chest, the weight of his words wrapping around her heart like a warm embrace. She quickly averted her eyes back to the television, the earlier bravado starting to falter. “You sound like you’re trying to convince me to fall in love,” she said, a half-smile dancing on her lips, her defenses beginning to weaken.

“Maybe I am,” he said, his grin widening teasingly. “But more importantly, I think you need someone to show you that it’s okay to take that leap. Love is scary, sure, but it can also be liberating. The right person will make you feel safe, not vulnerable.”

“Do you really think the ‘right person’ exists?” she asked, curiosity oozing from her voice, a slight shift in her demeanor as if the guarded girl was slowly giving way to a young woman grappling with hope.

“I genuinely do,” he asserted confidently, propping himself on his arm and leaning in a little closer. “There’s someone for everyone, and it might even be someone you least expect. It just takes patience and a willingness to be open.”

“If only every right person was just like you, life would be a breeze,” she sighed, admiring his maturity—his strong yet tender character. Though he lacked the charm and wealth of Steven, he was everything a woman could truly desire.

“Do you want me to be your right person?” Shane asked, his casual tone laced with a seriousness that caught her off guard.

Denise's eyes widened, shock rendering her momentarily speechless. Silence filled the room, mirroring the stillness of the paused movie, and Denise felt her breath hitch in her throat. Was he serious? The unexpectedness of his question hung between them, a charged moment before a storm, and she could feel her heart pounding fiercely against her ribs as she searched his gaze for any sign of jest. All she found was unwavering sincerity.

“Shane, I—” she stammered, words failing to assemble in her head. The thought sent her mind reeling. “You can’t be serious.”

“I am,” he replied gently, his tone unyielding. “Why not?”

Denise looked away, her eyes glued to the paused screen where the movie's characters lingered in a moment that seemed to suspend time. Frustration bubbled up inside her like a pot ready to boil over. Did he understand what he was asking?

“Do you even grasp the weight of what you're suggesting?” she voiced her tangled thoughts.

“I do,” he said, his gaze unflinching.

“You don’t,” she countered, turning to face him fully. “You’re about to throw away your time and commitment for a teenager wrapped in walls, all to teach her that love is beautiful, even amidst chaos.”

“Am I not allowed to do that?” he shot back, defensiveness creeping into his tone.

“Not to someone you don’t truly love,” she replied, the finality of her words hanging in the air.

“And who says I don’t love you?” The question hung between them, shocking her into momentary silence.

“I like you, Denise… a lot,” he confessed, his admission striking like a lightning bolt, freezing her very being in place.

Seeing her shock, he offered a teasing smile. “No one as handsome and mature as me has ever confessed to you?”

Denise couldn’t help but let out a breathless laugh, a mixture of disbelief and awkward tension swirling within her. “This isn’t a game, Shane.”

“Take your time to think about it,” he said, his voice softening. He reached over, gently taking the remote from her hand and resumed the movie, the soft sounds of dialogue filling the void. Yet, even as the film played on, her mind was still spinning, caught between the flickering images on screen and the bold truth he had just laid bare before her.