"For a few thousand bucks in lesson fees, you're gonna grope that old woman like some kind of escort?"
Shane stayed quiet. He didn't bother feeding her the usual bullshit about "it's just business" or "it's for the money." He knew exactly what this was.
He also knew he didn't have to sell himself to close deals. Not yet. But something had shifted inside him lately. His body was changing—stronger, hungrier. Testosterone was spiking hard, and with it came a raw, relentless drive he was starting to struggle with. The Gallagher blood running through him didn't help. It had always carried a taste for indulgence.
He couldn't promise Karen he'd always stay in control. Not when women like Caroline were already circling. Better to be honest now than destroy her later.
Karen slammed the car to the curb and whipped around to face him, eyes blazing.
"You think I'm blind, Shane? That bitch was looking at you like she wanted to swallow you whole. And you—you were touching her. If I'd walked in one minute later, would you two have been fucking on that yoga mat?!"
Shane let her scream it out. When she finally stopped, he spoke calmly.
"Maybe. Maybe not. But that's not the point, Karen."
"Not the point?!" she snapped, voice cracking.
Shane reached over and gently took her chin, forcing her to look at him. His eyes were steady, honest, and a little tired.
"Listen. My body's changing. My energy, my drive… it's getting harder to manage. There's a whole world out there, Karen. Right now it's just you in the South Side, but soon there'll be more women like Caroline. Younger. Prettier. Throwing themselves at me. I'm not some saint. I don't know if I'll always be able to say no."
Karen stared at him, tears already spilling down her cheeks.
"So you're telling me you're gonna fuck other women? You're giving me a heads-up?"
"I'm telling you the truth before it happens," Shane said quietly. "I don't want to lie and say I'll only ever want you. That's bullshit. I might slip one day. I'd rather you see exactly who I am now than find out later when it breaks you."
Karen's breathing turned ragged. For a second she looked ready to explode—scream, slap him, wreck the car. Instead she unbuckled her seatbelt, climbed straight into his lap, and started pounding his chest with both fists.
"You want to throw me away, is that it?! After everything I've done for you?! I gave you everything!"
Shane didn't block the hits. He just waited until her arms got weak and she collapsed against him, sobbing.
"Hey. Hey, Karen." He kissed the top of her head, voice low. "Nobody's throwing you away. If I wanted to fuck around behind your back, I would've just done it. I'm telling you because I love you. I don't know what the hell I'd do if you left."
Karen stayed pressed against his chest, crying hard. She knew he was right. With his looks, his body, and the way money was starting to roll in, women were going to keep coming. She could lie to herself all she wanted, but she already belonged to him—body and soul.
If she couldn't change him, she'd make damn sure she stayed the most important thing.
Her hand shot down and grabbed him hard through his pants, squeezing tight enough to make him hiss.
"Fine. Fuck whoever you want out there. I don't care. But you don't put a baby in any of them. Your kids come from me. Only me. If you knock somebody else up…" Her voice dropped into something cold and vicious. "I'll wait until you're asleep and cut it off. I swear to God."
The car went dead silent except for her shaky breathing.
Shane looked at her flushed, tear-streaked face—the raw possessiveness, the desperate love, the willingness to accept the worst parts of him just to keep him. Something dark and hungry twisted in his chest.
He grabbed the back of her neck and kissed her hard, almost bruising.
"As long as you're standing beside me, you're always first. Nobody takes that spot. Ever."
---
Dinner at the Gallagher house felt lighter than usual. Shane was cutting his steak when he noticed Fiona kept glancing at the clock on the wall, a small, secret smile tugging at her mouth every time.
Love looked good on her. Even if it was still brand new.
When everyone started arguing over who had to do dishes, Shane stood up and started stacking plates.
"Relax. I got it tonight. Fiona, go get changed. Don't keep the guy waiting."
The table went quiet. Every head turned toward her.
Lip grinned around his toothpick. "Well, well. Somebody's got a hot date. And the rest of us get to slack off. Lucky us."
Carl whooped and bolted for the living room. "No dishes! Freedom!"
Debbie immediately leaned in, eyes sparkling. "Who is it? What's he look like?"
Ian just shook his head and smiled, passing Shane another plate.
Fiona froze, then tried to play it off. "It's not a date. I'm just tired and—"
She met Shane's knowing look and gave up.
"Fine. You win. I'm going out." She tossed her dish towel on the table and headed upstairs.
---
The next morning, Shane slept in for once. When he came upstairs, the house was mostly empty except for Fiona and Jimmy in the kitchen. Jimmy was washing dishes with his sleeves rolled up while Fiona leaned against the counter beside him, talking softly.
"Morning," Shane said.
Fiona smiled, looking genuinely happy. "Morning, sleeping beauty. There's eggs and bacon on the table if you're hungry."
Shane walked straight past the food and over to Jimmy.
"Hey, Steve. Mind stepping down to the basement with me for a minute?"
Jimmy paused, glancing between Shane and Fiona. "Uh… can't we talk here? I was just helping Fiona with—"
"Just a quick man-to-man chat," Shane said, eyes flicking to Fiona.
She shrugged, clearly amused. "Go on. It's a Gallagher tradition. Every new boyfriend gets dragged downstairs for the 'welcome' talk."
Jimmy swallowed hard, looking up at Shane's much larger frame. "You serious? You're not actually gonna hit me, right?"
"Go," Fiona said, giving him a little push. "I wanna see if you can take it."
Jimmy followed Shane downstairs. The second they were inside, Shane shut the door behind them and locked it with a loud click.