We’d barely talked the other day after Melanie had left my condo. We’d made sure to say good morning and check in on each other during the day, but I wanted to get back to seeing her. Taking her on a date was that best way to do that, because I needed to make sure that everything was still fine between us. If I left Melanie alone for too long, her mind would start racing again and who knew what excuse she would come up with next to not be with me.
That’s something that I just couldn’t chance with her.
“I’d love to go on a date with you, Jack. I would just need to find someone to watch Amelia.”
“She could come with us, if that made things easier for you.” I gave her the suggestion not only because I wanted to get to know Amelia. I didn’t want Melanie straining every time I wanted to take her out.
Silence still came through the phone, even though I could hear Amelia talking to her mother in a one-way conversation on the other side of the phone. My heart sunk at the realization that I’d brought up Amelia again and that maybe it was too soon. After Saturday night with Melanie, I thought for sure that this wouldn’t have been an issue.
“You there, love?”
“Yeah. I’ve got to go and get Amelia lunch. I’ll talk to you later, Jack.”
The line went dead and I looked down at the phone in my hand, the screen black. I wanted so bad to call her back or text her but I needed to give her time before I asked her again. That was the thing with Melanie though, I didn’t want to give her too much space but also if I didn’t give her any she might skip town without even telling me.
I made my way back up to my fortress, diving back into my work. I wasn’t yet into my third cover of the day when my office door opened and when I looked up, in stepped Melanie.
“Melanie.” I stood from my desk, quickly saving where I was, and made my way around to see her.
“Jack.” She leaned in, giving me a quick hug, before she pulled away.
“What brings you to the office today?”
“I wanted to talk.”
My heart dropped for the second time today. This couldn’t be good.
“What did you want to talk about, love?” I threw in the nickname, hoping to lighten the blow of whatever she was about to toss my way.
“The date you asked me out on earlier.”
“And?” I probed, hoping that instead of the impending doom I felt coming, there was a light at the end of this tunnel.
“I’d love to go out on another date with you, Jack.”
My shoulders relaxed and I took a step toward Melanie but she stepped back from my reach.
“Jack,” Melanie looked up from the ground, where her eyes had been trained this whole time. Finally, I saw the worry that lingered on her face.
“I want to go on a date with you but I’m hesitant about bringing Amelia into this too, Jack.”
“You know I understand this. We’ve talked about it before, so I’m sorry if I brought it up too soon again.”
“It’s okay.” Melanie was the one to take a step toward me this time, placing a hand on my chest and looking up at me, with a soft smile on her lips.
“I know I’ve been territorial with Amelia and my first instinct today was to tell you no. To say that she can’t go with us but then I kept thinking.”
“What were you thinking about, love?”
She moved closer to me, wrapping her arms around my waist, resting her head on my chest. I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her closer to me, hating that there had been so much space between us before.
“That you were so good with her and me the day we had to take her to the hospital. That you didn’t even hesitate when I said I needed someone to watch her and you invited her. That it feels like we are a priority for you, rather than just someone to have.”
“You are a priority.” I reached for Melanie’s chin and raised her face to look at me. “Both of you are my priority.”
Tears welled up in her eyes as she continued to talk.
“I just never thought you’d be the one to say that, Jack. The man who hit on me while I was still married, the man who clearly showed how much he wanted me, even when no one else could see it but me.”
