She gulped and threw the banana peel in the garbage, her eyes filling with tears. She fiddled with her fingers and looked down at her phone. Mason’s name flashed on the screen, and Melissa stood. “I have to go.”
She hurried to the door, and I followed her.
“Melissa, wait. Please don’t go back to him. He’s no good for you.”
She opened the front door and looked back at me. “I miss you, Dad.” Then, she walked right out and to her car without saying anything else.
I stared at her departing car from the doorway and frowned at it, my throat closing up.
“I miss you too,” I whispered to myself, everything hurting.
CHAPTER14
MIA
St. Barbars Assisted Living looked busy this morning, cars parked in almost every spot, patients walking around the front of the building with nurses and family members. My phone buzzed from the passenger seat, Michael’s name flashing on the screen.
Michael: Melissa stopped over.
I stared down at the phone with wide eyes. Serena must’ve talked some sense into her yesterday. At least, I hoped she had. I didn’t want Melissa to have come over, yelling at Michael or something.
Me: She did? What’d she say?
Michael: Not much.
A few moments passed.
Michael: That she missed me.
My heart ached, my chest tightening. I frowned and tried to bite back the tears. Even over text, I could tell how much those few words meant to him. He and Melissa might’ve been going through a rough patch right now … but they still missed each other. And I wished that I had something like that with Dad.
But he was an asshole who didn’t give a single fuck about me.
Me: That’s great! Are you talking now?
I had to wait a few moments for his reply.
Michael: I’m not sure. I hope so. I miss her too.
Michael: I have to go. See you when I get home tonight.
I pushed my phone into my pocket and grabbed my coffee, walking toward the entrance of the building. Part of me wished I hadn’t tarnished their relationship, but I didn’t want to apologize for falling for Michael. He was the best thing to ever happen to me, and I wouldn’t trade him for the entire world.
Just as I walked into the lobby, my phone buzzed again. This time, it was Serena.
Serena: Meet me at Dunkin’ downtown at four. I have some news about Melissa.
“Mia, isn’t it?” the receptionist asked.
I put my phone away for good and smiled at her. It was the same woman there as last time, the one who had thought I was Michael’s daughter.
She gave me a tense smile. “No Michael today?”
“He’s working,” I said awkwardly, signing my name into their sign-in notebook.
Before I let go of the pen, the woman grabbed my wrist. “Are you okay?” she asked, voice quiet. I tried to pull my hand away, but she held me tighter. “You can tell me if something is wrong. I can help you.”
I furrowed my brows and yanked my hand away, smoothing out my skirt. “I’m fine. Why?”
