When she saw me, she gave me a half-smile and slid onto the seat next to mine. “Hey.”
I looked her up and down. She looked so tired and broken. I hated not being able to do anything about it. I wanted her back, needed to make sure she was safe. Yet I couldn’t make her choices for her.
“Hey,” I said, lifting my hand to a different bartender. “Can she get a—”
“A water,” Melissa said. “A water is fine.”
I nodded. “Just a water.”
After the bartender filled a glass for her, I turned toward Melissa and frowned. God, what had I done wrong? Why wouldn’t she leave him already? Couldn’t she see how shitty he was? I mean, she had to feel different.
“How are you and Mia?” Melissa asked.
“That’s not what I wanted to talk about.”
“But I want to know.” She took a sip of her water and looked up at me.
I wasn’t sure if she was trying to push back the conversation or if she really, truly wanted to know.
She seized my wrist. “I really do.”
A grin broke out on my face, one that I tried to suppress almost immediately. But no matter how much I tried, I couldn’t.
Melissa gave me a trying smile. “I’m sorry for being such a bitch to you guys. It seems like she makes you so happy.”
“I know it’s difficult for you,” I said. “But I love her. A lot. And I won’t stop loving her. I want to spend the rest of my life with her.”
She held my wrist tighter. “I know,” she said quietly. “And I’m okay with that.”
My eyes widened. “You are?”
“Yes …” Her voice was quiet. “It took me a while to understand, but I’ve realized my mistakes, and I want to apologize for how shitty I’ve been lately. I have a lot going on and am under a lot of stress right now.”
Part of me wanted to jump for joy. Melissa was coming around. Very slowly. But she was learning that life wasn’t all frat boys and parties. It was hard work, stress, decisions, and consequences.
But I still wanted to see her succeed and be happy. After dealing with all her mother’s shit, she deserved it.
“We’re going out on Friday night. You should join us.”
Melissa frowned. “I would, but I have to work.”
Suddenly, she got quiet and sipped her water, rubbed a hand across her face to wipe away any sort of stress, and sighed. “What’d you want to talk about?”
We were in such a good place that I didn’t want to ruin it by bringing Mason up. She’d just get angry with me again. But I couldn’t handle it anymore.
“Did you get the messages from Mia today?” I asked, fingers gripping my glass.
She looked down at the water and took a sip. “Yeah, I did.”
I pursed my lips, waiting for her to continue but she didn’t. “And?”
“And nothing.”
“Nothing?” I asked. “What do you mean, nothing?”
A look of fear crossed her face, and I ached to pull her to my chest like I had when she was a girl and afraid of scary movies.
She shook her head. “Nothing is going to happen.”
