“She needs to come back,” I said to Michael, staring up into his eyes. “She can’t stay with Mason during this. He’s going to stress her out with going out, drinking, pressuring her into doing things she doesn’t want to do …” The list went on and on.
Mason wouldn’t physically hurt her, but who knew what’d happen when she started to gain weight, when she gotpregnantpregnant? He’d comment on her weight. He’d cheat. He’d make her feel like complete shit.
Michael sighed deeply through his nose and rubbed his face. “I tried, Mia. I really did. I don’t know what else to do. I asked her to come back, told her we’d help her out with everything. She doesn’t want to listen to me. She’s going to be falling into the same hole that I fell into.”
“Michael,” I whispered, grasping his face in my hands. “I know this sucks. I know that I won’t ever know how you feel, but I’m going to do everything I can to try to get her back. She can’t be there with him during her pregnancy.” Unless he suddenly changed, but that wasn’t going to happen.
Michael laid a hand over mine and gently rubbed it. “We can talk about this later. I want you to have a good time tonight. You deserve it.”
I shook my head up at him. “But, Michael, we need to—”
“Mia, please,” Michael said, pressing his lips on my forehead. “I want this night to be special. I don’t want this to ruin it. I needed to tell you because it’s been bothering me.”
After relaxing under his touch, I tried to push away the thoughts of Melissa being with Mason. But as hard as I tried, I couldn’t. Maybe I was stupid for feeling bad for Melissa and wanting to help her, but … it was what I would want her to do if she were in my position.
I couldn’t let her go through this alone. I would fight for her even though she wouldn’t do the same for me. I would tell Serena to visit her even if she didn’t want to see me. I would make sure she and her baby had the best life even if she still refused to leave Mason after those text messages.
“Okay?” Michael whispered against my forehead, his body still tense.
“Okay,” I said, guiding him toward the bedroom door. “Now, let me finish getting ready.” I pushed him out of the room, closed the door, and took a deep breath.
After I grabbed my phone from the dresser, I found my text chat with Melissa.
Me: If you don’t want to talk about Mason, we don’t have to talk about Mason. Just let me know that you’re okay and tell me if there is anything I can ever do for you. I’m sorry about everything that’s happened between us. I don’t hate you for any of it. I care about you and want you to be safe and healthy.
Though I didn’t think she’d respond to me—because she hadn’t the other day when I sent her those screenshots of Mason’s chat—three little bubbles appeared under her name. I waited, and I waited, and I waited, my heart racing.
And then, after what seemed like years, she finally messaged me back.
Melissa: I’m okay.
My stomach dropped, and I felt so disappointed at the two-worded message. But something was better than—
Melissa: I can’t come tonight. I wish I could be there for you.
I clutched my phone to my chest and smiled. Progress. This was progress.
CHAPTER29
MIA
Though Michael had told me not to worry, Melissa was still on my mind throughout the night. I drowned myself in glass of water after glass of water at dinner, talking to Serena and trying to see if she knew about it yet. I’d tell her eventually, but not tonight since Michael wanted some peace and quiet.
And the drama that would unfold when Victor found out was beyond anything I wanted to deal with right now. Victor was already heartbroken because of Melissa. I didn’t know what would happen when he learned she was pregnant now. With Mason’s kid.Is it Mason’s?
I leaned my head against Michael’s shoulder. He wasn’t as talkative as he had been the other night at his work party, probably because we were so much younger than him and he had no idea about the latest video games that Victor and Damien couldn’t stop talking about.
But whatever it was that they were talking about didn’t bother me. Tonight was calm, peaceful even. I wished every night could be this relaxing.
I smiled at the guys and hooked my arm around Michael’s, leaning in close to him.
Serena looked at me with her brows furrowed together. “So, have either of you heard from Melissa?”
I sat up. “I texted her the other day about Mason,” I said, not sure if Michael wanted me to tell her about their meetup. My lips turned into a frown. “She didn’t respond then, but she texted me before we left to come here and said that she was sorry she couldn’t make it.”
Serena looked surprised. “Really?”
Michael sat back and arched a brow. “She did?”
