“The second mywoman decided she wanted to self-harm.” He gave me a squeeze. “Now, grab yourshit and get your ass in the car.”
I snarled up athim, snagging my purse off the table and stomping toward the exit, not caringif he followed or not. Of course, I pasted on my best Melody Morgan smile as Isaid goodbye to mourners on our way out, making sure everyone knew I wasavailable if anyone needed anything.
Train ushered meout to the SUV driven by Chip who drove us back to our hotel.
Melody
Ithrew thecar door open before the SUVeven came to a full stop and made a mad run for my room. I heard my name beingcalled behind me, but I ignored it, trying to shut out the noise of my brain,my heart, the world.
I made it to myroom, quickly realizing I didn’t have my room key. “Fuck!”
I had to keep ittogether long enough to get behind closed doors, lest there be another incidentakin to the great Melody Morgan meltdown of 2014 splashed across every tabloidknown to man. I didn’t know if I had the emotional capacity for another stintin a psychiatric hospital, considering the last one nearly killed me. Ishuddered at the thought of it.
“Ms. Morgan?”
I turned to thesound of the quiet voice and smiled at the elderly maid. “Hi. I seem to havelost my key.”
She held hermaster key up. “I can help you with that.”
“Bless you,” Ibreathed out.
She unlocked mydoor and I pushed it open, slinking inside, and almost falling to theground…the grief far too much to bear. Unfortunately, I wasn’t alone for long.
“Melody,”Train’s deep and very annoyed voice growled behind me.
I shook my head,partly because I didn’t want to talk to anyone, but mostly because I couldn’t.I felt like my soul was being held together with chewing gum and shoelaces atthis point, and one word out of my mouth might break me.
I heard himsigh, then the turning of my deadbolts echoed in the room before he wassuddenly standing in front of me. “Baby.”
“Don’t,” Iwhispered.
He slid his handdown my arm and linked his fingers with mine. “You cannot, and, let me becrystalfucking clear, Melody,cannotrun off alone like that.”
I bit the insideof my cheek to keep from screaming.
“You hearin’me?” he growled.
I met his eyeswith a glare but didn’t audibly respond.
He studied mefor a few tense seconds before his eyes softened, and he cupped my neck, histhumb sliding across my jaw. “Baby, I need you to promise me you’ll wait for menext time, okay?”
I closed myeyes, leaning against his hand, and nodding.
“Are you goingto say more than one word?”
I shrugged.
I was livid.
And horny.
“I cannotbelieve you forced me to leave those poor people,” I growled.
“Baby, you’repractically falling over, you’re so tired,” he said. “You need time to grieveas well. You can’t take care of everyone else and neglect you. You’ll burnout.”
“He died on mywatch.” I slapped my chest. “I should have been more diligent.”
“This isn’t onyou.”
