“Leave. Now! Step foot on the premises again and I’ll call the cops. Harassment and assault are not taken lightly around these parts, no matter who your daddy is.” I couldn’t stop grinning at the sound of footsteps going past the restroom door. On the inside, I was cheering for her but that didn’t entirely quell my inner demon.
An irrational rage wanted me to chase after this guy, beat him to a pulp, and then come back to sweep Melody off her feet. Reassure her that everything would be okay.
Instead, I waited for a beat before pulling open the bathroom door. Re-entering the hall, it only took half a second to lock eyes with Mel, who stood less than twenty feet away. This was it… the moment. No words, no movement - nothing else was needed. The connection between us zinged to life and I realized that this was why I was there, it was what I needed.
The line that ran from her heart to mine pulled tight, present, and stronger than ever.
I watched her face closely for any change in her expression, but there was nothing. She was a blank canvas.
A noise behind me broke me from my trance, and seemingly Melody too. Her slender arms raised and crossed underneath her bust - which only distracted me by pushing her boobs up even further. Was it just my imagination or were they fuller?
I didn’t let myself ponder it, quickly pulling my eyes from her cleavage and back to her face. Well, shit. She was growing more irritated by the second.
Quick, quick. What was I to do?
“Melody” I rasped out but I didn’t know what to say. My mouth had suddenly dried up, my mind had gone completely blank. All I could focus on was how mad she looked at that moment. It was definitely a contrast to the last time we were face to face, six years ago.
“Mel! There you are.” The blonde looked familiar as she rushed past me, more or less pushing me out of the way to make her way to Melody.
They turned away from me, they hugged and talked quietly. I wasn’t close enough to hear what they were saying but after a few minutes and no further acknowledgments, I figured it was time to go.
My lips curved in a small, slightly sad smile before turning to leave. I didn’t want to leave just yet, but I also wasn’t sure if I could be around her while knowing that I’d not completely forgiven her.
Before emerging from the corridor I couldn’t resist one last glance back over my shoulder. I was hoping for a grand gesture, maybe not running into my arms but just something! Something that said she’d seen me, standing in her club waiting for her move.
But there was nothing. I watched as the two women entered through the door to what I assumed was an office. The door closed and that was that. She was obviously very busy, living her life to the fullest without me in it.
After that, there was no use in my hanging around, especially since she seemed that unimpressed with my presence.
“Spill the tea, sis.”
“I’m gonna need something stronger than tea.”
“Oh.” There was a pause on the phone as Naomi went to plan B. “You grab the margarita mix, I’ll grab the tacos. Meet you back at mine in twenty.”
I was mid chuckle as she hung up the phone.
Ladies and gentlemen, that was the classic Naomi Wayne.
She was the best sister and my lifelong best friend.
As Naomi always said, ‘when life gives you limes, get squeezing, add tequila and make margaritas’. Of course she would always sing it and do the shimmy.
Before putting my phone away, I shot off a text to my mom telling her that I’d be another couple hours. The three dots appeared and her message came flying back at me - the girls must have been asleep already.
Okie dokie. Hug your sister for me, and have fun!
For a split second, guilt twisted my stomach. With Naomi on mid-shift this week, it was likely that she hadn’t seen Mom at all. And that was partly my fault. Mom seemed to always be helping me out, so much so that I worried it put a strain on her relationship with my sister.
My phone buzzed again in my hand, a text from Naomi.
T-minus 17 minutes!
A smile stretched wide across my face before soon turning into a soft laugh. She was a nutcase but in the most loveable way.
By the order of my sister, I hurried to my car and drove to the nearest twenty four hour market, the closest place I could think of to pick up margarita mix. I picked up a couple fresh limes, a bottle of margarita mix and a bottle of tequila - just in case - before making my way to the checkout.
While in the queue, the trashy magazine stands hooked me in, I ended up adding a few to my basket. I unloaded my things onto the belt, along with the girly mags, and a giant bag of gummy bears. I wasn’t even ashamed of knowing that the gummy bears would’ve been lucky to survive the night.
