Melissa
“Melissa, can I see you in my office, please?” My father’s voice drifts up the stairs.
“Yeah, give me just a minute.” I close my notebook and slide it back into my bookbag. My last assignment is completed. In just a few short days, I’ll be graduating high school and heading off to college.
Clayton and I were lucky enough to get into the same college. While he’s going to major in business, preparing him to one day take over his father’s business, I’m unsure. I’ve always loved to cook, but volunteering in the outreach program with the local Boy’s and Girl’s Club has made me think my future holds a different career path.
I head down the steps in a jog, already imagining the lecture my father will give me about how unsafe it is. “You could trip over your own feet, or a shoelace and topple head first down them, snapping your neck.” His words ring out, having heard it a million times, and I immediately slow, heeding his advice.
Stepping into his office, I see he’s not alone. Clayton and his father are with him and I immediately become nervous. Do they have reservations about us attending the same school?
“Melissa,” my father greets me, ushering me to take a seat in the chair beside Clayton. I give him an awkward wave as I sit.
“Dad.” My gaze shifts to Clayton as I raise my eyebrow in confusion. I wasn’t expecting to see him until tomorrow night when I went to his parents’ for dinner. I’ve been there before, though only a few times. Typically, we’re out or here at my house.
“Hello,Mr. Lawton.” Clayton’s father doesn’t say a word, just gives me a nod. The couple of times I’ve met him, I’ve always felt uncomfortable, and today is no exception.
“Clayton, would you like to go ahead?”
I’m at a loss at what’s going on. I shift in my seat, angling my body toward Clayton, who’s slipped out of his chair and is now kneeling before me with a small black box in his hand.
Oh my goodness! Is he? No, he can’t be.
“Melissa, I came over today to ask for your father’s blessing to marry you. I know we’re young and still have college ahead of us, but I wanted to go into this next step of our life with you, knowing how committed I am to you.”
“Clayton!” My eyes tear up as I listen to what he’s saying. He takes my hand in his.
“Both our fathers are here to witness. Melissa, sweetheart, will you marry me?”
I don’t hesitate. “Yes!”
He slides the ring on my finger and I drop to the floor in front of him, hugging him tightly. My eyes land on his father who’s glaring at us with a smug look of contempt.
If only I knew then this was the beginning of the end and that everything I thought I knew was nothing more than a lie.
A phone ringing pulls me from my spiraling thoughts. Just remembering the day that changed my life forever has my stomach churning. It takes a minute for me to realize it’s my cell phone and not the landline.
I pick it up, my eyes unable to focus as fear courses through me. My breathing becomes shallow as my muscles tense. The panic within me only increases when I see the unknown number flashing.
Nope! I can’t! Not today.
I’m not ready to answer, even if it isn’t him. I quickly silence the ringing and open my purse, tossing the phone inside. Out of sight, out of mind. That’s how it’s going to stay for now.
I need something to keep my mind busy and this isn’t it. The temptation to pull it back out and pray it rings again is too much. My hands need to be busy, so going back to my roots, taking some orders, and helping the girls out, is exactly what I need. Even cooking with Jax and the flood of conflicted emotions would be better than the anxiety I’m feeling right now.
With my mind made up, I place my hands on the desk and push up. “I can do this!” I give myself a pep talk as I make my way over to the door. My legs feel heavy, like I’m walking through quicksand. Taking hold of the handle, I open the door to a sight I wasn’t expecting.
Ashlynn yelps, placing her hand over her chest as she breathes deeply. “You scared the crap out of me,” Ashlynn says through laughter.
“I can say the same. What are you doing here?” Not that I mind seeing her. She’s like the daughter I always wanted.
“Duh! I came to see you.” She steps closer to me, wrapping her arms around me tightly.
When she lets go, I peek my head into the kitchen, seeing Jax at the counter, prepping food. “Are you alone? Where’s Jacey?”
“He’s with Ryker. Mack and I had to handle a Vee breakdown, then he had to run by the garage to get something, so I came to see you.” She steps past me into the office, heading right for a chair. Guess we’re visiting.
“Is she okay?” I shut the door, catching Jax looking up at me. His gaze is so intense it sends shivers down my spine.
