Page 189 of My Real Love Affair

The words I’d held back on the dance floor rose up again, demanding to be spoken.

“I love you,” I whispered into the room.

She didn’t stir, didn’t hear me. But saying it out loud made it real in a way thinking it hadn’t. I loved Melody Stephens. Completely. Impossibly. Irrevocably.

I pulled her feet back into my lap, adjusted the blanket more securely around her, and settled in to watch whatever comfort show episode came next.

CHAPTER 58

MELODY

Iwoke to sunlight and Austin’s arm draped across my waist. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt so content. I vaguely remembered him waking me up and urging me to go to bed. I was only a little embarrassed that I had fallen asleep on him.

It felt too good to be true. All of it. Him. Us. Life in general.

The nagging doubts tried to creep in once again.He doesn’t want children.That little phrase was constantly running through the back of my mind, but I pushed it away. I wasn’t going to spoil a perfect morning. He said he might change and that’s what I was going to hold onto. Just let things play out. See where it goes.

I carefully scooted my head back to get a better look at him. I smiled at the sight of my handsome man. Austin’s face was relaxed in sleep, his hair mussed, and there was still a faint smudge of my lipstick on his jaw from last night. God, he was beautiful. And he was mine.

The thought sent warmth racing through me. I wanted to stay in bed with him all day, but I was hungry and in desperate need of coffee. He had taken such good care of me on the yacht. It was my turn to return the favor.

I very slowly extracted myself from his embrace, holding my breath when he stirred but didn’t wake. Once free, I grabbed my phone from the coffee table and padded quietly to the bathroom.

After freshening up and changing into comfortable leggings and an oversized sweater, I looked at myself in the mirror. I looked ready for another comfy day in with my man.

I smiled at my reflection, then headed back out to check on Austin. He was still fast asleep, one arm thrown over his head, his chest rising and falling steadily. I didn’t want to wake him. Last night had been a late one, and he looked peaceful.

I was going to surprise him with coffee from the café down the street. They made the best americanos in the city, and their almond croissants were to die for. I grabbed my keys and wallet, slipped on sneakers, and quietly let myself out.

I inhaled the familiar smells from my neighborhood. It was a combination of the blooming plants and flowers my neighbors up and down the street kept in pots on their stoops and the usual smell of the city in general. All the things that made me love New York. A few early risers were out jogging or walking dogs. I waved to my neighbor, who was sweeping his stoop, and headed down the street.

The cafe was doing its usual brisk business with the regular customers filing in for their morning caffeine dose. I’d been coming here for years. It felt a lot like home.

“The usual?” the young lady at the counter asked.

“Two americanos, actually. And four of your almond croissants.”

Her eyebrows raised knowingly, but she didn’t comment, just rang me up and got to work on the drinks. I scrolled through my phone while I waited, smiling at the notifications. Pictures from last night were already circulating. Austin and me at the theater, on the dance floor, kissing. The comments were mostly positive, though there were always a few haters mixed in.

I didn’t care about them anymore. Not when I had him.

I smiled at one of the pictures with me staring into Austin’s eyes. I looked like a woman in love. I quickly took a screenshot. I loved the picture. I wanted to make a collage for us. I was going to call itthe beginning.

“Melody.”

I stepped forward and took the coffees in a carrier and a bag with the pastries. I headed back home, humming one of the songs fromHadestownunder my breath. I couldn’t wait to climb back into bed with Austin, share coffee and breakfast. Maybe I would convince him to spend the entire Sunday doing nothing but being lazy together. I was so lost in the daydream that I almost missed it.

An envelope on my welcome mat.

I stopped short, the coffee carrier wobbling slightly in my hands. That definitely hadn’t been there when I’d left fifteen minutes ago. I would have noticed. I looked around, but the street was quiet, just a couple walking their retriever on the opposite sidewalk.

My heart started to beat faster as I approached. The envelope was manila, letter-sized, and completely unmarked except for one word written in thick permanent marker:AUSTIN.

The hair on the back of my neck stood up. I looked around again, more carefully this time. Was someone watching me? Had they been watching my house? How did they know I left? How did they know when to drop this off?

It was creepy. Terrifying. Obviously, the person that left the envelope was the same person that emailed and texted me. Whoever it was, they knew way too much about me.

I fumbled with my keys, my hands suddenly shaky, and managed to unlock the door. I grabbed the envelope and hurried inside, shutting the door firmly behind me and throwing the deadbolt.