Chapter 9
Mel felt silly for fleeing Willow’s home like a prisoner escaping lockup. Her own emotions about the moment were so conflicted. She knew that she’d never be able to sort everything out with Willow there beside her. Willow, who had gone from looking at her like she was an enemy, to looking at her like a lover over the course of one day. The change was too drastic. Now safely behind her own door at home Mase bounded up to greet her.
“I suppose you probably want to go out?” Mel asked.
She was grateful that Brianna had been willing to pick Mase up from doggy daycare and drop him off at home. Mase gave a low bark and Mel opened up the back door. She stepped outside and immediately searched her own fence for holes. The last thing she wanted was for Mase to figure out an escape route.
Mel pulled out her phone and sent Brianna a quick text asking her to come over. Brianna responded quickly that she was on the way. Mel had no idea how she was going to have this conversation with Brianna. How did one explain finding themselves in bed with their nemesis?
Mel loved how easy it was to get Brianna to show up at her house. Within thirty minutes Brianna was on her doorstep with two beers in hand.
“You got here so fast,” Mel laughed.
“You usually just ask if I want to come over. This is the first time you’ve told me to come over. I figured something must be up,” Brianna teased. She handed Mel one of the beers and walked inside. Mel closed the door behind Brianna and took in a deep breath.
“You’re certainly not wrong about that,” Mel laughed. They sat at opposite ends of the couch.
“Okay, let’s hear it.”
“I’m not even sure where to begin,” Mel stated.
“Try the beginning,” Brianna suggested.
Mel gave a sharp inhale and tried to think. What would the beginning even be?
“For starters, Willow and all her friends happened to come into the cafe today for lunch,” Mel began.
“Shit,” Brianna said simply.
“Yeah, it was awkward to say the least,” Mel laughed.
“What ended up happening? Did she cause problems at the cafe?” Brianna asked.
“No. She was on her best behavior.”
“I guess at least there’s that,” Brianna teased.
“I sort of ended up cornering her in the bathroom.” Mel felt herself blushing. Even as she said the words it didn’t sound like she was talking about herself.
“I guess that’s one way to get rid of your enemies,” Brianna laughed.
“Relax. I went to bury the hatchet,” Mel explained.
“Into her back,” Brianna laughed.
“Do you want to hear what happened or not?” Mel folded her arms across her chest.
“I’m sorry. Please tell me the rest of the story,” Brianna said penitently.
“I asked her if we could call a truce and she agreed. She went back to her friends and we parted ways.”
“Is that the story? Like the whole story?” Brianna asked.
“No, of course not,” Mel said.
“Good because that would have been a little bit of a let down,” Brianna admitted.
“Fast forward to the end of my shift. I’m driving home and it’s raining like crazy. I pull into the subdivision and who do I see outside in the pouring rain yelling?”
“My guess is Willow,” Brianna offered.
“Yeah. It’s Willow. Her dog had gotten out of his fence and she was trying to find him. So I offered to drive her around.”
“That was nice of you. All things considered.”
“We drive around and we find her dog. I give her a ride back to her place, and she asks me to come in for dinner.”
“Interesting,” Brianna smiled.
“We make dinner and I can feel her eyes on me. I put my plate and my glass down and when I turn around she kisses me.”
“She what? The woman who has been screaming since she met you, started kissing you?”
“Yes. And to be fair I kissed her back,” Mel explained. Brianna rubbed her face with her hands.
“We ended up in the bedroom, doing bedroom things…”
“Bedroom things? Are we kids? You two had sex,” Brianna laughed.
“Fine. We had sex.” Mel could feel her cheeks reddening to a deep shade of crimson.
“No need to be embarrassed. You’re both consenting adults. Was it good sex?”
“It might have been the best sex I’ve ever had in my life,” Mel admitted.
“Wow. I didn’t think Willow had it in her.”
“She was surprisingly passionate,” Mel laughed.
“Well, I’m glad you had a good time,” Brianna offered, with a note of confusion. Mel could tell she was waiting for the ending of the story.
“We finished our dinner. I think I was feeling a bit overwhelmed and confused by the entire encounter. I asked her what it meant for us going forward. I wasn’t looking to start anything up. I just wanted some confirmation that we weren’t going to be at each other’s throats anymore.”
“Makes sense. What did Willow say?”
“She said it didn’t have to mean anything,” Mel said, frustration slipping back into her voice.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Exactly! What am I supposed to do with that?”
“What did you say to her?”
“Not much after that. I sort of awkwardly left,” Mel admitted.
“What are you thinking about it now?” Brianna asked.
“I’m still really confused. I mean we’re both adults. Willow is gorgeous and smart. But I’m not interested in having sex with someone who’s going to turn around and hate me outside of that,” Mel said.
“Of course not. You don’t deserve to be treated poorly by anyone. What are you planning to do about Willow now? I mean I know you’re confused right now. But do you want the possibility of becoming more than frenemies?” Brianna asked.
“I don’t have any interest at all in being frenemies. I don’t know what I want yet. I think that’s what I need to figure out,” Mel admitted.
“It looks like you’re going to have plenty of time to figure it out,” Brianna smiled.
“You don’t think she’s going to be beating down my door?” Mel laughed.
“Probably not. If I’m being honest I think Willow is probably trying to figure all of this out as well,” Brianna said with a smile.
“Maybe,” Mel admitted.
The two of them finished their beers and started watching Netflix. A few hours later Brianna checked her phone and gasped at the time. Mel laughed at her startled expression.
“It’s later than I thought,” Brianna explained. Mel checked the time, one in the morning.
“I’ve got to get to bed. But you should spend the night.” Mel said thoughtfully.
“Thanks, buddy,” Brianna said, pulling her in for a hug.
“Of course. My spare room is always ready for you.”
Mel let Mase run outside one final time for the night. She yelled a quick goodnight down the hall. Mel felt a sense of complete relief to finally be inside her bedroom. She closed the door. There was no need to undress, as she was still in the sweats that Willow had loaned her. With a sigh she realized that at some point they would have to do a clothing exchange. That would have to be a problem for tomorrow. Tonight all she wanted was to sleep.
The problem was all her body wanted was sleep, but all her brain wanted was to replay the night. Her encounter with Willow played over and over again in her head, like a movie on repeat. Mel groaned to herself. What had made it so easy for her to fall into bed with Willow? What had made her so willing to go there with her?
As much as she reached for the answers all she found were more questions. Mel closed her eyes and forced herself to think about anything else. She finally felt sleep come over her and gave in.