Chapter 17
Mel shouldn’t have turned around. She shouldn’t have felt compelled to throw one more look over her shoulder. But she had. And she had seen Amy reach up to touch Willow’s face. How many times had she extended the same gesture to Willow? It had hurt to watch that moment play out in front off her. Mel did what she always did when she felt herself cracking, she shut down. By the time Willow had called, Mel was practically made out of stone. Mel couldn’t believe how the night had gone from magic to heartbreak.
Mel glanced down at her phone and felt a knot in her stomach. She had given Willow the freedom to explore what she needed to, but would that come back to bite her? Mel texted Brianna to ask if she wanted to come over. Brianna agreed almost immediately. Brianna arrived at her door in record time. She gave a courtesy knock and waited for Mel to yell for her to come in. The formality of it made Mel smile. Mel sat stretched out on her couch, covered in a blanket.
“Honey, what’s going on here?” Brianna asked with concern.
“I had a bad night,” Mel said. She let a few tears fall from her eyes.
Brianna was at her side in a moment. Mel held up one end of the blanket and Brianna scooted under it, she wrapped an arm around Mel. This is what actual safety felt like. Someone who loved her for no other reason than because she’d chosen to.
“What happened? Did meeting Willow’s friends not go well?” Brianna asked. Mel knew she had a lot to fill her friend in on.
“Actually, that went really well. I love her friends and they love me too.”
“Then what happened?” Brianna asked.
“When we got home, we discovered that Willow’s mom had tracked down her ex.”
“Okay. That’s a choice.”
“And invited her to the house,” Mel punctuated. She watched as Brianna lifted her eyebrows.
“What did Willow say?”
“She basically escorted me out so that she could talk to Amy,” Mel frowned as more tears came out.
“Is it wrong that I expected her to just tell Amy to leave?” Mel asked.
“No, it isn’t wrong. You guys have put a definition on the relationship. That doesn’t change just because her ex comes around.”
“Exactly. Tonight, she told me she was in love with me. Then less an hour later she’s asking me to leave so she can talk to ex,” Mel cried.
“Willow definitely could have handled that better. But it sounds like she was just as surprised as you were. So maybe she just needs to have a conversation with Amy for the sake of closure,” Brianna offered.
“Maybe,” Mel admitted.
“What do you need right now?”
“Can we eat ice cream and watch a couple movies?” Mel asked.
“We can do whatever you want.” Brianna leaned in and gave Mel a kiss on the top of her head.
Brianna rose from the couch and left to grab some ice cream. She brought back one quart with two spoons. Mel flipped on the television and found their favorite romantic comedy. There was nothing more comforting than having this kind of friendship in her life.
By the second movie they were both drifting off to sleep. Brianna didn’t even have to ask if she could spend the night. She simply made her way to Mel’s second bedroom. Mel couldn’t imagine being able to sleep after the night she’d had, but she drifted off with ease.
The next morning Mel woke up to the sound of Mase panting in the bed beside her. Since she and Willow had been dating, they had developed a schedule of taking Mase and Sushi to the dog park first thing in the morning. Mel had come to enjoy the ritual. She and Willow would drink their coffees while their dogs played together. This morning she was running late, and Mase was having none of it. Mel rolled over to face the dog who gave a concerned whine.
“Okay. I’m up,” Mel groaned. Mase hopped from the bed and ran to the bedroom door.
Mel moaned and rolled out of bed. She slid her shoes on and ventured out of her bedroom. She was surprised to see Brianna awake and drinking coffee at the kitchen table.
“I’m taking Mase to the dog park. I’ll be back in a little bit,” Mel sighed.
“I’ll come with you,” Brianna laughed.
“You sure? You don’t have to get up.”
“Of course, I’m coming.” Brianna rolled her eyes and smiled.
Mel could see Willow’s red hair even from a distance. She smiled as she opened the gate to let Mase run inside. Mel raised her hand to wave then dropped it immediately. Willow was standing with Amy. Mel’s heart cracked even more. Brianna followed her gaze and gave a low groan.
“Are you going to go talk to her?” Brianna asked.
“I mean she’s here with her ex. That pretty much tells me everything I need to know.”
“Can I go talk to her?” Brianna asked, her tone lowered.
“No. You’re going to stay right here with me. You help me stay brave,” Mel insisted. The compliment worked, Brianna looped arms with her and walked to the other side of the park.
Mase and Sushi had found one another and began playing. Mel saw the moment that Willow noticed her arrival. Willow’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. Her lips turned to a frown as she looked between Mel and Amy. It was more than enough for Mel. If this was such a difficult decision for Willow, then their love wasn’t meant to be. Mel could never accept someone who could only love her halfway.
Mel forced herself to look away first. Even though her body tingled with the desire to be close to Willow.
“Are you okay?” Brianna asked.
“I will be,” Mel admitted.
“Should we get going?”
“Yeah. Let’s get out of here,” Mel said. Mel called Mase, and he came over reluctantly. Mel clipped the leash on his collar and turned to go.
“Mel, wait,” Willow called out. As much as Mel wanted to ignore Willow she couldn’t. Mel turned to greet the woman just in time for Willow to run right into her. Willow’s shoulder smashed hard against Mel’s shoulder. Apparently Willow had been expecting a chase.
“Sorry,” Willow stammered as Mel rubbed her nose. She glanced at her hand and saw a red smear. Was she bleeding? The grimace on Brianna’s face confirmed her suspicions. Brianna glanced quickly between Willow and Mel, then slid her eyes over to Amy.
“I’m going to get her home,” Brianna said with concern. She took Mase’s leash and wrapped an arm around Mel’s shoulders.
“Thank you,” Mel whispered to Brianna.
“I do need to get you home. That’s quite the nosebleed,” Brianna chuckled.
Mel forced herself not to look back at Willow. What would be the point of seeing Willow leave her and choose Amy? She could feel Willow watching her as they walked away.
Once they got back to her place Brianna forced Mel to sit on the couch. Mel could hear Brianna rummaging around in her kitchen. Brianna brought her a wet paper towel to cover her nose with.
“This is going to make quite the impression tonight at work,” Mel whined.
“Who knew you had such a flair for the dramatic?”
“What did you think of that little encounter with Willow?” Mel asked.
“I’m not sure. It was awkward for both of you. That much was certain,” Brianna insisted.
“I just don’t know how I could have been so wrong about her,” Mel admitted.
“What do you mean?” Brianna asked.
“Last night Willow said she was in love with me. Today she’s going to the dog park with Amy. It paints a pretty clear picture.”
“It’s just a dog park, not dinner and the movies. Besides, you said you saw Amy leave last night, right?”
“Yeah,” Mel grumbled reluctantly.
“Have you considered that maybe she is just talking to Amy?”
“Maybe,” Mel said.
“I know you’re still mad and you have every right. Just try to take a breath and let things unfold.”
Mel pulled the paper towel away from her nose. She was relieved not to see any fresh blood. The clock above her stove said that it was eight-thirty. Mel felt a shock run through her.
“Shit. I’m running late.” Mel’s eyes fell on Mase.
“Relax. I’ll drop Mase off at doggy daycare. That way you won’t be late for work.”
Mel gave Brianna a kiss on the cheek.
“Thank you. You’re the best platonic wife and stepmother ever,” Mel shouted as she ran to her bedroom to change. She put on her work uniform and bolted through the door without a minute to spare. At least the rest of her day would be mundane and predictable.