Chapter Twenty-One
Melonie
I roll over as I hear a knock on my door. I glance at the clock, and it’s nine thirty. Scrambling, I put on my robe and open the door. Gigi walks in, hair and makeup already done.
“I came to grab you for breakfast. Sorry I woke you up.”
“I’m glad you did. I guess I didn’t set an alarm on my phone last night.”
“At least you were smart enough to leave at a decent time. I got like four hours of sleep. I need coffee.”
“Jax and Audrey lasted that long?”
“They left a little after I couldn’t find you anymore. Hung out with Marcus.”
“You’re hanging out with him a lot now, huh?”
She shrugs. “He’s cool and doesn’t try any funny business.”
I smile. “That’s good. Do you care if I grab a quick shower? Then we can head down?”
“Go for it.”
I collect some underwear, jeans, and a sweatshirt. I’m so happy that I packed comfy clothes for this morning. I’m tired and I still feel the effects of last night. Sore muscles and lady parts are the best feeling the day after good sex.
Once I’m in the shower, Gigi knocks on the bathroom door.
“Yeah?”
“Can I come in?”
“Gigi, you’ve seen me naked before. Come in.”
“So, about funny business.”
Confused, I pull back the shower curtain to pop my head out. Gigi has Linc’s bowtie dangling from her fingers and a smirk on her face. Goddammit.
“Nope.” I slam the curtain shut.
“Spill it, Melonie Marie Evans.”
“Middle naming me isn’t going to work, G.”
“You and Linc, huh?”
“Never said anything about Linc.”
“There were only four guys in tuxes last night. One was with me, two were with their wives. That leaves only one.”
I shut the water off. “Hand me a towel, please?”
I reach my arm out from behind the curtain, and she hands me a towel. “Glad you two finally admitted how you feel. It’s been painful to watch you push him away when he’s practically in love with you.”
My hands stop as I drag the towel over my face. “He’s not in love with me. And there are no feelings. It was just sex.”
“Yeah, okay.”
I wrap the towel around myself and step out. “We’re just friends.”
“Are you that oblivious?”
“It’s Linc, he doesn’t do ‘feelings’. I thought you and Audrey said he’d be the perfect possibility for a hook up?”
“That was before you two started spending so much time together. Do you really not see it?”
“You’re crazy, G.” I drop my towel and grab my underwear. “I assure you, it was just sex.”
She shakes her head and lays the bowtie on the vanity in front of my face as I tug on my jeans.
“I can’t wait to see how this goes down at breakfast.”
Gigi and I walk into the hotel restaurant and see Linc and Marcus sitting at a table across the room. Marcus sees us and waves. Linc looks up from his plate and our eyes meet for a brief moment before he looks down again.
“Good morning. You guys look like a couple of rays of sunshine,” Gigi mocks.
“Don’t judge us until we’ve had more coffee.” Marcus forces a smile. We’re all a hot mess this morning.
Gigi sits beside Marcus, so I pull out the chair next to Linc.
“Good morning, Linc.” I smile at him as I pour a cup of coffee.
He keeps his eyes on his plate, shifting his eggs around. “Hey, Mel.”
I catch Gigi watching us, and she raises an eyebrow.
“How was your night, Marcus?”
“Good. Most fun I’ve had at a wedding in a long time.”
“It was so much fun. I can’t believe it’s all over, though. All that work, and in the blink of an eye, it’s done; they’re married.”
He nods. “At least you and Linc won’t be running around with endless tasks anymore.”
Linc’s fork stops moving.
“Yeah, I bet Linc is relieved about that.” I scoff.
He sets his fork down and picks up his coffee cup. “Yeah, and I bet you’re probably relieved you don’t have to hang out with me anymore, huh?” He chuckles like he made a joke.
“I don’t know about you, but I’ve had fun the past couple of months.”
He just nods, setting down his coffee.
I glance at Marcus, and he shakes his head like I should move on from the topic. Oh, God. Does he know we slept together last night?
Gigi’s face lights up as she looks beyond me. “There’s the happy couple!” She says it loud enough for people at the tables around us to look our way.
Audrey and Jax approach the table. “Look at this sorry excuse for a wedding party.” She laughs. “Did anyone at this table get any sleep?”
Jax wraps his arm around her waist. “I know we didn’t.”
She slaps his arm and curls into him. He kisses her cheek and releases her to pull out her chair. When they sit, he grabs her coffee cup, fills it, and mixes it for her. When she picks up the cup, she sends him a wink and a smile. God, they are just the cutest.
The server stops by our table with a fresh carafe of coffee and takes our orders. Once they collect our menus, Linc and I reach for the carafe at the same time, and I quickly retract my hand.
“Sorry, go ahead, Linc.”
“Hand me your cup, Mel.”
I slide my cup over, and he fills it up. “Thank you.”
While the others at the table are deep in conversation about Audrey’s dad’s dancing skills, I pull Linc’s bowtie from my purse and pass it to him under the table.
I turn my head and whisper, “You left that in my room.”
He quickly stuffs it into his pocket. “Oh, thanks. Sorry about that.”
“No need to be sorry. I just know you have to return everything tomorrow morning.”
“Yeah, thanks again.”
I don’t like how he won’t look at me.
“Linc, are you okay?”
“I’m good, Mel.”
“I just don’t want things to be weird between us.”
“We’re good. I’m just tired.” He finally looks at me, and I don’t like the look in his eyes. They’re devoid of their normal brightness.
“Okay. I know wedding stuff is over, but I hope we can still hang out sometimes.”
“Yeah, we can do that.”
He wipes his mouth with his napkin and picks up his phone.
“Hey, Marcus, can I send you money for my bill? I want to grab a shower before checkout.”
“Don’t worry about it, man. Get next.”
“You got it.” He turns to the table. “I’m going to head up. Jax, I’ll text you later.”
“Sounds good. We’re watching the game later at our place if you want to come by.”
“I’ll bring beer. I’ll see you guys later.”
“Bye, pretty boy.”
Linc walks away, and I feel my stomach turn. So much for things not being weird between us. I look up to see Gigi and Marcus staring at me. Audrey’s eyes are darting around the table. Jax tears off a piece of toast and stuffs it in his mouth, not even recognizing the meltdown that’s about to occur.
“Melonie, how was your night?”
“Just say what you’re going to say, Audrey.” I keep my eyes on my food.
“What time did Linc leave your room?”
Jax stops chewing and his eyes go wide as he swallows. “What the hell did I miss?”
“Melonie and Linc hooked up,” Marcus chimes in.
I look at the ceiling. “He told you?”
“We all sort of knew it was going to happen.” He shrugs.
“What does that mean?”
“He’s gone for you, Melonie.” Jax grabs a tub of jelly from the center of the table.
“He’s not ‘gone for me’.”
“Well, he was. Not too sure about now.” Marcus leans back in his chair.
“See, I told you that you are oblivious.” Gigi leans back and I watch as Marcus places a hand on the back of her chair.
“So, this has just been common knowledge, and no one could be bothered to clue me in?”
Marcus fills his coffee cup, then fills up Gigi’s. “Figured you knew. He doesn’t exactly hide his feelings well.”
“So, what happened? Why is he being weird?” Audrey steals a piece of bacon from Jax’s plate. He gives her a dirty look and takes a piece of her toast.
“I don’t really know. Yes, we hooked up last night.” I shoot Marcus daggers. He just keeps a straight face, waiting for me to continue. “But it was just that—a hook up. It’s Linc, he doesn’t do ‘feelings.’ Or I thought he didn’t.”
“Did he leave again? He wasn’t in your room when I got you for breakfast.”
“No, I told him he didn’t need to stay.”
Marcus leans forward. “Because if he stayed, things would get messy, right?”
I look at him. This is the most he’s ever spoken to me in one sitting. “Friends don’t do sleepovers, Marcus.”
“Ouch.” Jax grimaces.
“What?! Can someone let me in on what you’re all thinking, because right now, you’re all making me feel like garbage.”
Jax puts his elbows on the table. “Melonie, have you heard Linc talk about going out or about other women recently?”
I try to think back over the past few months. “He’s been on dates.”
“He has, but they haven’t been his normal dates.”
“What does that mean?”
Audrey fills her coffee cup. “Babes, you’re the only woman he’s been with since the first night you guys met.”
My eyes go wide as I stare at her. “There’s no way.”
“It’s true,” Marcus confirms.
I look at the empty seat beside me. “Shit.”
Jax nods. “Yeah.”
“What should I do?”
“Would you consider dating him?” Jax pushes his plate away.
“My mind can’t wrap around that idea. It’s Linc. I don’t see him like that.”
“Time for pros and cons.” Gigi finishes her orange juice.
“I’ll do it when I get home.”
Pros and cons lists are my way of working through any situation. I need to sit down with my thoughts and work through all of this new information.
The server brings our checks. We all hand over our cards.
“Sorry for all the post wedding drama.”
Audrey smiles. “Don’t be sorry. Just be gentle with him. He’s a good guy.”
Jax squeezes her hand on the table.
“I’m not a mean person, Audrey.” I sign my receipt and gather my purse. “I’m going to head up and get ready to go.”
“Text us later if you want to come over to watch the game.”
“Sure.”
I get up and walk to the elevators. What a horrible morning.
I return to my room and start packing. The discussion over breakfast has my mind all over the place. I start shoving everything into my suitcase haphazardly. How I needed so much stuff for two nights is unbelievable. I’m trying to zip my suitcase shut as I suddenly remember to take my pill.
“Shit.”
I usually take it at eight, and it’s almost eleven. I dig through my purse and open my pack. Double shit. With all of the wedding craziness and weird sleep times, I haven’t taken it since Wednesday. It’s Sunday. Suddenly, I’m thankful that Linc was adamant about using a condom.
Swallowing a pill, I throw the pack back in my purse. I text Gigi that I’m ready, and she tells me to meet in her room. I gather my things, and before I walk out the door, I look at the bed and hear all the things Linc said to me last night, replaying through my mind. I just thought he was being sweet, but he was trying to tell me how he felt. Why couldn’t he keep it simple between us?