Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
MELLIE
It’s been a week since Julian’s accident, and Ronin and I still haven’t had our date. We’ve both been busy with work, but he’s managed to send me multiple texts throughout the week detailing all of the ways he plans to make it up to me.
My story is due in a week, and I’ve been in writer-mode for days.
Ronin has spent most of his free time with his grandparents, making sure Julian is recovering and Nora doesn’t need any extra help around the house.
Thankfully his grandfather is doing well and nothing was seriously injured during his fall.
I make a mental note to stop by and check in on them both.
Leaving The Reading Nook, I walk down the block to the clothing boutique Bree manages. The little bell on the door chimes as I push it open and call out for her.
Her pink head of hair pops up from behind a shelf of clothes, arms laden with garments. “Mellie!”
I help her with her armload, taking half of the pile while she continues to put away the rest on the shelves. “What’s new? I haven’t seen you all week.”
“Not much. At least, not as much as you,” Bree replies, wiggling her eyebrows at me.
I shake my head, laughing. “You want to grab dinner tonight? Sydney is about to close the store. If you want to call Brooke, we can all meet at the diner.”
“Sounds good. I’ll call her as soon as I’m done with these.” Bree reaches for the pile of clothes in my arms. “Is Ronin working tonight?”
“He is.” My stomach does a flip just thinking about seeing him.
Bree sees right through me. “God, this is going to be nauseating, isn’t it?”
“Hey, you wanted this,” I tease, tossing over my shoulder as I head for the door, “I’ll meet you there!”
“I’m happy for you, Mellie,” Bree calls after me. “Just don’t make out all over my dinner, okay?”
The four of us sit around one of the corner booths in Double Shot, our finished meals cluttering the table.
“So, I want to plan something for Ronin’s birthday,” I tell them. “Any ideas?” I sip my glass of red wine. “He’s turning thirty and I want to do something special for him.”
Sydney shoots out a multitude of ridiculous and crude ideas, one of which involves me cooking dinner for Ronin in nothing but my birthday suit.
“What about a walk down memory lane?” Brooklyn suggests after we’ve all had a good laugh. “You two have known each other since you were teenagers, right? So what about highlighting some of your favorite moments together, somehow?”
I think about this, and a small kernel of an idea starts to form. “You know, that might actually be a really good idea. Thanks, Brooklyn.” I shoot her a grateful smile.
“No problem.” She smiles back, leaning an arm across the back of our booth behind Bree.
Ronin appears next to me, a pitcher of water in hand. He’s been working the bar tonight, and I haven’t had a chance to talk to him since we came in to eat.
I smile up at him as he refills our glasses. “Thank you. How’s your night been?”
Ronin pulls a chair from a nearby table over to sit at the booth with us, flipping it around to sit with his arms propped on the back. “Exhausting. It’s officially tourist season, friends. We’ve been swamped.”
He leans in closer to me as the conversation continues around us, everyone lamenting the busy season. “I miss you.”
“I’m right here,” I tease.
“Still miss you.” Ronin reaches up to brush a strand of hair out of my face. “How’s your story coming along?”
I pause to take a sip of water. “Almost finished. I’m just cleaning up my final draft now and I’ll be ready to submit it in a day or two, I think.”
“That’s great, Mel,” he says, warmth seeping from his voice and straight into my bones. “I’m really proud of you for doing this.”
“Thanks. I’m glad I did it, too. It’s been a fun learning experience for me.”
“Well, I can’t wait until you’re finished. Not only because you’re gonna kill this competition, but then I can take you out to celebrate and ravish you with my undivided attention.”
“I can’t wait.”
Our hands brush together and he pulls mine into his, entwining our fingers. He leans in closer and places a soft kiss on my lips. I rest my hand on his cheek as I kiss him back.
“Hey, I told you no making out over my dinner!” Bree interrupts.
“Dinner is over,” I point out, sticking my tongue out at her.
“You asked for this, Ambrosia,” Ronin says, his use of her full name causing a gasp of outrage from our tiny friend. He kisses me again and stands up, putting the stray chair back and winking at me before sauntering back over to the bar. I watch him walk away, enjoying the view.
Bree clears her throat. “Ahem, Mellie, I think you’ve got a little drool, right there,” she says, pointing to my mouth as I turn back to her.
I ball up my napkin and throw it at her across the table.
Two days have passed in a haze of writing.
When I’m not at the bookstore, all my free time is wrapped up with my short story, which I’ve titled Fated.
My final draft is ready for submission, and I’m incredibly proud of what I’ve written.
Even if it doesn’t win, this has been an eye-opening writing experience.
It has stoked my desire to try my own hand at writing a novel.
Clicking send on my submission to the library fills me with more pride than I’ve felt in a long, long time.
I snap my laptop closed where I sit at the corner of the bar in Double Shot, a fresh iced brown sugar latte set before me. Ronin’s behind the counter, along with another guy hired for the upcoming summer season.
“So, I happen to know you get off work soon.” I shoot Ronin a small smirk. “You got any plans tonight? Because it’s someone’s birthday soon and I have a surprise for you.”
Ronin’s cheeks flush an adorable pink color. “You have a birthday surprise for me, Mel?” He leans down, his head at my level. “No, I don’t have any plans. I’m all yours, baby.”
I give him a peck on the lips before pulling back. As I gather up my bag and coffee, I say, “Good. After work, go home and change. I’ll come pick you up.” I wink. “Trust me, you’ll love what I have planned.”
“You make me nervous when you smile at me like that.”
Laughing, I exit the diner and head home to get ready.