Chapter 36 Melanie
MELANIE
Abigail puts the car in park as she checks out her new hair in the rear view mirror. “That girl did an amazing job. I am pretty picky when it comes to my hair, most people cut way too much off and then I look like a Q-tip, since my hair is so curly.”
“Ya, I am loving my layers. My hair was getting a little too long.”
“Girl, there’s no such thing. I love long luscious locks. Gives our men a lot more to pull on.”
I laughed at her ridiculousness. She flips her car mirror back up and turns to face me.
“So she hasn’t even called you?”
When we were getting our hair done, I filled Abigail in on everything.
And I mean everything—even the part about my diabetes and how Nick came to my rescue.
I trusted Abigail, and it felt good to release the truth I’ve been holding in for so long.
The more I revealed, the lighter I felt, and I’ve been hiding behind a dark wall since I was thirteen.
The best thing about Abigail was that she didn’t judge me.
She was happy to listen and just be here for me.
She told me I didn’t have to go into details about my dad, which I was grateful for because the shame and disgust always came rushing back like an aggressive tidal wave each time I walked down memory lane.
“No, but I’m sure she’s passed out drunk, so I don’t expect her to. Not for a while.” I say.
“Ugh, I’m so sorry, Mel. You know, I didn’t have the most loving mother growing up.
So I get it. But there’s hope. Now that I'm pregnant, my mom has been trying to stay in touch, which is so unlike her. She’s never been the nurturing type so I think a lot of it is guilt for how she treated me like I didn’t exist for so many years, ”
She reaches over to squeeze my hand.
“You’ll get through this. You have Nick to lean on. I know it’s not your forte but Nick isn’t a bad guy. And I haven’t seen him remotely interested in a woman until you. So it doesn’t shock me that he is the one who even came up with the idea to marry you. He’s into you.”
“Wait? What?” I whipped my head around to face her? “You think so?”
“Mel, yes, I’ve never seen him care so much for someone that he barely even knows.
When he got back home from Iraq, all he did was drink and hit the bars.
He would just run through women like water, and was a total dick to them.
I never liked him at first but I never said anything because he’s Colt’s friend, but after hanging out with him and Colt explaining more of his background, I could see the teddy bear he truly was.
He’s a protector. And that’s hot on a man and a dad. ” She waggles her eyebrows
“Stop,” I said through a laug.
“When are you two going to have kids?”
“Really, Abigail? I’m not even sure how long we this,” I waved a hand in the air, “will last. Hello. Not a real marriage, remember.”
“ I know you aren’t the brightest crayon in the box, but I know you aren’t blind.”
“Hey,” I swat at her arm.
“The marriage may be fake, but I know those orgasms he’s giving you are real.” She makes a hole shape with one hand, and puts her pointer finger through it, thrusting in and out.
“Stop it!” I say with a cheesy grin. “Being with an NFL player has made you one dirty-minded girl. Where’s the sweet nerdy Abigail I met in college?”
“It’s the hormones. I swear, it’s like I want to have sex all the time. Which is weird because I definitely don’t feel sexy, but I can’t help it. My pussy throbs when I-”
“Okay, I know we’re friends and all but, I don’t need the details of how Colt dicks you down.”
Abigail takes both hands in mine. “The way Nick looks at you, that’s real, Mel. I know you don’t want to see it but, I’ve never seen him look at any girl like that. Ask Colt.
“You don’t have to lie to me to make me feel better.” I tell her.
“I’m not lying.”
“Ask Colt. It’s why you all had us fooled.”
“No, that’s because I’m a good actress,” I say, snapping my fingers left and right, giving a little hip bounce in the passenger seat.
“Is that what that is?” she says through a chuckle.
“Keep playing that part because, like I said, we were all fooled. Don’t get me wrong, Colt had his major suspicions in the beginning and called it, but after that theatrical kiss you guys enacted at my house.
Made all those question marks in the sky fly right on by. ”
I tear my gaze away from hers, looking down at my hands.
I remembered the way he looked at me that day, how he caressed my cheek before planting his soft, beautiful lips on mine.
Heat ignites between my thighs at the memory of the fire burning between us in that moment.
Maybe Abigail was right, his feelings for me were real?
As if Nick’s ears were burning my phone dings with an incoming text.
I let Loco out and fed him.
Headed back to the restaurant.
I tried to wake your mom but she was passed out drunk.
Don’t get used to me saying this but you were right
“I know who that is.”
I look up at her in dismay. “How do you know?”
“Do you not feel that cheesy, wide grin on your face? You look like a giddy school girl who just got her report card back with all A’s.”
“You would use that as an analogy.”
“All I'm saying is you are into him, and he’s into you, and you both make each other happy, so maybe…” she drawls out the vowels before continuing, “it doesn’t have to come to an end.”
My heart fills with hope, but quickly deflates as soon as I know that it is just a matter of time before it will end.
Nick may like me, but the truth is, he’s just as broken as I am, and I know it could never work for real.
We don’t even have anything in common except for our love for grilled cheese sandwiches and sex.
“I don’t know, we haven’t even discussed what we are going to do in a month, let alone talking about a lifetime.”
“Then talk to him. You guys have obviously been doing some kind of talking.” She says with a smirk and one raised eyebrow.
“Okay, okay stop it. I have to go. Thanks for coming with me to get our hair done. And driving me to the restaurant. It means a lot to me.”
She waves a hand at me dismissively. “No need to thank me, that’s what friends are for. Besides, I need all the girl time I can get, because once the baby gets here, my free time will be almost non-existent.”
I lean over to hug her. “Love you,”
“Love you too, hot stuff.”
We’ve been slammed nonstop tonight, which was odd for a Tuesday night.
I’m still continuing to promote Villa Ravenna on social media, and now that they've opened up pick-up and delivery, we have had more orders in one night than we have had in a week. I’m not sure if that’s why Nick was in a good mood when I got to the restaurant or because he was happy to see me.
He kissed me in front of his sister when he greeted me, which he had never done before.
His sister acted disgusted and told us to get a room, which made us laugh.
But after having Abigail’s words repeat in my head over and over I can’t help but think, I’m the reason he’s so happy right now.
Right as I’m bringing out my table's food, Sophia sits at another table of mine. A man who’s by himself.
After working in the restaurant industry, nothing hurt my heart more than seeing an old man or lady by themselves.
He wasn’t extremely old, but when I looked down at his hand, I didn’t see a ring on his finger, so I knew no one would be joining him.
“How are we doing this evening?” I greeted him as soon as my other table was taken care of.
“Doing better than I deserve.” He smiled warmly at me.
“Can I start you off with anything to drink?”
He grabs the wine menu and looks it over. “How about your house merlot? Don’t want to get too fancy tonight.” He jokes.
“Coming right up,” I tell him. Now that I have my liquor license, I didn’t have to rely on Alexa or anyone else to serve my drinks to the table, but I still liked to piss her off so I sent the order to her station and and went back in the kitchen to check on my other tables' orders, to make sure they were almost ready.
“LeRoy, how is that veal and sea bass looking?”
“Looking beautiful just like you, Mel.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Hey, don’t be flirting with my wife, LeRoy.
” Nick jokes but he smiles up at me and I swear, my heart feels like it’s going to explode.
He’s so damn beautiful and watching him sweat behind the line to help get the food out made him somehow more attractive.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve learned to get in a rhythm working here, and things have been run a lot more smoothly.
We all worked together, like an orchestra, creating a beautiful symphony as we each carried out our roles.
“Do we have an ETA?” I asked LeRoy.
“Five minutes, babe.”
Nick throws an asparagus. “What did I say?”
LeRoy’s laugh comes from his gut as he bellows a soft chuckle. “I just love pissing you off boss.”
“Don’t forget who writes your paychecks.”
“How can I? You remind me every chance you get.”
I bit my tongue, holding back a laugh.
“Then stop pissing me off and I won't’ have to remind you that you are replaceable.”
“Ya, ya, ya.”
Is the last thing I hear before walking through the double doors to Alexa. “Where’s my glass of Merlot?” I say as I approached the bar counter.
“You aren’t the only person here, Mel, chil, I'm getting it right now.” She was busy so I couldn’t give her too much shit, but that didn't stop me from messing with her. “Don’t make me complain to my husband about you,” I say with a sly smile.
She glared at me as she poured the red wine into the large wine glass and sets it in front of me.
“Here you go, Mel.”
“Mrs. Consele,” I say with a wink as I walk off with the wine glass in hand. And I’m sure she is cursing me out in her head as she watches me deliver my table his wine glass.
“Have you decided what you want to eat or do you need a few more minutes?”
“What would you recommend?
I hated it when people asked me this because my tastes were different.
“I'm not sure if you like veal or lamb, but the Vteillo Oso Buco is phenomenal. It’s tender veal braised in wine, served alongside Italian mushroom risotto. Another one of my favorites is our Modino D’Angelo.
It’s four grilled porterhouse lamb chop medallions, served on a bed of sautéed mushrooms, and comes with a side of spinach, linguine, garlic, and oil.
“Nice accent, when did you live in Italy to learn the language?” he asks.
I let out a snort. “I wish. I learned it from my tutor. I’ve visited Italy before but never lived. I fell in love with the place so much I wanted to learn the language.”
“It's spoken like a true native. I’m impressed.”
“Acting classes helped, too. What about you, are you from around here?
“No, California actually.”
“Really? I just moved from there myself. L.A. girl.” I say holding up my pen with one hand.
“Is that so? I lived there too for a bit, but then I started a business in San Francisco, and now I’m retired.”
“Retired? You don’t look a day past forty.”
He chuckles lightly. “Thank you, but I’m old enough to be your grandfather.”
“Oh, I doubt that. Dad, maybe.” I say, tapping my pen on my chin.
“Did they teach how to be charming as well in acting class?”
“No, that’s all me.”
He smiles up at me, and warmth spreads across my chest. He had an endearing smile, one that made you feel comfortable and safe.
“I have a daughter about your age, so the dad category sounds about right.”
“Why isn’t she joining you tonight?”
He tears his gaze away from mine and fiddles with his napkin a bit. When he returned his gaze back to mine, I saw the pain behind his eyes. “She doesn’t live here, and well, we aren’t that close.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Maybe you should try calling her.”
“It’s a long story.”
Silence filled the air, before the man said, “Alright you sold me on the Modino D’Angnello. I’ll take that. And another glass of Merlot.”
I grabbed the menu off the table and said, “You got it. “Would you like your glass now or with your meal?”
“With the meal, I need something to wash it down with.”
“Not a problem, sir.”
When I came to get the man’s credit card, he was already gone.
He must have paid with cash, which was rare these days.
Most people charged their meals on a card and would occasionally pay their tip with cash.
But, guess this guy believed in money all the way.
Cleaning up the table, I stack the silverware, dirty napkin, and wine glass onto the plate while opening the black book to take his payment.
I nearly gasped at the sight of the three crisp hundred-dollar bills in the black billfold.
This man’s dinner was expensive but not two-hundred-dollar-tip-worthy.
“You okay, Mel?” Sophia’s voice had me tearing my gaze away from the cash I stared at way too long, to meet hers.
“Ya, I'm fine, that guy. He just left me a two-hundred-dollar tip.”
“Dang girl. What kind of magic are you working tonight? And I would convince your husband to keep that all to yourself. Besides, he wanted you to have it, and who knows, he may become your regular.”
“I hope so. Then I would only have to work a few hours a week.”
“With my brother being a workaholic, good luck with that one.” She says as she starts to bite one of her nails.
“I think the rush has died down by the way. I haven’t had to seat you since after mr. generous.”
“Ya, I noticed. I need to get home and…” I paused. I wasn’t ready to tell Nick’s family about my mom. Not yet anyway, not until I figured out what she planned to do, now that the cat was out of the bag.
“Check on Loco and soak these sore feet into a bath, and curl up with a good book.”
“Oh, that does sound good.”
“It’s my favorite thing to do.”
She eyes me conspicuously, and I know why.
“Besides going home to your brother to f-”
She held up both hands. “Stop, please. I do not want that mental picture in my mind on the drive home. Please.”
I bite my lower lip, smiling.
“ I have enough nightmares.” She says as she walks off.
Leaving me to my own dirty thoughts. Except for that one night I got drunk and regretted every second of it the next day, I’ve been sober for weeks now.
But I craved one thing, that could take my mind away from this shit of a mess I’m in, so I pulled out my phone and sent him a text.
I want you to fuck me.