Chapter 18
STEPHANIE
This has got to be one of the worst nights of my life.
Every moment I spend with Mallory’s family adds another question to my growing list!
I started the night thinking that Mallory was a lying, cheating scumbag.
My mind is in free fall, trying to land on a version of reality that makes sense to me; going from Mallory is a player to Mallory is not only a great guy but—spoiler alert—hasn’t had a date in a year is too much to wrap my head around.
And I can’t dismiss the comment he made to me the morning at the condo: “You looked as happy as I’ve ever seen any woman waking up in my bed.” That implies he’s had a lot of women in his bed. Right? Did I read that wrong too? If he doesn’t even go on many dates, how is that happening?
I’m so confused.
My mind revisits the parking lot tonight. The accusations I threw out are so cringeworthy, and I close my eyes, hoping to wake up from this bad dream.
“Don’t do that.” Melodie’s voice breaks through my thoughts, and I open my eyes.
“First, never play poker, because I can see all of your emotions on your face. Second, don’t be embarrassed about this.
For the millionth time: it really is fine!
” Her smile is soft and genuine. “In the end, this is going to be a funny story that you and I talk about for years.”
Years? I don’t think so. My future doesn’t include interactions with Mallory’s family tomorrow, let alone next year.
I shake my head, trying to let it go, but it’s not that easy. “After tonight, I’ll bet Mallory regrets ever meeting me.”
Melodie laughs. “Fat chance.”
“As for me,” Pam breaks into the conversation, “I can’t thank you enough!” She’s standing by with extra paper towels—and she’s beaming. “You thought I was young enough to date Cooper. I haven’t been that flattered in a long time."
This coaxes a laugh out of me. “But you really don’t look old enough to be his mother.
” In my mind, I replay watching Pam throw her arms around Mallory’s neck when she first walked in.
Through the lens of my recent discovery, it all looks so different.
“I was so mad at Mallory for what I thought he was doing and became determined to bring him down.”
“That means you’re as kind and sweet as Cooper has always said you were.” Melodie’s brown eyes—which look just like her brother’s—are hopeful. “He needs more of that in his life. Since you can stop hating him now, you two can be friends.”
“I’m pretty sure kind and sweet are words he’s never used for me.
” I let out a small chuckle, but I notice that Pam and Melodie quickly exchange a look.
“Anyway, I don’t think I’m ready for us to be friends yet.
I’ve spent over a year avoiding him at all costs, so I think I need a little more time to digest the fact that he might not be a two-timing creep. ”
“It’s okay,” Melodie pulls me into a friendly embrace, “take your time.” She pulls back a little and lowers her voice in a mock whisper.
I find myself leaning in to listen. “But you should know that he’s very charming and very nice.
Between you and me, I think he’s too nice.
So it might be easier than you think to like him.
I predict you’ll be best friends by tomorrow.
Then, by next week,” she shrugs and her eyes fill with something mischievous as she feigns innocence, “who knows.”
“Melodie.” Pam’s voice carries a warning that makes Melodie playfully roll her eyes to me. “What do you think?” She looks down at my dress. “Ready to go back out?”
I look at these two women and reflect on how they’re treating me.
They welcomed me into their dinner—no, dragged me into it—like I hadn’t been the cause of a major problem tonight.
I decide to embrace their kindness and try to relax.
The gigantic ball of stress in my stomach—that appeared the moment I heard Mallory’s voice tonight—releases a little.
“I guess so.” My dress is mostly dry, at least as dry as it’s going to get with paper towels and a hand dryer in a public restroom.
The three of us walk out, and I’m lighter and more relaxed than I’ve been in the last week.
Mallory rushes over to me as soon as we’re in sight. “Stephanie, I’m so sorry!” His eyes roam over my dress, looking to see if anything was ruined by the water. “It was an accident.”
There is a sincerity in his face that I wouldn’t have recognized before tonight.
Thinking back on our altercation in the hallway last week in a different light, a new wave of shame hits me.
“It’s fine. Nothing some paper towels and a hand dryer can’t fix.
” Without thinking, I give him a genuine smile and his arm a reassuring squeeze.
He looks startled and flicks a suspicious look at Melodie.
I realize I’m a little startled by it too.
Being slightly relaxed around Mallory is new territory for me.
I also realize that I owe him more than a genuine smile (maybe a few dozen apologies?), but that can be handled when his family isn’t around.
I move to return to my previous seat, but Melodie blocks my way. “Let me sit on this side, so I can sit by my mom and sister.” She gives me an extra cheesy smile. “You sit on that side. With Cooper.”
I shoot a look at Mallory to gauge his reaction to her suggestion. He’s making an exasperated face at Melodie, and I turn just in time to see her putting away a goofy smile and two big thumbs-up signs.
Oh.
Okay.
I’m an only child, so I don’t know what it’s like to have a sibling meddle in my life. While I’m flattered, I’d say there’s a better chance I end up with Chewbacca than her brother. I’ve been horrible to him for a year and a half, so I don’t think that will be happening.
As I move to slide onto the bench on the other side of the table, Mallory gently touches my arm. “It’s a bench.” His eyes drop to my dress. With the softest amount of pressure on my arm, he guides my body away from the table and slides in before me.
What? Did he just casually address how awkward it can be to slide onto a bench when wearing a dress? What kind of man notices that? I’m stunned.
Kaylee sees the look on my face and reads my mind. “He can be taught.” She gestures to all the women on her side of the table, insinuating that they are responsible for said instruction.
“That’s some impressive man-training, right there.” I salute the three ladies as I sit down.
“Do I get any of the credit here?” Mallory’s tone lets us all know that he’s aware he’s the odd man out at this table.
I turn to him as the other ladies break into laughter. “I’m sorry, Mallory. Gotta give the trainers more credit than the dog.”
“Excuse me? Are you referring to me as a dog?” He turns his large body to fully face me.
His dark eyes are calculated, but the left side of his lip is turned up ever so slightly and a hint of a dimple can be seen through his short beard.
I want to reach out and see how rough it is.
I want to run my finger tip into his dimple and . . .
Wait! What is going on?
No, no, no, no!
I’ve always been attracted to Mallory, and the only lifeline I’ve had was knowing that he was a player.
That assumption just went up in smoke, so I need to find some more defenses—and quickly!
It’s been close to two years since my last relationship, but I’m still not in a headspace to entertain any ideas about men.
“Maybe.” Dang it. My words were more flirtatious than I wanted, and I fight the urge to wiggle in my seat.
“Well,” Kaylee smiles, “if she thinks you’re a dog, at least she thinks you’re a dog with delicious curls, chocolate-brown eyes, and a chiseled jaw.”
Melodie, who was already in the process of drinking, chokes on a laugh and sends a spray of her drink over the table—at the same moment that the waiter appears to take our order. For the second time tonight, he cleans up the mess at our table.
“Kaylee!” Melodie does her best to dry off her face with her napkin, the smile from her laughter still etched across her face. “You can’t say things like that when I’m drinking!”
Heat rises up my neck and cheeks as I realize that I did, indeed, say those exact words to Mallory during my tirade tonight.
“You’ve embarrassed Stephanie!” Pam fixes daggers at her daughter.
While I’m trying to figure out how to respond, Kaylee jumps in and saves me.
“All Stephanie did was state the facts.” She waves her hand through the air, as if to dismiss any awkwardness.
“My brother has eyes the color of dark chocolate, and his jaw is perfectly chiseled, and those curls are delicious—whether they’re on Cooper or an alpaca.
What you did not mention is that he also has terrible taste in music and can’t dance to save his life, and those two issues are much more compelling than what his face looks like.
It's probably why he has a hard time getting a date.” Kaylee calmly takes another sip of her drink, as if we had been talking about the weather.
I’m beginning to understand something about this family: they obviously love each other—desperately!
—but they also love poking fun at each other, like it’s part of their love language.
It couldn’t be more foreign to the way I grew up, but I’m wrapped up in the moment and join in.
“It’s true. I’ve seen him dance, and it was like a train wreck: so bad that I couldn’t look away.
” Couldn’t look away is the only part that’s true.