Chapter Nine
Melonie
L inc stands outside of the venue where Jax and Audrey will get married in just a couple weeks. We’re picking out the tableware for the reception today.
Tableware.
I would do anything for my best friend, but this is not how I want to spend a Tuesday afternoon.
I get out of my car and walk toward Linc. It’s February in Boston, and the chill hasn’t left us. He’s bundled in a camel peacoat and scarf, hands tucked in his pockets. He always dresses well, but today, in his dark jeans and loafers, he looks good. Really good.
We’ve been spending time together, and he started texting me more often over the past couple of weeks. It’s getting a little easier to spend time with him, but I still keep him at a distance. I wish I could get over our past, but sometimes my brain and heart don’t align. My brain says he’s been nice and everyone else in our group loves him, so I should get over it. But my heart just remembers how I felt that morning when I woke up and he was gone with no explanation.
To add to my frustration, on days like today, when he looks so good, my pussy says, “Rip his jeans off and ride him like an animal.”
“Hey, Mel, you look nice today. You wore your hair up.”
I clear my mind of any naughty images and smile at him. “Thanks, I couldn’t get it to cooperate this morning, so I caved and put it in a ponytail.”
“Well, it looks good. You should wear it like that more often.”
“Maybe.” I point to the door. “Let’s go inside. It’s cold. Why were you waiting out here?”
“I haven’t been here that long. Work was crazy today, so I just wanted to get some air.”
“Sorry you had a bad day.”
“No day is a bad day in hockey.” He grins. “Just a lot to get done.”
He opens the door for me, and we walk inside. I welcome the warmth.
“I can’t believe she has us picking out place settings.”
Linc laughs. “When she sent us the text, I had to Google what tableware was.”
“We should send her a bill for our services.”
“Nah, just make sure when you get married, you return the favor.”
“That’s a really good idea.”
We approach the events office and check in. Then we’re led into a side room and wait for the coordinator to join us.
We both take off our coats and sit at the table. Linc looks around the room, then directs his attention to me. “Do you ever think about what your wedding will look like?”
I start flipping through a brochure on the table. “I think most women do. I think I would do something simple and small. I would rather put the money toward an amazing honeymoon or a down payment on a house.”
“That’s a very CPA answer.”
“Well, I am one, so I usually think about the money side of things.”
“I would want a destination wedding. Make it a week-long thing with just close friends and family.”
“You’ve thought about getting married?”
“I mean, it’s not on my radar right now. But yeah, I hope someday it happens.”
That’s the last thing I would ever expect Linc to say.
“Funny, I thought you’d end up the eternal bachelor. I don’t think I’ve seen you date anyone long enough to think about commitment.”
He shrugs. “Maybe I just felt like I didn’t need to be tied down. Maybe I just haven’t been with the right woman yet.”
Before I have a chance to respond, we pause as the coordinator enters the room. We spend an hour looking through binders and picking plates, silverware, and stemware. I should be focused, but this is boring. My thoughts keep going back to what Linc said. I never imagined that he would want to settle down. My brain only knows him as the one with the reputation of jumping from woman to woman. But I know his type. He says he wants to eventually find someone, but he’ll leave a wake of broken hearts as he figures out what he really wants.
When we finish, I’m ready to go. I think we both are. Linc yawns and stretches as we stand from the table. Before heading back out into the cold, we stop in the lobby to put on our coats. I fumble with my scarf, and it falls to the floor. Before I can grab it, Linc drops down to pick it up. He rises back up, looking into my eyes. He has a way of looking at me that can make me stop dead in my tracks. I hate it because I can’t resist that look.
He unfurls my scarf, stepping into my space. I don’t move as he wraps it around my neck, slow and purposeful. Once it’s secure, he runs his hands along my jaw, slipping them under my hair, pulling it free from the scarf. My heart beats faster with the contact, his hands warm on the skin of my neck, his thumbs skimming my ears. Why do I always have this reaction to him when he’s close, when he touches me?
Satisfied with his work, he smiles at me; a smile I don’t see him use with other people. He drops his hands, remaining close.
The air between us is annoyingly thick. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” He steps back, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his coat. The space allows me to breathe. “How did your date go last weekend?”
I think about how I can answer that without feeling embarrassed at the disaster that evening was. “It was alright.”
“Are you going to see him again?”
“I don’t think so.”
“That bad?”
“Yeah. He was like a neanderthal, and of course, he picked a scary movie.”
“You hate scary movies.”
“Guess he didn’t get the memo, or at least ask my opinion.”
“Mel?”
I finish buttoning my coat and look at him. “What Linc?”
He looks like he wants to say something but thinks better of it. Instead, he shakes his head and says, “Sorry it didn’t go well.”
“Not the end of the world. I’ve actually decided I’m done with dating for the time being. If I never meet the one, I can always get a puppy.”
Linc chuckles. “Refuse to be a cat lady?”
“Things will never get that bad.”
We brave the cold air, and he walks me to my car.
“If Jax comes up with plans for a bachelor party, let me know. Audrey said she’s waiting to see what he wants to do before we make any plans.”
Linc opens my car door and I get inside. “I’ll keep you updated.” He holds my door open and leans down. “And Mel, don’t go looking for a puppy just yet.”
He closes my door and walks to his car. I press the ignition and turn on the heat. As I drive home, I make a mental note to visit an animal shelter after all this wedding craziness is over.