I stand by the window, watching the snow fall faster and thicker as my mind races with possibilities. Looks like a big storm is rolling in for the night…
It’s now or never.
I bundle up in my coat and boots. I lock my door behind me. I ignore the battle raging in my gut between head and heart. Between instinct and butterflies. Between curiosity and suspicion.
I shut it all down.
I’m sick of thinking.
I’m tired of being without the man I loved before.
I’m not even going to stop and consider what any of that means.
I walk for a block before I find a cab to flag down. It comes to a quick halt and I hop inside, happy to get out of the cold.
The cab driver turns around to look at me as I tell her Robbie’s address. “Oh, hey!” she says, grinning . “It’s you again!”
I pause, confused with her unfamiliar face.
“Saturday night!” She turns forward and hits the gas. “You rode home with a very, very handsome man in a leather jacket.”
“Oh, right,” I say with a nod. “Sorry, I don’t remember… much from that night.”
She laughs. “It happens. You having as good of a night so far?”
“Not sure yet, actually.”
“Well, wherever you’re going, I suggest you stay there. This weather is gonna get worse before it gets better.”
I look out the window. “I think you’re right.”
“Did he propose to you yet?”
I stare forward into the rearview mirror, making eye contact with her. “Propose?” I repeat.
“Your man.” She grins again. “I gave him a nudge for you, so if he’s as smart as he is pretty…”
I smile, her jubilant voice infectious. “No, he hasn’t,” I answer. “Not yet.”
She kisses her teeth. “Tick-tock.”
To my surprise, the cab comes to a stop in front of Robbie’s building already.
“Thank you,” I say as I pay.
“Stay warm, honey.”
“You, too.”
I climb out of the cab and step up onto the snow-covered curb. The world continues spinning while I stare at the building and wonder once again what the hell I’m even doing here.
Then, I stop thinking.
I let the butterflies win.
Twelve
Robbie
I glance at myself one more time in the bathroom mirror. Showered and shaved and ready to party. I don’t feel too great about it, honestly, but I’m only doing this to help Roger. He drilled me for information about Val, information that I don’t have, but I’m sure he’ll find some way to swoon her either way.
And, hey. If he’s successful, then that means she won’t be obsessed with me anymore.
Win-win.
There’s a knock on my door… twenty minutes early.
Oh, Roger.
I grab my leather jacket and throw it over my shoulders, taking one last peek in the mirror by the door before answering it. Jeans. White t-shirt. A handsome mug.
Let’s get this over with.
Another knock. I chuckle.
“All right, all right,” I say aloud as I twist the knob. “Calm down, man.”
I open the door, and my chest tightens.
Melanie Rose stands in the hall with her arms tightly crossed. Dozens of snowflakes slowly melt in her hair, leaving it looking wet and shiny. Bright eyes and rosy cheeks.
But what is she doing here?
“Melanie,” I say, swallowing hard.
She shifts on her feet. “Hey,” she says.
“Hey.” I glance around her into the empty hall. “What’s up?”
“I, uh…” Her gaze falls to my shoes and back up, scanning my outfit. “You know what, never mind…”
She quickly turns around and starts toward the stairwell.
“Whoa, whoa!” I step through the doorway. “Pump the brakes, Mel. What’s going on?”
“Nothing. Don’t worry about it—”
“Stop.”
She pauses with one foot on the stairs.
“Turn,” I say.
She pivots to face me.
I smile, gesturing inside. “Come on in.”
Melanie hesitates. “Are you sure?”
“Mel, we broke up, got divorced, and quit having sex — in that order. At no point did we stop being friends.”
She chuckles. “I guess that’s historically accurate.”
I hold the door open. “Come in.”
Melanie eases forward, looking more than a little reluctant to keep going, but she ends up stepping inside. I close the door behind her, trying to ignore the rapid heartbeat in my chest. It begs for answers. It begs me to reach out and touch her, but I don’t dare cross that line.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
Melanie rubs her arms for warmth as she scans the room. “Yeah,” she answers. “Yeah, I’m okay. I just…” She finally looks at me. “Do you have a date tonight? You look nice.”
I glance at my outfit. “No, no date. I just look like this all the time now.”
“Really?”
“Turns out, there’s this thing called showering regularly. I tell ya, once it catches on, it’s going to be huge.”
She chuckles lightly. “You don’t say.”
What happened, Mel?
She wouldn’t have dropped in here unannounced or otherwise unless there was something serious on her mind. She wouldn’t be here smiling and trembling in the cold… unless she wanted to be.
“Actually, I was just going to drop in to the shop on the corner downstairs,” I say. “Grab some essentials before the snow gets worse.”
“Good thinking,” she says with a nod.
“Stuff like… cheddar popcorn,” I say. “Cherry soda. Maybe some of that vanilla ice cream with red velvet chunks in it.”
She smiles. “You were on your way out to grab all of my favorite comfort foods?”
“Weird, huh?”
“Yeah, that’s weird.”
“You’re free to stay,” I say, testing the waters. “I’ve got some iced tea in the fridge if you want.”
She nods. “Thanks.”
What happened??
Why isn’t she rolling her eyes and calling me an idiot?
What could have happened that she came to me for comfort?
I check my pocket for my wallet and phone. “I’ll be right back,” I say, turning toward the door.
“Robbie.”
I pause. “Yeah?”
“Diet cherry soda,” she says. “If they have it.”
“Sure.” I nod. “Back soon.”
As soon as the door latches behind me, I take a deep breath to calm my nerves.
