Roping Melanie by Melissa Ellen

16

Nash

Melanie was pissed. Pissed, and cute as hell the way she was jealous of that nurse. She could deny it all she wanted, but I knew the truth. It’s why I was smiling to myself as I walked into Kathy’s.

I’d traveled the world and been around the country to plenty of dives, diners, and restaurants. With only one foot inside of Kathy’s, I could tell that this diner would become one of my favorite places in town. It had that old-time feel. The smell alone was welcoming and warm. My stomach growled with anticipation.

The place was packed with hungry folks. As I walked to the counter where the register sat, curious eyes followed me. It didn’t bother me any. I was used to the spotlight. I ignored them, knowing over time that curiosity would die down once I was no longer the new guy in town.

An older woman with long gray hair pulled back in a low bun met me at the register. Her name tag read Ms. Debbie, the woman Mel had mentioned earlier.

“You must be Nash.”

“And you must be, Ms. Debbie. Melanie called in an order for us.”

“That she did.” She turned toward the small window between the cafe and the kitchen. “Pete, you got Melanie’s order ready?”

“Yep. In the window,” a man replied, sliding a couple Styrofoam boxes through.

Ms. Debbie snatched them up and began to bag them. “Here you are,” she said passing me the bag.

“How much do I owe you?” I asked.

She shook her head. “Melanie said to put it on her tab.”

“All right,” I pulled out my wallet anyway. “Then how much is her tab? I’ll just take care of both.”

“Does she know you’re doing that?”

“No. But I was hoping you’d keep it between the two of us.”

She grinned. “I think me and you are gonna get along just fine, Nash Evans.”

Once we’d all gotten our fill of burgers and milkshakes from Kathy’s, Melanie excused herself to shower and get ready for work while I sat with Avery in the living room. Avery’s foot was propped on one end of the couch with her head on a pillow in my lap. Melanie had already given me the rundown on Avery’s favorite shows on Netflix, along with instructions to make spaghetti noodles with a little butter for Avery’s dinner this evening. Her bedtime was nine o’clock on the dot and no later. Not even for an extra bedtime story. I saluted her dutifully, and she’d rolled her eyes at me.

“Are you going camping with us?” Avery asked out of nowhere.

“I uh . . .” I stuttered to answer, catching Melanie in my peripheral as she strolled down the hall in a pair of tight jeans and a tight shirt.

Holy hell. Is that what she wore to work?

“Mom said we are going after school is out. It’s going to be our first family vacation,” Avery continued.

With my eyes still on Melanie, I answered. “If it’s okay with your mom, I’d love to go.”

“Can he, Momma? Can he come?” Avery propped herself up to look over the back of the couch at Melanie.

Melanie’s eyes jumped back and forth between us with hesitation. Until finally responding, “Of course, peanut.”

“Yes!” Avery said excitedly.

Melanie closed the distance, leaning over to kiss her daughter on the head. “Be good for your dad. Okay?”

Avery nodded.

“Nash, can you walk me out?” Melanie said tightly as she marched toward the front door.

I eased Avery’s pillow and head from my lap to the couch cushion before following Melanie outside. As soon as I stepped on the front porch and closed the door, she spun to face me.

“Look, I get you want to do everything you can to make her happy, but just don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’re leaving in a few days, Nash, for a rodeo, I presume. From what little I know, you’ll likely be traveling most weekends. I don’t want her to get her hopes up only to be crushed.”

“I’ll be here,” I nearly growled, crossing my arms. “Tell me when, and I’ll make it work.”

She looked toward her car. “Just don’t disappoint her.” Her words came out defeated.

“Her or you?”

She shook her head and turned to leave.

“Mel,” I snatched her wrist. She stopped and looked back at me. “I want this to work. Give me a chance.”

The tension in her shoulders released and she sighed. “Okay.”

“Wow,” Meg said. “Well, she isn’t wrong. Her concerns are valid,” she added. “She’s protective. That’s not a bad thing.”

I’d spent the last ten minutes on the phone with her, telling her about what Melanie had said before she left for work. Once I had Avery tucked in bed fast asleep, I laid back on the couch, trying to watch a show on Netflix. But I couldn’t seem to focus on anything but Melanie’s reaction earlier when I agreed to go on their camping trip. It’s what had me picking up my phone to call Meg for some advice.

“I know. But she’s not giving me a chance to do right by Avery. It’s not like it was my choice to begin with that I missed the last six years,” I bit out.

“You two need to talk,” Meg said, hearing the bitterness in my tone.

“I know. It’s just hard, because Avery is usually around, and I don’t want her to overhear anything she shouldn’t.”

“Like you two making out on the couch?”

“Meg,” I warned.

“I’m only kidding. Welcome to parenthood, though. That’s part of it. It’s hard to find time for yourselves. But for real, you two need to address that elephant too.”

“Yeah, yeah . . .” I sighed, tucking a hand behind my head. I stared up at the cracked and water-stained ceiling, recalling Melanie’s reaction to the nurse earlier today. I told Meg about what happened with the doctor and the nurse.

“So she was jealous?”

“Yep. She tried to play it off like she was only in a hurry, but I knew better.”

“But so were you.”

“Hell yeah, I was. But I wasn’t the one denying it.”

“Hmm . . .” she hummed as she thought it all over. “I’m probably not the best person to ask for advice. It seems I only love the ones who don’t love me back.” The humor in her voice was overpowered by the sadness she was trying to hide.

“He’s an idiot,” I said, referring to her good-for-nothing husband.

“And so are you,” Meg snapped back. “What are you thinking, rushing into things with her? If I’m honest, I don’t blame her for putting a stop to it. You two barely know each other and there’s a lot on the line if things don’t work out.”

“I know. Hell. I’m not even sure what I’m thinking half the time when I’m around her. I should be angry and want nothing to do with her, but there’s just something about her.” There always had been since that first night.

Headlights flashed through the sheer curtains of the living room window. I sat up and looked over at the window. An engine died in the driveway. I checked the time on the phone. It was only ten at night. Melanie had mentioned she wouldn’t be home until after two in the morning since she was the closing manager.

I peered out the curtain as a woman stepped out of the car and turned to reach for something inside. She seemed vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t quite place where I knew her from.

“Someone is here. Let me call you back.”

“Okay,” Meg said before I ended the call and tucked my phone in my pocket.

I waited for the light knock on the door before opening it.

“Hi,” the petite woman said. “I’m Olivia. A friend of Melanie’s.”

“You were the one at the store with Mel and Avery.”

“Yep. And in Vegas with Melanie, but you probably don’t remember that.”

I didn’t. I knew Melanie had been there with friends celebrating her birthday, but my focus had been entirely on Melanie. “Sorry.”

“No need to apologize.” Olivia waved it off.

“I assume that’s for Avery.” I nodded toward the teddy bear that held a “Get Well Soon” balloon.

“Is she up? I’d like to give it to her.” She tried to peer around me.

It was a little late for a gift delivery. “She’s been asleep for over an hour,” I replied cautiously, still blocking her from entering the house.

“So you’d say about what time did she go to bed?”

I crossed my arms and leaned against the doorjamb. “Let me guess. Mel sent you to spy on me.”

“A good spy never tells.”

I snorted a laugh and shook my head. “I had her brush her teeth and get in bed by eight thirty. She was passed out before nine, right after the second reading of The Rainbow Fish. Satisfied?”

“I’ll let you know,” she said, shoving the teddy bear and balloon at me. “Make sure she gets that, will ya?”

“Sure thing,” I replied as she turned and headed down the steps for her car. “Unbelievable,” I muttered, closing the door.

I walked back into the leaving room and placed the bear and balloon on the coffee table, then fished my phone from my pocket to call Meg back.

“Who was it?” Meg immediately answered.

“A friend of Mel’s here to spy on me.”

Meg laughed.

“She has zero faith or trust in me,” I grumbled.

“She doesn’t know you,” Meg said through her dying laughter. “And she’s leaving the life of her child in your hands.”

“Our child.”

“Yeah, I know. But she’s been her baby for six years. And you’ve only been around her for three days. I get your frustration, but she’s a mother. I’d be the same way if it were me.”

“I guess you have a point.”

“Look at the bright side. At least she’s being flexible with giving you time with Avery.”

All good points. She was right. If I wanted Melanie to trust me to do what’s best for Avery, she had to get to know me first. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much time before I left to make that happen. She needed proof, something to set her at ease.