Roping Melanie by Melissa Ellen

5

Melanie

“I need a night out.”

“What you need is to get laid,” Olivia said, topping us both off with wine where she sat across from me at the wooden picnic table on my back patio. Like everything I owned, it was old and weathered.

She’d come over after closing down her flower shop to spend the evening with me. It was an unspoken agreement that any night I had off meant pizza and wine. It wasn’t often those came around. When it did, my lifelong best friend always showed up with a bottle of our favorite red wine and a Disney movie to keep Avery occupied. We’d order pizza, pop in the movie, and head to the back porch to sit and enjoy our wine. Avery would re-watch the movie at least two to three times before finally passing out for the night, giving us a chance to relax and catch up.

“Been there. Done that. Have the kid to prove it,” I said in response, lightly twirling the wine in my glass. She wasn’t wrong. The last man I’d been with was Avery’s father.

Her father. Nash. Lord, I’d never expected to see him again. Especially not here of all places.

“Nash is here.” The words spilled casually from my lips.

Olivia sputtered, nearly choking on her wine. She covered her mouth just to keep from spraying it everywhere. Once she’d gotten control, she looked at me wide-eyed. “I’m sorry, did you just say Nash? As in the Nash?”

Tucking my lips between my teeth, I nodded.

“And as in here, here? Like he’s in the flesh in Billingsley.”

“Yes,” I said on a sigh. “Or he was earlier today. He was at Dudley’s with Tucker.”

“And you’re just now telling me this because . . .” She repeatedly rolled her wrist over, gesturing for me to fill in the blank.

“Because I’ve been out of my mind all day.” For the better part of it, I’d convinced myself I was hallucinating. I thought the guilt after all these years had finally driven me to insanity.

“What is he doing here?” Olivia asked. She was one of the few people who knew about Nash, having been with me in Vegas years ago.

“I have no idea.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I have no idea,” I repeated.

“Are you going to tell Avery?”

That, I did know. “No. Not yet. Not until I know why he’s here and for how long. He could be passing through for all I know.”

“Good plan.”

“You think?” I asked, surprised my friend would agree with me so easily. She’d always been the type of friend that would shoot straight, even if you didn’t want to hear it. Most of the time I needed to hear it.

“Nope. I haven’t got a clue. This is uncharted territory.”

I laughed, despite the sinking feeling in my stomach I’d had since seeing Nash. Olivia was not only my best friend, but one of the few I still had. She’d stood by me when I ended up unexpectedly pregnant with Avery. The others all slowly disappeared from my life, moving on with their own. Either they didn’t have room in their busy party schedules to have a young, single mom as a friend or they didn’t want to be associated with the girl who’d gone and got herself pregnant out of wedlock and not a father in sight.

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, unless of course you end up knocked up by your one-night stand.

Once word had spread around town, I’d been the highlight of the gossip squad for many months. Even after all these years, there were still the occasional sideways stares and hushed whispers when Avery and I would step out on the town. It didn’t bother me the way it used to.

I loved my daughter. She was the best thing that ever happened to me. So I let them talk all they wanted. They weren’t taking the joy of having her in my life away from me.

Before either of us could discuss the crazy coincidence of Nash being in Billingsley, Avery burst through the back door.

“What’s up, peanut?” I asked her as she climbed up on the bench next to me. I put my arm around, hugging her to my side.

“Can I have some ice cream?”

“Sorry, charlie,” I said as I played with the ends of her hair. “We’re all out.”

That cute bottom lip of hers poked out.

“Oh, no,” Olivia said. “You know I’m powerless when it comes to that lip.”

“No. Stay strong,” I teased. “She’ll be just fine without any ice cream. She’s already had her weight in pizza and popcorn.”

“But, but—” Olivia bounced her eyes between Avery and me. “Look at that face!” She gestured toward Avery, who exaggerated her pouty lip even more.

I turned my gaze to Avery and then back to Olivia, bursting into laughter at Olivia now giving me the same expression. “How can I say no when you’re tag teaming me?”

Avery popped up and out from under my arm. “We’re going to go get ice cream?”

“I guess,” I said on an exaggerated sigh and smiled. “You two have left me no other choice.”

“Yes!” Avery said, high-fiving Olivia.

“Go get your shoes on,” I ordered.

Avery took off back inside the house, and I turned to Olivia. “You’re worse than her.” I took a quick sip of my wine.

“What?” She shrugged a single shoulder. “Ice cream sounded good.”

I rolled my eyes and stood, cleaning up our pizza plates. “Let’s go. You’re buying.”

She laughed, helping me clear the table. “Fine by me, but that means sundaes then. Oh! And we are definitely getting mint chocolate chip too.”

The three of us walked together through the grocery store, Olivia pushing the cart and Avery holding my hand.

“What do you say we divide and conquer?” Olivia suggested.

“Sounds good to me.” I looked down at my daughter. “Do you want to go with me or Aunt Olie?”

“Aunt Olie!” she practically shouted, unsurprisingly. The girl loved Olivia because she spoiled her rotten.

“Great.” Olivia took Avery’s hand, while keeping one hand on the cart. “We’ll get the toppings, you grab the ice cream. And don’t forget my mint chocolate chip,” she ordered as they walked away.

I shook my head with an amused smile while heading for the frozen food section. I skimmed the flavors, searching for the vanilla ice cream first for Avery. I opened the freezer door, quickly grabbing a gallon of vanilla bean. Then stepped back, running smack into a firm body. Strong hands held my bare arms for a second, steadying me.

“Interesting. I pegged you more of a Chunky Monkey type of girl.”

“Excuse me?” I said and turned to face the man who was inches away, letting the door slam closed. My eyes went wide and my mouth gaped open.

“Shit,” Nash muttered. “That came out wrong. I just meant because it’s a more adventurous flavor. Not because you’re”—he gestured toward my body—“chunky. Jesus that wasn’t any better.” He wiped a hand over his mouth in frustration or maybe to stop his reckless rambling, then took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I’ve waited years for this moment, and it’s literally taken me seconds to screw it up.” He planted both hands on his hips. “You look good, Melanie. Real good.”

I remained speechless as my eyes took him in. The man was in boots. And jeans. A gray T-shirt clung to his chiseled chest. I couldn’t fathom how, but the man was quite possibly even more handsome now than he was when I last saw him.

I wasn’t sure how to react. Shock and fear were both in the back of my mind, but laughter was forcing its way to the front, wanting to bubble over at just how nervous he seemed to be. I had to admit, it was adorable and sexy and momentarily distracting. That was until the one thing happened that could pull me back to the realization of just how bad this situation was . . .

“Momma!” Avery called from behind me. Seconds later she was at my side with Olivia right behind her. Both of them staring at Nash in awe. My heart was thumping so fast, I thought I might be having a heart attack. Then it stalled . . .

“Hey. I know you,” Avery said to Nash, her big, green eyes pinned on him. She may have only ever seen pictures and videos of him a few times, but she knew exactly who he was. Nash’s eyes dropped to Avery, a myriad of expressions crossing over his face. “I don’t think so, sweetheart. I’d never forget a pretty face like yours,” he said, giving Avery his charming smile that had won me over years ago.

Her eyebrows narrowed inward. “But you’re—”

“Come on, Avery,” Olivia interrupted, taking her hand. “We need to get some ice cream cones.”

“But we already have ice cream cones,” Avery argued, momentarily distracted as she shifted her confused gaze to Olivia.

“Well, we need more. And maybe some extra whipped cream while we’re at it,” Olivia said as she dragged Avery away.

I watched Nash on bated breath as he watched Avery and Olivia scurry off and out of the aisle, disappearing from view.

“Is she—”

“My daughter.”

“And her father? Is he . . .”

“Not in the picture,” I answered.

A whoosh of breath released from his mouth as his stiff posture relaxed. “That’s good. I mean not that—”

“It’s fine,” I interrupted, turning away from him to find the mint chocolate chip ice cream and get the hell out of there.

“Look, I’m sorry if I offended you for a second time. I swear I’m not usually this bad with words. It’s just—I’m in shock. I can’t believe it’s you. That you’re really here.”

“Well, I do live here,” I clipped, snatching the carton of ice cream from the freezer shelf.

“Right. That’s . . . wow. Really?”

I faced him once again, a gallon of ice cream in each arm. “Nash.”

“Yeah?”

“What are you doing here?”

“I live here too.”

I furrowed my brows. I must have heard him wrong.

“I mean I will be. Soon.” He shoved his hands in his front pockets. “I’m building a house just outside of town.”

“That’s why you were with Tucker.”

“Yeah. You know him?” he asked. “Of course you do. It was you in Dudley’s earlier today, right? I thought I was going crazy when I first saw you.”

“I have to go,” I said, glancing over his shoulder and ignoring his question.

Olivia and Avery were now waiting at the end of the aisle, the cart laden with more junk food than we’d ever need. This was all too much. I couldn’t even begin to process it all when my whole world was seconds away from falling apart.

“Right. Okay.” He looked over his shoulder at them before his eyes fell back on me. “I’ll see you ’round then?”

“Sure,” I replied without thought, moving quickly past him.

My focus was purely on getting my daughter out of the grocery store and away from Nash as fast as possible. The last thing I needed was for the conversation to turn into a Jerry Springer episode in the middle of the store for the whole town of Billingsley to witness.

Once Olivia and Avery had started to walk toward the check-out lines, I peeked over my shoulder one more time to look at Nash. But it wasn’t me his eyes were focused on anymore.

They were glued to Avery.

“I lied to him.”

Olivia stopped mid-drink of her latte and lowered her cup, setting it down on the front counter of her flower shop. “You did what?”

“I mean, technically, I didn’t lie,” I tried to justify. “I just didn’t give him the whole truth.”

Olivia’s brow arched, a silent demand for me to elaborate.

We hadn’t had a chance to talk about the run-in with Nash at the store last night, since Avery had been present. Bless my friend for knowing just how to keep Avery’s mind off having seen her father in person for the first time. She hadn’t even asked me about him, which was good, considering I wasn’t quite sure what to tell her just yet.

Eventually, Olivia had to call it a night. I promised her I’d stop by The Olive Tree, the little boutique flower shop she owned in downtown Billingsley, first thing in the morning. I came armed with coffee, needing it more than usual since I’d had a sleepless night.

I sighed. “He asked about Avery’s father. I told him he wasn’t in the picture.”

“Why would you do that?”

“I don’t know.” I concentrated on the paper cup I had a tight grasp on with both hands. “Because it’s the truth, and I panicked. Plus, it wasn’t exactly the place to break the news.” When she hadn’t said anything more, I lifted my head to Olivia’s disappointed expression. I hid behind the heels of my hands and groaned as I lightly shook my head. “I know. I’m a terrible person. It’s just—what if he tries to take her from me?” When her silent treatment continued, I looked at her once again. This time her expression was pinched in concern. “And the look on his face. You didn’t see it,” I defended. There had been fear and worry as if he was waiting for me to admit Avery was his. It all disappeared the moment I said her father wasn’t around. He’d been relieved as if the mere thought of being her father was the worst thing in the world. Or maybe it had all been my imagination. Maybe I was just making excuses because I was scared shitless . . . “I have to tell him.”

Olivia reached for my hand giving it a supportive squeeze. “You do.”

And I would. Once I figured out how the hell to do it.

Before I could give it much more thought, the front door opened and Tucker Monroe strolled through with a big grin on his face. “Ladies,” he said in greeting. “How’s it going?”

“Good,” Olivia answered for the both of us as she stood upright. “I suppose you’re here for the peonies you special ordered?”

“Yep. Did they come in?”

“I’ve got them in the cooler in the back. Give me a second, and I’ll grab them for you,” she said and left us alone to grab his order.

Tucker turned to me as he leaned an elbow on the front counter. “How are things at Dudley’s?”

“Great. I’m really enjoying running things versus waiting tables.”

“And Avery? How is she?”

I smiled fondly at the mere mention of my daughter. “Up to no good as usual.” The girl was my opposite. Where I liked things neat and orderly, my daughter gave a whole new meaning to chaos.

Tucker chuckled. “She and Lily are peas in a pod. You should drop her off for a sleepover sometime. I know Lily would love it.”

“Careful. I may take you up on that.”

“It’s why I offered. I’m hoping you will.”

I tapped my fingers lightly on my cup, working up the nerve to do what I needed to. “Speaking of favors . . .” I said before I chickened out. “The man you were with in Dudley’s—”

“Who? Nash?”

“Yeah. You wouldn’t be willing to give me his number, would you?”

“Depends. I don’t normally give out my client’s phone numbers, especially not one as high profile as him. What do you need it for?”

“I can’t tell you. Not yet anyway. But I promise you, I’m not some crazed fan. And it’s super important.”

Tucker mulled it over a beat. “Tell you what, if it’s okay with you, I’ll give him your number first and ask him if he’s okay with me sharing his. Sound good?”

I gave him an appreciative smile. “That’s perfect. Thank you.” If Nash didn’t reach out, I could sleep better knowing it wasn’t from a complete lack of me trying.

He pulled out his phone, firing off a quick text as Olivia returned with the flowers.

“Here you are.” She set the vase on the counter. “Want me to put it on your tab?”

“If you don’t mind.” He tucked his phone back in his pocket before picking up the arrangement of peonies.

“Not at all. Hope she loves them.”

“I have no doubt she will. She always loves the beautiful flower arrangements you create.” He smiled. “Have a good day, ladies.”

“We will,” Olivia answered as I smiled and waved.

“Why can’t all men be like that?” I asked on a sigh as we both watched his backside disappear out of view.

Every Saturday Tucker stopped in Olive’s to pick up special ordered flowers for his wife, Lottie, before stopping at the clothing boutique she owned a few doors down to take her out for an afternoon date. He always surprised her with a different variety of flowers. Anything and everything except roses. She hated roses. Peonies were her favorite, which meant he likely had something super special planned or he was groveling. The two of them had been high school sweethearts. And years later, they were still just as much in love if not more so. It was sickening and beautiful at the same time.

“If they ever start cloning men, he will be the number one sold model,” Olivia said.

I couldn’t disagree and right behind him would likely be his older brother, Wes. The Monroe brothers had been the fantasy of many of us young girls growing up and even some women still today. But they both were currently happily married to the loves of their lives.

Olivia turned to me. “What were you two talking about?”

“I asked for Nash’s number. He wouldn’t give it to me, but he did text him mine.”

She reached for my forearms, pulling me toward her and giving me an awkward hug over the counter. “You’re doing the right thing. It’ll all work out. You’ll see.”

It was the right thing and long overdue.

It was also the scariest thing I’d ever do. I wasn’t as confident as her that it would all work out. Most of all, I was worried about breaking my little girl’s heart.