10. Melissa

Chapter ten

Melissa

" M elissa, can I see you in my office, please?" My father's voice drifts up the stairs.

"Yeah, give me just a minute." I close my notebook and slide it back into my bookbag. My last assignment is completed. In just a few short days, I'll be graduating high school and heading off to college.

Clayton and I were lucky enough to get into the same college. While he's going to major in business, preparing him to one day take over his father's business, I'm unsure. I've always loved to cook, but volunteering in the outreach program with the local Boy's and Girl's Club has made me think my future holds a different career path.

I head down the steps in a jog, already imagining the lecture my father will give me about how unsafe it is. "You could trip over your own feet, or a shoelace and topple head first down them, snapping your neck." His words ring out, having heard it a million times, and I immediately slow, heeding his advice.

Stepping into his office, I see he's not alone. Clayton and his father are with him and I immediately become nervous. Do they have reservations about us attending the same school?

"Melissa," my father greets me, ushering me to take a seat in the chair beside Clayton. I give him an awkward wave as I sit.

"Dad." My gaze shifts to Clayton as I raise my eyebrow in confusion. I wasn't expecting to see him until tomorrow night when I went to his parents' for dinner. I've been there before, though only a few times. Typically, we're out or here at my house.

"Hello , Mr. Lawton." Clayton's father doesn't say a word, just gives me a nod. The couple of times I've met him, I've always felt uncomfortable, and today is no exception.

"Clayton, would you like to go ahead?"

I'm at a loss at what's going on. I shift in my seat, angling my body toward Clayton, who's slipped out of his chair and is now kneeling before me with a small black box in his hand.

Oh my goodness! Is he? No, he can't be.

"Melissa, I came over today to ask for your father's blessing to marry you. I know we're young and still have college ahead of us, but I wanted to go into this next step of our life with you, knowing how committed I am to you."

"Clayton!" My eyes tear up as I listen to what he's saying. He takes my hand in his.

"Both our fathers are here to witness. Melissa, sweetheart, will you marry me?"

I don't hesitate. "Yes!"

He slides the ring on my finger and I drop to the floor in front of him, hugging him tightly. My eyes land on his father who's glaring at us with a smug look of contempt.

If only I knew then this was the beginning of the end and that everything I thought I knew was nothing more than a lie.

A phone ringing pulls me from my spiraling thoughts. Just remembering the day that changed my life forever has my stomach churning. It takes a minute for me to realize it's my cell phone and not the landline.

I pick it up, my eyes unable to focus as fear courses through me. My breathing becomes shallow as my muscles tense. The panic within me only increases when I see the unknown number flashing.

Nope! I can't! Not today.

I'm not ready to answer, even if it isn't him. I quickly silence the ringing and open my purse, tossing the phone inside. Out of sight, out of mind. That's how it's going to stay for now.

I need something to keep my mind busy and this isn't it. The temptation to pull it back out and pray it rings again is too much. My hands need to be busy, so going back to my roots, taking some orders, and helping the girls out, is exactly what I need. Even cooking with Jax and the flood of conflicted emotions would be better than the anxiety I'm feeling right now.

With my mind made up, I place my hands on the desk and push up. "I can do this!" I give myself a pep talk as I make my way over to the door. My legs feel heavy, like I'm walking through quicksand. Taking hold of the handle, I open the door to a sight I wasn't expecting.

Ashlynn yelps, placing her hand over her chest as she breathes deeply. "You scared the crap out of me," Ashlynn says through laughter.

"I can say the same. What are you doing here?" Not that I mind seeing her. She's like the daughter I always wanted.

"Duh! I came to see you." She steps closer to me, wrapping her arms around me tightly.

When she lets go, I peek my head into the kitchen, seeing Jax at the counter, prepping food. "Are you alone? Where's Jacey?"

"He's with Ryker. Mack and I had to handle a Vee breakdown, then he had to run by the garage to get something, so I came to see you." She steps past me into the office, heading right for a chair. Guess we're visiting.

"Is she okay?" I shut the door, catching Jax looking up at me. His gaze is so intense it sends shivers down my spine.

"Yeah, she will be at least." Ashlynn doesn't elaborate and I don't ask for more. Right now there's too much on my plate to add anything else, no matter how much I like Vee.

I make my way around the desk and sit, resting my arms on top of it. Ashlynn's eyes dart around the room, looking anywhere but at me as she worries her bottom lip.

"Out with it. I know why you're here. I've heard the gist of it."

"I figured Dad wouldn't waste any time speaking with you. He wasn't happy about Jax showing up at my house, and honestly, I wasn't either." She lets out a sigh, but I know she's not done speaking, so I bite my tongue, allowing her time to finish. Even though it's hard as hell to do. I'm used to speaking my mind first. "Not that I don't like Jax or put off by him stopping by; it's the way he did it. Jax came to my home looking for a fight."

"I'm not happy about that, either. It wasn't his place to run and spread my business. Especially to your father."

I'm praying she doesn't push any further with this. I'd hate for the issues between Jax and Earl to affect us. Or for it to keep me from seeing my godson, Jacey. Petty conflicts like this can cause rifts in family and friendship that can't be repaired no matter how hard you try.

"I agree. Men can be stupid. I just want you to know that there's nothing more I would want than to have you as my stepmother. I think my mom would have liked it too." My heart melts at her words and it's taking everything in me to not get up and run around the desk. "I never told you, but there were a few times that she talked about a friend from her past and how much she liked her. All she ever told me is that my father had eyes for her first and as much as she regretted coming between them, if she hadn't, she'd never have me. So, I fully believe she's giving her blessing from heaven for you and Dad to work through this and finally be together."

The tears stream down my face. I lean forward, grasping her hands in mine, not even caring that I probably look like a racoon right now.

"No matter what happens with you and Dad, and Jax, it won't affect our relationship. It's why I came today. I wanted you to know that."

"Thank you." It's what I needed to hear. Losing her would kill me. It'd be like losing my son all over again. Not being able to talk about him with anyone has tormented me for the last twenty-six years. As much as I want to answer that call from him, whether he's my son or not, I can't. It would be too dangerous for both of us, but more so for him.

"Well, I need to go. Apparently, I'm being whisked away this weekend to make more grandbabies." She stands from the chair, shaking her head.

"Already? Jacey's still so new."

"Yep. It's my dad and Sam's idea. It seems there are too many grandfathers and not enough grandchildren. Dad's even babysitting for us to do it. So, please, can you check up on him?"

As much as I don't want to see Earl right now in any capacity, I also don't want to deny Ashlynn her request. "If he needs me, I'm here. Just tell him to call." I bite my bottom lip. There was a time, when all I wanted was for Earl to call me and want to see me, to have me come over and make me his. Hell if I'm honest, I still feel that way.

Ashlynn makes her way over to the door, stopping for a moment to glance over her shoulder. "I love you, Melissa." She shuts the door behind her, leaving me alone.

What the hell am I going to do? Two men! I did not see that coming and don't even get me started on my son calling.