Chapter 46

MELODY

I arrive at the apartment,punch the code on the door lock, and let myself in.

The lights are on, and the floor-to-ceiling windows filter in the night view I have reveled in so many times while contemplating it from my office.

But this time is different.

This is home.

The view is part ofthe appeal of this place, while at my job, it is only a perk.

My heels clatter against the polished wood while I look around. The space begs to be decorated with a lavish couch,largearmchairs, floor pillows, and long curtains.

I go straight to the terrace, open the door and suck in the crisp air while listening to the humming of the streets.

This place is perfect for recharging after a long day at work.

I leave the door open and pivot to the kitchen.The place is as impressive as it was the first time I saw it.

I can't wait to have people over.

I place my purse on the kitchen island and go to the bathroom,where I turnon the lights andmovemy eyes over my reflection.

My white dress still looks sharp despite spending so much time in it.My hair contrasts nicely with the classic combination of black and white.

The necklace I received from himcatchesmy eye, and Ibrushmy fingertips over it with tenderness and longing.

Some noisemakes it tomy ears. Startled, Iturn around, andwithout wasting another moment, I go back.

"Hello?" I say. "Is anyone there?"

Anyone other than me?

A knock on the door makes me move my eyes in that direction.

I know I locked the door, and I freeze when I hear the electronic beep of the lock getting unlocked.

I'm ready to reach for my phone and call for help if this is an intruder.

The door cracks open, and Jax fills the entryway, holding a bottle of wine.

"A housewarming gift," he says as Ibreathe out asigh of relief.

He swaggers to me, smiling.

"I hope I didn't scare you," he says, setting the bottle on the island and splaying his fingers over my cheek before kissing my lips.

"You actually did. I thoughttheywere showing the place to someone else."

He shoots an eyebrow up.

"You know… As a backup plan," I say.

"There is no backup plan," he mutters, tearing his hand away from me. "This sale will happen. I'm confident about it," he asserts, moving toward the terrace.

"So you did have something to do with it."

I pull up next to him and webothglance out.

"Life is easier when you have connections and people willing to help," he says, not looking at me.

"And they usually do that when they're afraid or need something from you."

He cracks a smile.

"Or both," I say, studying his profile.

"Yes, you have to be able to offer them something in exchange," he murmurs absently, taking in the view.

Lights flicker in the distance while the city hums quietly.

"Have you imagined a life like this?" I ask, moving my eyes to him again.

"This?"

He peers at me.

"You mean Manhattan? Or having you with me?"

I laugh, flattered.

"I was talking about Manhattan."

He moves his gaze back.

"As fascinating as it is, Manhattan has never been an unattainable dream for me. It was the city. Too expensive to live in. Too loud. Crazy at times. Exciting if you're an adrenaline junkie. It's the epitome of contrasts. You, on the other hand…" he says, smiling while evading my eyes. "I had no clue you'd come in this package. If someone had told me you'd be some hotshot executive, I would've laughedmy ass off."

"This is only a side of me."

"It's you."

"I'm not so sure."

Our eyes connect.

"I was convinced this was all me," I say. "Tall lattes, designer shoes, going for the kill in the industry, big bonuses in my bank account. It was all good. When you know what you're doing, it's also easy. But it's not all there is. And when you came along, life threw a wrench into my plans for the future."

"You're trying to make me feel important," he says with self-deprecating humor.

"You are important, as it turns out."

We both laugh.

"So," I say, pivoting and looking inside.

"Do you like my new place?"

He turns around, and I follow him to the middle of the room. "The only thing missing is a fireplace," he says, glancing around.

"There is one in the bedroom."

"You need one in here as well."

He points to the windows.

"Imagine looking at the view, a glass of wine in hand, the fire crackling as you are deeply longing for me."

I laugh quietly.

"You know how to paint a picture.Only for that, and it'sworth buying this place."

I leanbackagainst the island while he pivots to me and moves closer.

"This place is perfect," he says, brushing a strand of hair away from my face.

His smile fades, and so does mine as he lowers his mouth to caress my lips. His kiss sends arrows of pleasure through my body, and I respond to him, fanning my fingers over his neck and pressing myself into him.

He is so warm against my frame that I peel back and take my blazer off.He runs his hands up my bare arms while I hug him again.

His arm goes around my waist, his eyes dripping with tenderness.

"Where do you see us in six months?" I ask quietly.

He shrugs.

"I have no idea," he says, watching my expression change. "I'm not ready for that, but…" He flashes a smile."I can tell you how I imagine us ten years from now. Or even more."

I melt a little.

"I like the longer version even more," he says, looking down and playing with my necklace. "You're going to be so in love with me, you won't believe it. The older I get, the luckier you'll feel."

I chuckle, and he gives me an amused grin.

"The more time we spend together, the more things we'll build," he says seriously this time.

"You're not afraid?" I ask.

"Why would I be afraid?"

"Bad things happen. People change."

"You're too old to change," he jokes, and I wag my finger at him.

"What about you?"

"I'll only get better at this thing called life. You'll see. What you want from me won't change in a bit."

"What's that?" I ask quietly.

He lowers his lips to mine, and we kiss before he speaks again.

"My love for you," he murmurs, unzipping my dress.

MELODY

Friday

I've missed him.

I've missed him terribly since that night when we met at my new place, and we fucked, drunk on each other.

He took my clothes off, lifted me up, and pressed my back against the wall.

When he opened his fly and entered me, it felt normal,as if sex had become just another form of communication.

I loved how he pushed his thick erection into me, and his lips frantically took mine.

And then how we kissed as if we weren't having sex. And had sex as if we weren't passionately kissing.

I couldn't believe how easily time had slipped by, and when he was finally done with me, it was so damn late.

My cheeks burned as I used the bathroom and a piece of paper towel to clean myself up, and I was still dizzy when I got home.

I invited him in, but he couldn't stay because he had to be somewhere in the morning. And that was that.

Here I am, three days later, waiting for him on pins and needles.

I leave work early to get ready for the party tonightwhen my phone rings.

"Are you ready?" Alice says as I put her on speaker and go straight to the closet.

"You're still checking on me, aren't you?"

"I can never be sure with you," she says, laughing.

"I'm coming…" I say, running my fingers over the hangers and pulling out a couple of dresses.

A red one with a draped neckline. And a black one.

I opt for the dark dress and pick up a beige blazer to pair it with.

My look is sharp and more business-like than I'd like, but I don't have the patience to search for something else.

Talking to Alice, I pull on my underwear and the rest of my clothes.

"Is he coming?"

"He is supposed to," I say, struggling to pull my zipperup. "I'm sure he'll be there," I add.

"Haha… Look at you. All trustful and shit."

I find it amusing.

"Isn't that nice?" I mumble, wrestling with my dress."I could never tell if a guy would show upor not before him."

"Things change."

"They do," I say, sliding my heels on. "How are things with you?"

Wetalk abouther custom–madewedding dress, and the honeymoon suite they've booked on a tropical island.

She sounds excited, and I'm with herfor a momentbefore feeling a dread in my chest.

I never thought about a wedding dress, and nowthat I do, I'drathergo for a simple one.Then I freeze, realizing I'm getting ahead of myself.

Speaking of getting ahead of myself.

I sort through my mail while listening to Alice when a brochure flies out of an unsealed envelope.

I pick it up and flip it over.

I can't believe this.

They must've added me to someone's mailing list without my knowledge, and now I'm getting brochures about artificial insemination and sperm donors.

Iperusethe information on the back of the leaflet andtossit back in the pile of mail as I don't have time to deal with it right now.

"I'm done," I say.

"With what?"

"Oh, nothing," I say, chuckling and checking the messages on my phone.

Nothing from Jax.

He knows the location and has already warned me he might be late.

"I'm all dressed up and ready to go."

"It's early."

"It may be, but I can't spend another moment here.By the way,my landlord is not happy about me leaving, but neither am I with renting forever, so we'll need to reach an agreement.I'm sick of paying rent."

"It worked for you in the past."

"Yes, it did," I say pensively. "But it no longer does. Anyway. I'm heading out. See you at the bar."

I swipe my phone screen and stare blankly around the room. My place has the feel of a relic of the past.

I know I'll be moving out.

I know I'll be starting a new life.

And I know the past will remain in the nooks and crannies of this place like a faded memory.

I can't wait to start this new chapter of my life.

With that thought, I turn off the lights and walk out.

MELODY

I'ma little nervous since Jax is late and everybody else is here. It was easier when it was only us, the girls.

With five men around the table, the atmosphere isnot the same, the topics are different, and our priorities have changed.

This has never been intended to be a competition between us. It still isn't, but inherently, we're keeping scores.

Five men clad in suits chat around the table while we discuss anything and everything from money and vacations to retiring early.

Retiring early?

It's like we just started making money a few years back.

I order another drink.

Alice touches my hand gently.

"Are you good?"

"Mm-hmm," I croak, whipping my eyes to the entrance before checking my phone.

"Anything new?" she asks.

"No. Buthe'llbe here. We booked a room."

"Good for you. I wish we did the same, but we're too tired for sexual activities."

We laugh.

"You can't be serious."

"I am.Hesaidheneeded at least twelve hours of sleep to recharge. And I feel the same. This week has been brutal. Between work, our trips, and this wedding. Oh, my… Who knew it would be so much work?"

I get my wine and gulp down half of it.

"Easy," she says quietly. "Things can't be that bad."

"It's been an intense week for meas well, but I can't complain."

I barely say that, and someone's back catches my eye.

"Oh, fuck," I push out, tipping my gaze down like I'm trying to avoid them.

Alice runs a long-fingered hand over a stray strand of hair, checking the guests in the room.

"Who are we hiding from?" she murmurs, humor tinging her voice.

"Can't you see him?"

"Oh…" she says quietly, her hand moving over her mouth. "What ishedoing here?" she asks, tilting her head to me.

I look up.

"I think he's doing that woman."

I flick my chin toward a woman wearing a red dress.

"She's pretty."

"She is, and she deserves better."

"We're all gluttons for pain at some point," she murmurs philosophically.

Alice's man swivels his head to her,a questioning look on his bearded face, and she laughs reassuringly.

"We weren't talking about you, baby. It's one of Mel's exes."

"Oh, that sounds bad," I comment, and we both chuckle while her man shifts his focus back to Melissa's husband.

"I don't feel like talking to him," I say, my eyes pinned on Ellis Wilton.

"He won't talk to you. Trust me. No man walks away from a woman like that to chat with some old flame."

"I'm hardly an old flame."

"He made an obsession with you."

"He's a narcissist. He couldn't stand to be rejected after only a few dates."

She looks at me like this is the first time she's heard of it.

"He's also a dick," I say. "He badmouthed me after the breakup."

"What a tool," she says, bringing her drink to her lips. "And yet, there's no short supply of women willing to go out with him."

"He's good with his mouth."

She flicks her eyes at me a little too fast.

"I'm talking about his words," I say, laughing quietly. "He's a pathological liar."

"Making compliments is not about lying."

"I'm not talking about making compliments here.Hejust lies all the time, twisting your words. He's the worst and a great manipulator. He gives me the ick even now."

I don't want to lift my gaze and look at that man again.

"He's gone," she says.

"Gone?"

I flick my gaze to her.

"I think they went to the bar," she says. "They met another couple."

"Good."

My eyes hover over the table when her hand finds mine under the table.

"Uh… What about him?"

"Him? What? He's back?"

"No. No…"shesays, preoccupied. "A man is standing over there, searching for someone."

My eyes fly to the entrance, and I catch sight of Jax signaling to the hostess and asking her about us.

The woman flicks her hand toward our table, and I give him a wave.

"No…" Alice pushes out under her breath. "Don't tell me that this is him."

"Yes. It'shim," I say in a clipped voice before locking my jaw to stop smiling from ear to ear.

My cheeks hurt as I struggle to maintain a neutral expression, but it'sharderthan I thought.

Eventually, I place my napkin down and lift my purse from the chairnext tome while he closes the gap between us.

The first moments are a blur. I'm making the introductions,unable to focus on anything, sensing Alice's curiosity.

Jax introduces himself as an investor, and no one has questions.Itmay be because his imposing figure, the glint in his eyes, and the tattoosspeaking ofextracurricular activities deter everyone.

Whatever it is, it makes Alice look at me with asmallsmile on her lips and big, round eyes.

He slides into his seat next to me and orders food before casually placing his hand on the back of my neck and kissing my cheek.

His gesture is so natural and genuine, so full of tenderness that I melt in my chair.

And now that I think about it, I haven't seen the other couples interact this way.Maybe I'm not paying attention enough.Or maybe I'm just so smitten with him that my perception is skewed.

Things go well––I fretted for nothing––and an hour later, we're about to wrap it up.

Except for Alice and her man, we all have booked rooms in the hotel.

Alice and I chat in the lobby while Jax stays behind talking to the other men––their women using the bathroom––when someone elbows me in the back.

We both apologize and as I turn around, my eyes fall on Ellis.

His surprise isbiggerthan mine.He clearly had no idea I was here.

His woman is probably waiting in line to use the restroom while he tries to make his way to an armchair, a drink in hand.

"Melody Hill," he says, his eyesquicklysliding to Alice.

I don't feel the need to introduce him to her, and the other way around, and my best friend stares at us, not knowing what to do.

But Ellis is quick to gather clues. He looks at us and the men chatting only feet away before putting two and two together.

"I haven't seen you in a while," he says, a dark glint flashing through his eyes.

The last time we talked, he was resentful and glaringly unhappy with me.It seems he hasn't snapped out of that state all this time.

How can someone hold a grudge for so long? And why? We were nothing to each other.

I'm sure he's seen dozens of women since we went out.

"Are you celebrating something?" he asks, a cunning grin creasing his lips.

"Me and my friends are having drinks. You?" I say dryly.

He ignores my question and scans the room,yet mostlylooking at the men behind us.

Jax tears away from the group and heads our way with a crease on his brow. I turn to Alice, signaling that I need to go.

"It was nice spending time with you," I say, a bit stiff, but she gets my drift and hugs me.

"Call me," she says before I pivot to Ellis, whose eyes are trained on Jax.

The tension is thicker than the rug beneath my heels.

I turn my back to Ellis and meet Jax halfway, whose eyes are already throwing flames.

"Who is that?" he shoots at me through clenched teeth.

"I'll tell you," I say, looping my arm through his. "Let's go upstairs. No need to punch him. He's an old acquaintance," I manage to say before his eyes meet mine, and Ellis is wise enough to go look for his girlfriend.

"Are you sure? He gives off jerk vibes."

"He is all that," I say, waving goodbye to everybody else. "He's always looking for trouble. I just don't want my night ruined because of him."

"I can talk to him, you know," he says, reluctantly stepping away from the lobby.

"I know. Ijust don't think it's necessary," I say, pressing the elevator button and sighing with relief when the doors ding open.