Melanie

“It sounds good in theory, but since I was just dumped for my best friend not but a few weeks ago, I don’t think everyone feels that way.”

“The right one will.”

I snorted and looked at the drink I was rolling in my hand on the table. Maybe I’d had enough if I was going to make sounds like that.

“Don’t tell me that you believe in the right one? I know how you are Carl, how you have always been. Nothing has changed and I’m finally seeing it the way that it truly is. Jake is fun, but he’s not ‘the one’, no one is.”

“That’s a bit too negative for a girl so young.”

“I learned young that just because I felt some way about someone, that doesn’t mean that they are going to feel that way about me. You didn’t and it didn’t matter what I did.”

He didn’t say anything to that and I took another drink, even though I’d just told myself a few moments before that I’d had enough.

“I didn’t know that it would bother you that much. I wasn’t even really paying attention. You were a kid Melanie, so how could I take you seriously?”

“I don’t know. I guess now I get it a little bit better, but for a while I was pretty upset about it. I didn’t get why you didn’t like me. It drove me a little crazy because I really wanted you. I thought about you all of the time. If you knew how many times I’ve whispered your name when I come Carl, I would be embarrassed. I’ve even called out your name with another man before. It didn’t go well, either time. I wish sometimes that I didn’t have this crush on you, but I do. I tried to stay away, but seeing you again, just reminds me how much I used to like you. How much I still do.”

“Then what about Jake?”

I waved him off. “What about him? I dated Jake long ago to pass the time.”

His brow went up and I knew that he didn’t find my use of his own words very useful, though I found it hilarious.

“Well you shouldn’t. He’s a waste of your time.”

“And what are you?”

“Concerned.”

I don’t know why he was so worried about Jake. He was the one that insisted that we couldn’t be together, so why did it matter so much? Why was he so worried about who I was with when he didn’t want me himself? After that kiss and what he’d said, I thought he had. But he must not because if he had really wanted something to happen, he would have made it happen. Nothing would have stood in his way.

“Don’t be concerned. I’m not a girl anymore and I can take care of myself.”

“Of that I have no doubt. Let me take you home before it gets too late.”

This night was not going the way I wanted it to and another stolen kiss in the parking lot of the bar was not going to do it for me. If he was going to take me home, he was going to have to make it worth my while.

“I think I’m going to stay back and talk to Jake if he’s still here. I think I need to pass some time tonight.”

He growled at me and I don’t know why, but I really liked the sound of it. He wasn’t happy about the prospect, but if he didn’t want me, he needed to let me go do what I wanted to do. I wasn’t going to wait around for him to grow some balls and take what he wanted.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Well he’s not my first choice, but he looks like he is the only one that I got.”

“I know you’re talking about me, but there are plenty of men that want you. Jake is not the only choice for you. There has to be someone out there that is your age and right for you.”

“Not tonight there isn’t. I have needs Carl and I can’t keep ignoring them like I’ve been doing.”

He looked away like he didn’t even want to look at me and I got up from the chair.

“Where are you going?”

“I thought I just said. You’re leaving and I’m going to go find Jake. I’m not going to spend my birthday night alone.”

“You’re not alone. I’m here.”

I made a face because I knew that he was just mincing words with me. He was here, but not in the way that I wanted him to be here for me.

“You know what I mean.”

“Yeah I do. So if I leave, you won’t come with me?”

I shook my head that I wasn’t going to go. “Not unless there is something else that’s going to happen worth my while.”

“Is that really what you want?”

I agreed. “It’s what I’ve wanted for a long time Carl.”

He cursed under his breath and said something about me dragging him to hell. I don’t know if that was true, but I wanted to believe that he was finally going to be with me. I wanted to be back in his arms so badly.

“So you’ll come back to Lily’s place with me?”

I didn’t want to sound desperate or eager, but there was a hint of both in my voice and it was impossible to avoid. I had waited so long for him. He didn’t want to do much in the bar because of the town around us watching, but I knew then that he was finally going to give me what I truly needed. I needed him, in any way or capacity that I could get him. Tonight was finally going to be the night.