Chapter Two – Melissa

“Who was that?” Yasmin asks me with her eyebrows furrowed. “You have a big smile on your face.”

“Oh, it’s Nick.” I try to sound breezy as I say that, but it doesn’t play well. It never does. Yasmin is convinced that me and Nick have repressed feelings for one another and it makes me appear guilty of that when I talk about him. I’m almost projecting what she thinks. “He wants to bring Toby over and to have a chat.”

“Ooh, right.” Yas wiggles her nose at me. “I better get out your way then. I wouldn’t want to get sucked in to the thick sexual tension between you two. I might not be able to breathe at the end of it.”

I give her a playful whack on the arm. I love Yas to bits, hiring her as my assistant for my interior design business, which was only supposed to be a part time hobby type thing before it exploded, was the best decision that I’ve ever made. She might be a couple of years younger than me, but she’s a freaking legend.

“Will you stop it, you know it isn’t like that. We’re just friends, that’s all. Nothing more.”

“Because of circumstances.” Yas offers me a one shouldered shrug. “You would be if he didn’t get married.”

I consider that for just a second, wondering if that’s true. I’ll admit that when we were in high school, my feelings did transform from friendship into an intense teenage crush that was off the scale, I used to day dream about marrying him and having a happy ever after with him, but I soon got over that when he went to college and met Liz. He married someone who’s the complete opposite of me which means he’ll never want me.

Of course, she turned out to be a gold digging bitch who abandoned her son, so I suppose his judgement wasn’t the best, but that still doesn’t mean that he’ll ever be into me. Not that I want him anymore. I’m well over that crush. I’ve had other relationships after him anyway, which proves that I’m not interested in him.

“I don’t think so.” I shake my head and glance away. “I don’t think he’s for me.”

“Oh, okay, you keep telling yourself that. I believe you, thousands wouldn’t.”

She smiles and grabs her bag, before shoving her books back into it, effectively ending our business meeting for me. That’s good really, I need to prepare myself a little for what’s to come. Seeing Nick is always a bit of an experience and after all this time, I know I won’t be able to think of work. We’ve worked out what I’m going to do in the Smith’s mansion extension anyway, so I’m not worried. Plus, I often prefer to work from the heart in the moment anyway as much as I can. That’s how I started, that’s how I’ve been a success, I might as well stick to it. If it works, don’t bother changing the formula, that’s what I always say.

“Right.” Yas leans forward and she kisses me on the cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow then, okay?”

“I’ll meet you at the Smith place, shall I?” Yas nods, being as easy going as she always is. Thank God. She’s organized and gets me sorted when I need to, but my laid back personality wouldn’t work with an uptight person. I need her, she’s perfect for me. “Great okay, I’ll see you there. Looking forward to it already.”

I close the door to my apartment behind Yas and glance around quickly. I have pens and paints everywhere, plus all of my records. I’m never dirty but I do have mess all over the place. I can’t tidy while I work, but if Nick and Toby are coming over then I need to. I’ve been to Nick’s place and aside from the toys, he keeps it freaking immaculate. He runs his home like I imagine he used to run his businesses. I’ll never be at that stage, but I can be a bit tidier and more child friendly. I gather things up and pile them in the corner of the room.

As I tidy, I glance at my reflection in the mirror and I’m immediately horrified. I have my denim overalls on over a tank top, my hair scraped back into a messy bun, and pain on my cheek. And not enough time to sort myself out. It’s laughable to assume that me and Nick could have ever been together. That’s why we haven’t ever been together. It would ruin our friendship when it inevitably fell apart.

So, why is there a little part of me, deep in the pit of my chest, that still sort of wants him? This is a ridiculous crush that has gone on for far too many years, I really need to let it go.

Knock, knock.

At first, I’m relieved when the door goes. I need the distraction from the crazy thoughts circling around in my brain, but then I remember that it’s the very person that I’m trying not to think about here, which freaks me out.

Oh God, oh God, oh God.

I plaster a much too bright smile on my face and I swing the door open. Toby races in and leaps into my arms. He holds me tight and giggles into my chest. He really does love me and I think it’s because I’ve been a constant figure in his life when things have fallen apart. Liz has gone, which is probably a good thing really, and I’m here.

“Hello there, my little Tobes. If you head into the kitchen, there might be a little treat in there.”

He runs past me straight into the kitchen to find the chocolate in the little cupboard I have for him. While he goes I give Nick a bit of an awkward grin. He shrugs his shoulders at me and walks in, glancing his eyes everywhere as he does. I wonder if the look is critical because of the mess, but I don’t ask.

“Do you want a coffee?” I say instead, trying to grab his attention back onto me. “Or a tea?”

“Oh yeah, coffee, please.” He follows me into the kitchen. “You always have the best coffee.”

“I need it! I wouldn’t be able to survive without it! Caffeine keeps me going.”

I flick the coffee machine on and wait for it to prepare the mugs while Nick sorts out what Toby is allowed out of my cupboard. He’s really stepped into the role of a single father better than I thought he would. He was always very involved in Toby’s life, as much as a man can be while running a successful business at the same time. Still, he’s done a really good job and that’s the reason Toby is a really great kid.

“Right, Tobes,” I say as I hand his dad a drink. “You can have complete control of the TV if you want.”

He leaps and races from the room once more, excitement bursting on his face. He looks so happy.

“No wonder he likes coming here,” Nick laughs with a head shake. “He gets all that he wants.”

I take a seat on the bar stool next to him. “Oh well he deserves it. He’s a great kid.”

I give Nick a curious look while I wait for him to speak. He has a favor to ask of me, that’s what he said in his message, so I’m waiting for him to say exactly what he wants.

Sensing what I’m waiting for, almost as if he can read my mind, Nick begins. “So, you know how I said I have something to ask you?” I nod slowly. “Okay, well here it is, and it’s a big one.” He sucks in a deep breath almost making me panic. What could it possibly be? “I have an event to go to on Friday night, the Business Associates dinner and award thing, and I really need a date for it. Do you think you’ll come?”

“Oh!” That surprises me. I didn’t think it would be something so simple. “Of course, I will.”

“Wait, before you agree, I need to explain it a bit more to you. Liz will be there with Pete.” Ah. My heart stops dead in my chest. That’s going to really suck. I know how heart broken he was and it might be me becoming a shoulder for him to cry on. “And I want her to think that I’ve moved on. I want us to be a ‘couple’.”

For a second, my heart soars. I don’t want it to, but it does. It lifts high and bursts with excitement before I realize that there are air quotes there. I’m not going to be a real girlfriend. Just a decoy one.

“Oh.” I gulp the thick ball of emotion that lodges in my throat down. “I see. Yes, of course I will. But won’t Liz see through it? She knows me, doesn’t she? She’ll know that I’m just your friend.”

“I thought about that.” It stuns me how detailed he’s thought this through. “And I figure if you wear a ring, potentially an engagement ring, she’ll fall for it. She’s always been jealous of you anyway.”

Now that shocks me. Liz is a typical glamorous girl, long blonde, straight hair, full make up, bright red lips, toned, sexy body. I have brunette messy hair and a curvy figure. I’m a mess compared to her.

Nick takes my hand and he gives me an intense heart stopping look. “I would love you forever.”

My heart melts, I can almost feel my knees knocking together with shock, this is nuts. It sounds crazy, I’m not totally convinced that it’ll work, but for him I already know that I’ll agree. “Sure, but what will I wear?”

“I can buy you a dress.” He gives me a grin. “It’s a posh thing.”

“Are you being rude about my normal clothes?” I tease while throwing my hands playfully onto my hips. “Now that is appalling. Especially when you need me. You’re asking me for a favor right now.”

“No, you’re right, I am. And you dress beautifully. I would like you to come like this…”

“Oh, don’t be silly. You know I won’t be offended. Just get me a dress, I’ll wear whatever.”

I throw my hand dismissively over my shoulder. I honestly don’t care what I wear. I’ll be playing a part anyway, doing a character so why does it matter what I wear? And Nick’s comment that he likes me as I am is coursing through my veins and making me feel all warm inside.

“I can just give you my credit card so you can pick whatever you want…”

“No, no, you choose. You know that world better than me. I’ll end up with something too arty or something. Don’t spend too much money, that’s all I’ll ask of you. Don’t spend money that Tobes needs on me.”

An expression crosses his face, one that I can’t quite work out. I wish I could crawl inside his brain so I can see where his thoughts are, but of course, that’s impossible.

“You’re honestly a legend, Meli Bear, I don’t know what I would do without you.”

The mention of the nickname almost sends me over the edge, it reminds me of how much I used to like him, and how I still do more than I should, but I manage to hold it together just enough.

“Urgh.” I roll my eyes dramatically. “Please don’t call me that. It’s much too cutesy. Not like me.”

“No,” he muses thoughtfully. “Not like you at all.”

I don’t really know what that means, but it feels odd to hear him say it. I don’t know why, but it gives me the impression that something about this night out and this business dinner is going to change things. For the better or worse? I’m not too sure.