Chapter Thirteen
In spite of her reluctance to guess on the reason that Joe was surrounded by half-naked women, Melissa simply could not avoid it. The image of all those girls beside him poisoned her mind. Her heart sank as she realized that the man she considered to be so much different than the others could, in fact, be a fake. Of all the men in the world, shifters or human, she resented cheaters. As far as she was concerned, such betrayal was unforgivable. She wouldn’t even have dared to think that Joe was one had he communicated with her once that day. Nevertheless, his disappearance was a sign of guilt, a clear indication that he was hiding something from her.
Melissa was relieved that she wouldn’t have to drive that night. Her confusion and anger would not have allowed her to focus on the road. Furthermore, she was grateful to Kate for changing Dean’s mind about riding with them to North Haven. Negative thoughts were already tormenting her. She could do without a disgruntled brother.
Kate put her foot hard down on the accelerator, as she turned right and onto the much wider road outside Shandaken. The small engine was roaring, when Melissa rolled down her window. She was so puzzled that the air around her had become too thick to breathe.
“I know that look in your eyes,” Kate’s voice tore through the silence, as Melissa rubbed her chin. “What’s on your mind, girl? Although I do suspect a thing or two, I must say.”
“Well…” Melissa sucked in a deep breath, running her hand up her cheek; “…I’ve been trying to make a list of all the things he could have kept from me. He could be cheating on me with one of those bimbos. He’s got a nasty habit, which he lied about, by the way. It’s so frustrating… I mean, I learned more about him from Helena in ten minutes, than he’s told me in the five days I’ve known him.”
“Welcome to the world of humans,” Kate smirked, casting an ironic, sideways glance up at her. “Not everybody is as forthcoming as my friends and I, Mel. Especially when they’ve done things they’re not proud of. In my opinion, you should cut him some slack about the coke. You guys just started dating.”
“Screw the coke,” Melissa groaned, banging her hand onto her knee. “I’d forgive him, if he promised to quit; but if he’s screwing around with those bitches, I’m going to make him regret meeting me.”
“Ok, settle down,” Kate advised, as her face twisted in a mocking leer. “Let’s get him out of this mess first. You can kick his ass later. Is that all you have to say?”
“Pretty much,” Melissa uttered, exhaling hard, as she gazed at the hundreds of taillights ahead of them.
“Good,” Kate nodded in satisfaction. “Now, here’s what I think. Let’s say he’s not been…” she faltered; “…naughty with those girls, and that he’s got a good reason for disappearing on you today. You guys shouldn’t keep seeing each other like this. The distance is going to kill you. If Dean hadn’t taken me to Paxton when he did, I doubt we’d still be together. Ray did the same with Julia, and now just look at them. I’m not saying you should move in with him. Just spend some time with him; see for yourself if he really is the guy you think he is.”
“You said it yourself, back in the cemetery,” Melissa spoke in a very slow tone. “I’d have to compete against his job. I doubt he’d ditch his job for someone he’s been seeing for just a few days. Plus, I’m not leaving Paxton. What am I going to do, get an apartment close to where he lives?”
“I would suggest a hotel room, but accommodation should not be your biggest concern, honey.” Kate’s voice dropped down an octave, as her smile fell from her lips. “The city is no place for a shifter. Dean describes it as ‘hell on Earth.’ The amount of noise in there would drive you crazy. Hell, it bothers me, and I don’t have super hearing. No, you can’t live in New York. He can live in Paxton.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” Melissa said, as a sense of doubt washed over her. “You didn’t see Raul this morning. He’d tear Joe’s heart out if he found him in my cabin.”
“Don’t worry about your brothers,” Kate suggested, lightly shaking her head, once. “They might be a little too loud sometimes, but they’re reasonable. If Joe can convince them he’s not a bad person, they’ll have no problem with him staying there for a few days.”
“First, he’s going to have to convince me,” Melissa stated, her tone low, as a bitter smile spread across her face. A feeling of sadness swept over her, as she compared two, vastly different images: Joe in the cemetery against Joe outside that mansion. The contrast was huge. It was as if they were two, completely separate, people who merely resembled one another on the outside. All the same, before she could utter a word, she sensed Kate’s soft hand, stroking the side of her neck.
“You’re in love with him,” she commented, averting her gaze from the road up ahead.
“I think I’m more in love with an idea,” Melissa retorted, as her voice weakened. “I believe Joe is this really sensitive guy, who’s been down on his luck; that I’m the one who’s going to make him happy again. But, if what Helena said is true, then he’s nothing more than a manipulative son of a bitch, who just likes to screw people over.”
“Maybe the truth lies somewhere in between,” Kate shrugged, her cool approach somewhat baffling her friend. “Most humans have skeletons in their closets. Why should he be an exception?”
“Please, just drive,” Melissa let out yet another sigh, as she tilted her head back. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”
Happily for Melissa, Kate respected her wish. An emotional breakdown was too close for comfort; Melissa had to remain silent. However, a momentary collapse was not what was terrifying her the most. More than anything, she was afraid that she had fallen prey to her own misjudgment. She thought that she had tricked herself into believing that Joe was the perfect man for her. Now, Melissa’s life was hanging in the balance, and her only hope was that he would disprove this notion.