Chapter 18
Ryan
I made the decision to tell Em everything—but in person. Whether she decided to end us or not, at least she'd know I cared enough to be honest. I made arrangements to fly to Denver tomorrow.
"Hi, Emma," I said, eager to hear her voice.
"No," a man replied.
Shocked by the male voice on the other end of the line, I checked to make sure I punched in the right speed dial.
"Emma is in the shower. Can I take a message?"
"No." I hit the disconnect button.
What the hell? Had Emma been playing me all along? Monogamous fucking came to my mind. Yeah right. I leave for a few days and she is with some other guy! If she was ready to move on, why didn't she say something before I left? No wonder she hadn't called. At least I don't have to worry about what to do or hurting her! She took care of that problem. She can move on, and I'll leave her alone.
My cell lit up. Emma's number popped up on the screen. I put the phone on do not disturb. I didn't want to listen to her tell me how it wasn't fun anymore and she was moving on. I met with my attorney and went through all this emotional shit. For what? I thought we might have had something. I guess she didn't. Fuck, I really misread her. Then again, she did go on a date less than a week after we first hooked up, admitted to seeing Michael probably around the same time, and didn't care that I had lied to her. The fucking signs were there, I just wasn't reading them!
I slammed my fist on the table, grabbed my wallet, and got in the car. Next thing I knew, I was parked in front of Stacy's mom's house. Before I had a chance to drive away, Jenna knocked on my window, dressed in short shorts and a low-cut top.
"Ryan, why are you sitting out here in your car? Come on in. I'll fix you a drink. My daughter is at her friend's for the night," she added.
I followed her into the house. She poured us a drink and handed me a shot. I seldom drank whisky, but the burn felt good. Jenna poured me another.
Jenna was taller and less curvy than Em. I knew I shouldn't compare them. I was looking at Jenna but seeing Emma. "Fuck!" I said, a little too loud.
"My, you are intense." Jenna's brows furrowed as she curled her lips into a nervous smile.
She isn't Emma, but maybe she is just what I need to erase Em from my mind. Putting my arms around her, I kissed her and massaged her ass with one hand, letting the other hand squeeze her breast. Jenna cried out in pleasure.
I couldn’t do it. "Jenna, I'm sorry. You're fantastic, but I can't. I kissed her forehead and left. When I kissed Jenna's forehead, I thought of Emma and how much she hated it. Fuck, I was pissed, and I was hurt.
I slammed the door of the Escalade. "Fuck!" I pounded on the steering wheel.
I went straight to Lindsey’s. I decided to see if she would allow Melissa to spend a week with me in Evergreen. Melissa had been asking to go. With Emma out of the picture, the timing would be perfect.
"What are you doing here?" Lindsey snapped.
"I'd like to ask a favor. Is Melissa here?" I sat down at the kitchen table.
"No, she is out with friends. What do you want?"
"I thought you might need a break, and Melissa hasn't been to Colorado with me in a long time."
Lindsey squinted her eyes at me. "You’re not offering because I need a break, so don't pretend it is."
She made everything so difficult! Trying to be civil to her was exhausting.
"Fine. I want some quality time with my daughter and was hoping you would allow her to spend some time in Evergreen with me."
"Only you and Melissa?"
"Of course."
"No women? I don't want you bringing her around any of your whores."
"Jesus, Lindsey, give it a rest. It will only be Melissa and me."
"Well, I wouldn't mind some 'me' time," she said. "For how long?"
"You tell me. For whatever amount of time you are willing."
"One week. When did you want to leave?"
"Tomorrow, the next day … whenever works for you."
"Tomorrow is good. Come get her in the morning. I will have her packed."
"Didn't you have plans with Melissa tomorrow?"
"We did, but Melissa and I can go shopping when you get back."
I was shocked but grateful she was allowing me to take Melissa.
“Lindsey, don’t you think it is time you and I talked?”
“About what?”
“About us, our marriage, and whatever it is that’s really going on between us.”
“You mean you want to talk about divorce?” She was fidgeting and starting to get upset.
“I want to understand why you don’t want a divorce. It’s not about money. You know I’m a good father.”
“I … I don’t … I can’t. Fuck it. Ryan, I just agreed to let you take Melissa to Colorado for a week. Let that be enough for now.” She looked more distressed than angry.
Without Emma, divorce didn't matter as much, but it was time for Lindsey and me to move on. At least she wasn’t yelling or being sarcastic. I guess that's some progress.
“I appreciate you letting me take Melissa to Colorado. Thanks, Lindsey, I’ll be by around 7:00 AM to pick her up.
I picked up Melissa in the morning, and as promised, she was packed and ready. She was waiting for me on the porch. "Hi, Dad. Ready to go?"
"Sure, but slow down. Let me tell your mom."
Melissa seemed anxious. "Oh, Mom knows. She's still in bed, but I left her a note, and she told me last night not to wake her but to wait for you out here."
"If you're sure your mom's okay …" I put her bags in the back of the Escalade, grateful not to have to deal with Lindsey.
"What do you think about asking Aunt Myla to come visit us?"
"Can Melony come too?"
"I'll ask. Let me give her a call."
"Twice in one week? This Emma person must be pretty special."
"It's over," I said, allowing my voice to rise as my anger surfaced.
"Whoa, Big Brother, calm down."
"Sorry. Anyway, I thought maybe you, Stan, and Melony might like to come to Evergreen for a visit? Melissa is with me, and I thought it would be fun if we spent some time together."
"I would love to! Stan's in California meeting with a client, but I'm sure Melony would like to come. As long as you don't mind if it's only Mels and me?"
"No, that's perfect! You and I can catch up, and the girls can hang out." I looked at Melissa, who was watching me. "Great, I'll see you in the morning."
"Good news! Myla and Melony are driving up from Colorado Springs."
"Cool! I haven’t seen Aunt Myla in over a year!" Melissa sounded genuinely excited. "Dad, what's over?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"When you were talking to Aunt Myla you said, 'It's over.' What's over?"
"Oh, nothing, sweetheart. Nothing you need to be concerned about."
I was going to be this close to Emma without seeing or calling her. Didn't matter. We were done. As quickly as it started, it was over.
Was she back with Michael? Was he kissing her, touching her? Loving her? Fuck it! She was better off. I wasn't in a position to do right by her anyway.
At thirty-one I was getting tired of my continual string of noncommittal, one or two-night stands. I smiled to myself. Actually, I wasn't all that sick of it until I met Emma.
After everything that happened with Lindsey, the idea of living with another woman, any woman, never sounded like something I cared to do again, even without Lindsey’s threats.
We landed in Denver and were on our way to baggage claim.
"Ryan!" I heard a voice behind me. I turned around and saw Bob walking toward me.
"Bob." I nodded, shaking his hand. "You coming or going?"
"On my way to Chicago. I have a meeting with Ben from your company."
"Everything alright?"
"Yeah, everything is fine. Meeting with Ben to work on a contract for a new development."
"You on your way to Emma's?"
My jaw tightened as Melissa, who had been standing a few feet away talking to one of her friends on her cell, walked over and stood by us.
"Bob, this is Melissa, my daughter."
He shook her hand. "Good to meet you, young lady. You look a lot like your dad, only much prettier. Well, I guess I had better go before I miss my flight." Bob locked eyes with me. "We should talk soon."
If Melissa overheard him mention Emma, she didn't say anything, and I was grateful.
On the way up the mountain, my daughter chirped excitedly about school and her friends. I had my housekeeper open up the house and stock it with food.
Melissa put her bags in her room. "Can we go for a hike before dark?"
"Sounds fun. Grab your backpack while I pack some snacks."
We walked the first few trails leading to the waterfall, a favorite spot for both of us. Melissa grabbed an apple from my backpack and sat down on one of the large rocks by the lake. She was so beautiful. I dreaded the day when she started dating. Melissa made everything worth it. Putting up with Lindsey's crap, living in Chicago, and even losing Emma.
"I love it here, Dad. Wish I could live here."
"I thought you liked your school and all your friends?"
"Oh, I do, but it's so peaceful and normal here. It looks like a scene you’d find on a postcard.
"I agree, sweetie. I love it here too. But what do you mean by normal? Is everything okay at home?"
"Dad, things are fine. I was just talking about how calm and relaxing it is here." She was playing with her hair, twisting it around her finger, a nervous habit she only did when she was uncomfortable talking about her mom. “Do you think the pool is warm enough for me to swim?”
I put my arm around her. "Sure is. I turned the heater on earlier just in case. We had a couple cooler nights lately."
Not that it matters now, but I could never ask Melissa to testify against her mother; she'd end up resenting me.