Being with Mel the previous few weeks helped me forget about the impending new season coming up. I knew it wouldn't be long before the questions started and that facing them was something that I needed to do. Only, the more time went by, the harder it was becoming. Dad had called that morning asking why I hadn't heard anything yet. I told him that it would all be sorted and that he didn't need to worry. He insisted on calling Matt himself, which I managed to talk him out of. I knew that I was running out of time and that it wouldn't be long before the truth came out.

I almost brought it up with Riley that afternoon when I’d met up with him for lunch, but one look at his dishevelled face and I knew I couldn't put that on him. He looked like hell and barely managed to say a few words. He’d told Brie everything and it turned out he didn't need to end it at all because she did. It came as no surprise to me. He’d fucked up again; it was bound to end up in disaster. Still, I couldn't help but feel for him. He loved her and I wasn't sure he'd ever get over her. It made me think about Mel and how I’d feel if I lost her again. We weren't even together properly, but the thought of having a life without her sucked. She was the only decent thing I had right now. I thought my life had ended when I’d found out that I wouldn’t be playing football this season, but really, in a strange kind of way, it was just beginning. I never pictured a future with anyone, much less Mel. Now she was all I could think about. I looked forward to seeing her and being with her without worrying where her head was at. I no longer worried whether she was settling with me. Instead, it just felt right. I missed her smile whenever we were apart. The way her eyes lit up whenever I surprised her with a visit, or the way her lips tipped into a shy grin whenever I paid her a compliment. It was the little things that made me miss her. And it was those little things that made me want to be around her every second of every damn day.

“Beer okay?” she asked as she came back in the living room. She had just gotten out of the shower when I arrived. Now she was dressed in black silk pyjamas, her long hair piled on top of her head. She was beautiful without even trying to be.

“Beer’s good,” I said, taking it from her hand. I took a long swig as she curled into my side, her head resting against my shoulder. “Did you have a good time with Frankie last night?”

I felt her stiffen beside me. “Not really. We ended up having a huge row and I left.”

“How come?”

“Nothing. Just silly stuff.” She shrugged. “I honestly don't know what's gotten into her lately. It's like she's waiting for me to say something so she can have a dig at me.”

“Hmm… Maybe it's this stuff with her nan that's getting to her. I wouldn't take it personally.”

Mel lifted her eyes to mine and shrugged. “Maybe you're right. She said some really messed up stuff, though. I guess I’m just not used to her speaking that way.”

“What did she say?”

“She said that you were lying about the whole Sadie thing and that you slept with her.”

“Mel…” I started.

“Don't worry. I told her I believed you.”

“And what did she say to that?”

“Not to go crying to her when you screw me over again. Silly, right? I told her it wasn't serious between us so I wouldn't be getting hurt.”

“What did she mean by again?”

“Huh?”

“You said she told you not to come crying to her when I screwed you over again. What did she mean by that?” Mel stayed silent for a while. When I shifted on the couch to face her, I asked her again, “What did she mean, Mel?”

“Last year when we… well, you know.” I nodded and silently urged her to continue. “I was angry at you for leaving without so much as a goodbye. I mean, I get that you had to leave. Football was everything to you. I knew it wouldn't be long before you went pro and I was prepared for that.”

“Mel...”

“No. It's fine. I need to say this.” When I made no attempt to argue, she continued. “I was prepared for you to go. I knew you wouldn't always be around and that was fine. I was happy for you, Jake. I wanted you to do well. You deserve it more than anyone. I guess I just thought that because we’d gotten close, you would've told me that you were leaving. One minute you were there and everything was great and the next, nothing. You were gone. No call. No text. No goodbye. I woke up the next morning to find you gone. I’ve felt used and unwanted before, but nothing compared to how you made me feel that day.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Anyway, like I said, I was angry.”

It was my fault. I had hurt her and she had every right to be pissed at me back then. But I was young and stupid. Yet, I did the same thing that Taylor always did to her whenever he’d had his fill. I had hated him so much for the way he treated her back then, when in reality, I was no different than he was. I was a selfish idiot.

“Mel, back then I…”

“You don't have to explain yourself, Jake. I wasn't exactly a nice person back then, either. I get why you wouldn't want to be around me. I guess it just hurt, that's all. And then I met Frankie shortly after and I had told her everything… about you, about Taylor. The horrible stuff I did to Lola. I told her everything. She didn't look at me like all the others did. You know, with hatred burning deep within their eyes whenever they saw me coming out of the store. She didn't judge me for all the bad things I’d done. She just listened. But I’m afraid I may have had something to do with why she resents you so much. I’m sorry for that. Like I said, I was angry and hurt and…”

“Mel, I didn't leave because I never cared about you.”

“You didn't?”

I shook my head. “I left because I did care about you.”

Mel tilted her head to one side and frowned. “That makes no sense.”

“Remember that last night we were together?”

“It was all I could think about while you were gone,” she admitted.

“I just found out that Taylor was my brother and that my dad had been lying to me my whole life. I was crazy mad. I tore the house up. Laid into my dad while my mum sat crying in the kitchen, broken. I remember pulling every damn picture off the wall—every fucking family portrait that meant absolutely nothing—and smashing them to pieces. I wasn't an angry kid. It took a lot for that switch to flip. I didn't know what to do. I had so much anger inside of me burning through my veins, threatening to explode. I didn't know what to do with it.”

I paused to take a breath and looked down at Mel. She blinked back at me. Her beautiful big, brown eyes twinkled with so much compassion that it was almost unbearable to see. Even after the way I treated her, she still cared enough to forgive me.

“Then I saw you and suddenly nothing else mattered,” I continued. “I knew if I pulled you into my arms, buried my face in your neck and breathed you in, it would all go away. And it did. For a few hours, that anger and hatred went away and all that mattered was you and what I was starting to feel for you. But just as I realised that, I knew I could never let myself feel that way about you. Not while you were still in love with him.”

“Taylor? I…”

“You called for him in your sleep, Mel. You were laid in my arms and I remember thinking how fucking lucky I was right then. I had never wanted to be with anyone before. Least of all you. But there you were, proving me wrong. Proving that you were more than the girl everyone thought you were. I wanted you so badly, even after you called out his name. But I knew I would always be second best. And I couldn't put myself through that so I left.”

“I don't know what to say.”

“You don't have to say anything. Just know that I didn't leave because I didn't care, Mel. I left because I did.”

I closed my eyes, and when I opened them again I saw a tear roll down her cheek. I lifted my thumb, brushed it away, and sighed. It was weird how much relief I felt getting that off of my chest. I hated knowing me leaving had hurt her, and at least now she knew I wasn't like Taylor. I hadn't been using her to get what I wanted, chucking her away when I’d had enough. She needed to know that someone cared about her. That I cared about her.

Mel tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear and gripped the hem of my shirt. Her fingers shook as she blinked up at me, causing more tears to run down her face. God, she was breathtaking.

“Don't cry, babe.” I smiled, pulling her closer.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry for hating you and wishing you dead. God, I’m so fucking sorry.” Dropping her forehead to my chest, she shook her head slightly before gazing back up at me. “I was happy with you, Jake. Being with you was like nothing I could have ever imagined. You saw something in me that made you care. I should have been happy. Grateful, even. No one else would have given me a chance after what I did. Least of all you, actually. But I promise you, Jake… being around you… I never once thought about Taylor. At least not in that way. I only wished I’d met you first. I’m sorry if I made you feel differently about my intentions. I’m with you because I want to be. Because you make me happy. This isn't me settling for second best. This is me telling you how fucking special you are and me promising you that I’ve never wanted someone as much as I want you. That these past few weeks have meant more to me than any moment spent with anyone else.”

Pulling her onto my lap, I took her face in both hands. “Then be with me.”

A smile broke across her face as she giggled. “I am with you, silly. I’m right here, aren't I?”

“No. Be with me properly. You and me. I’ve wasted too many days, too many fucking hours being away from you. I don't want to waste another second skirting around this. I want you, Melanie Livingston. The good, the bad, and everything in between.”

“I want that, too. I really do. But…”

“But?”

“I can't. Not when you're still keeping things from me.”

“What are you talking about?”

Her weight shifted from my lap as she took the empty spot beside me. “I know, Jake. I know about the injury and how you won't be playing next season.”

“How did you...? Fuck,” I cursed, gripping the ends of my hair.

“I knew something was wrong. The cramps, the swelling… It’s been months.”

I lifted my head, my eyes searching hers. “Who else knows?”

“Just Frankie. I wasn't sure how to tell you that I knew. She told me not to go snooping but I had to know. I was worried about you.”

“You went snooping?” I snapped. “You could have just asked me.”

“I tried. You kept shrugging it off like it was nothing. No one gets that many cramps, and I’m no doctor, but that swelling isn't normal.”

“I don't even know what to say.”

“Why didn't you tell me?”

“You think it's easy admitting that my career is over? When my agent told me that the club was letting me go, it crushed me. I’d had everything I ever wanted. I worked my arse off for that spot and it was taken away from me just like that. One lousy tackle, one awkward turn, and my shooting days were over.”

“I’m so sorry. I know it must've been hard for you, I…”

“No, you don't. You have no fucking idea what it feels like. You're great at what you do. You, Mel, you're going places. Football is the only thing I’ve ever been good at. Without it, I’m nothing. I have nothing”

“That's not true.”

“No?”

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “You are amazing. It might not seem like it now but I promise you it won't always be this way. You’ll get better and you’ll play again. But don't hide from this. Don't pretend it doesn't exist because you're afraid to face the truth. So what if you can't play today, next week, or a month from now? You will play again. I know you will.” Mel cupped my face in her hands, forcing my eyes on hers. “I know you will,” she whispered.

My eyes closed and I shook my head, wondering how I’d gotten so fucking lucky. She'd opened up to me about her brother, her parents and Brie. I owed her the truth. “I should've told you.”

She smiled. “I understand why you didn't.”

“Do you really think I’ll be playing again?”

“I do. I really do. You just have to believe in yourself.”

I nodded because she was right. She was so fucking right. My career wasn't over. One day, I’d be back on that field, doing what I did best. Until then I needed to focus on what was important. Sorting this shit out with my parents and Taylor, training hard and enjoying every damn second I had with this girl.

Pressing a kiss to the end of her nose, I inhaled a breath and said, “Thank you.”

“Don't thank me. Just prove me right. ‘Cause you should know… I really hate being wrong.” Mel giggled, the sound so sweet and refreshing, reminding me that there was still some good left in the world. When her laughter died out, her face turned serious. “You have to tell your parents… and your brother. They deserve to know the truth.”

“I know. And I will. It was hard enough admitting it to you. Telling them… I don't…”

“They love you, Jake. They all love you and only want what's best for you. Even if you never play football again, they will still be proud of you. I will be proud of you.”

I tipped her chin with my finger and smirked. “You still haven't answered my question.”

“What question?”

“Be with me, Mel.”

She nodded her head silently and leaned forward, her lips pressed against mine, soft and warm. I knew that tomorrow would be a challenge but right now, I had this girl in my arms. One who didn't realise just how special she was. And I didn't want to waste another second of my life worrying about what was to come.