Page 93 of Remember Me?

They had been a family. A loving, atypical, platonic family. He did want more, she knew that, but he also knew where she stood. At least, she thought he did.

She helped him set up his dates and pick out their gifts, for crying out loud.

Marriage.

That was just not something she could ever see with him.

“Duke. You are going to find someone that you can love through anything. Right now, you think we are the right fit because we needed you so much. You were there for us, for me, when I was at my lowest, and you helped me through that. I want you to be someone’s everything. You don't feel disconnected from me because we are in a different state. You feel disconnected because we don't need you as much anymore. Ollie and I, well, we found our rhythm. And we may not need you, but we certainly want you.” She pulls his hands onto her lap. “But marriage? That is a huge commitment. One I don’t think we should make, not to each other, not when I can't be your everything. We are still your family, but Graham is my family, too."

His shoulders drop, and he holds onto her hands tightly. “I know Melly. I could see it the second we were in the same room. Hell, I saw it back then, too. He loves you. I still think it's creepy, the way he looks at you in a ‘I want to live under your skin’ kind of way, but it's still love, I guess.” He teases, smiling sadly. “I’m moving down, though. I hope you know that. You guys are all I have left. I would like to keep you guys in it anyway I can.”

“Ollie and I would love that! I can't guarantee that same enthusiasm from Graham, but he knows how much you mean to us. In fact, he invited you for brownies at Ms Rosa’s. What do you say, huh? You wanna come have some brownies with us?” She asks, standing up and offering a hand to Duke.

“Sure, why not.”

Graham

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“Mijo, stop pacing.” He has resisted the urge to text her. Or call her. But he can't stop thinking about it.

What if she chooses him? What if they take Ollie back to California?

“Everything will work out the way it's supposed to.” He looks at his mom. How can she be so calm? He had everything right there, in his hands, and now?

The front door swung open, and in came Melody, her face bright and happy. He can't help the smile that curls over his face just by being in her presence. He moves towards the door as his eyes lock on hers. Her smile brightens, then he sees her hand connected to Duke’s, who walks in behind her, a sheepish smile on his face.

Graham looks down at her hand, expecting to see a ring, but all he sees are her graceful little fingers, thankfully bare.

“Uncle Duke!” Cries sound from somewhere behind him, the little patter of Ollie’s feet hitting the floor with ferocity. He launches himself at Duke, who pulls him up easily, his face transforming right before him. He watches the exchange with a mixture of fascination and jealousy at the easy chemistry between them.

Ollie never looks at him like that. With adoration and trust, it’s like a knife deep in his heart. He didn’t expect it to hurt so much. But hey, what can he expect? Duke raised him, and Graham was just the deadbeat dad who just barely walked back into their lives.

“Did you see my daddy, Uncle Duke? I found him.” Little Ollie looked so proud of himself. “He looks like me, right? One day, I’m going to be big and strong like him.” He says. Pride wells up in him, knowing that even though Duke may have raised him the last five years, he still had his entire life to build that trust.

Melody comes to stand next to him. “Did he tell you? That he wanted to marry me?” She asks him. “Is that why you pulled away from me today?”

“I wanted you to have whatever you wanted, even if that wasn't me.”

She laughs, a sultry burst coming out of her mouth.

“Silly boy.” Her hand comes up to rest on his chest. “It will always be you.”

Epilogue

Melody

Melody had been hard at work all week getting her classroom decorated. She was standing at the top of a small stool, hanging some lights, when Graham walked in.

He gave a low whistle, eyeing her from head to toe, probably looking up her dress like a savage.But he is her savage.

"Well, I gotta be honest, Melody. I'm totally getting hot-for-teacher vibes in here." He winks at her. She laughs it off, stepping off the stool to greet him properly.

"Well, technically, I am probably old enough to have been your teacher at one point."

“Mmmmm.” He hums his approval. “I would have sat right here." He says, trying to fold his big frame into the seat right next to her desk.

"Yep, this is the one. I would have wanted an unobstructed view of your ass while you wrote on the board." He says, lost in his own little daydream.

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