Page 60 of The Last Good Man

“Marry her…?” I say.

With that, I open and close the front door before beelining to my car.

11

MELODY

Saturday at noon

Manhattan

“Here is your key, Miss,” the man says before directing me to the parking lot.

It’s a cold, foggy day, and more rain is expected in the afternoon. Frankly, I don’t mind it.

I’m well equipped for nasty weather with a tall coffee in hand that smells like dark chocolate and roasted hazelnuts, a short crimson raincoat, red flat shoes, warm black pencil pants, and a cream cashmere top.

I packed my suitcase with my favorite slippers, socks, warm pajamas, snacks, and books.

Let it rain, baby.

I so need to get out of town and clear my head.

A few things have happened since last night.

Number one… I haven’t heard from Thomas.

It’s not like I didn’t anticipate that, but I thought he’d send a message…eventually.

If not immediately to ensure I’d gotten home all right,thenmaybe in the morning.

I don’t know where we are at this point.

Should we just ghost each other and move on?Forgetwe’ve ever met and avoid each other in the future?

I have no idea.

My mother used to say, ‘When in doubt, do nothing,’ and this little gem of wisdom has saved my butt more than once.

I dwelled this morning on whether to send him a message. After writing and erasing several, I still couldn’t come up with one that looked all right, so I did nothing.

And then there was… Uh… The green-eyed devil.

I couldn’t get a wink of sleep after he left.

His touch got locked and thrived inside my skin like some disease.

I bumped into things for a while–which is so not me–before settling for a warm bath.

Lingering in the water that smelled like flowers, I leaned back, closed my eyes, and tried to empty my mind.

I accomplished that only to make room for the man who’d forcefully carved his way into my life.

He was bold and foolish.

But he and I will never be together.

I ponder that thought for a few seconds before reaching my rental car, which is the same color as my outfit.

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