Page 177 of Two Guys, a Girl, and a Tripod

“Thanks! We’re still getting settled.” I place my hand on her upper back and help propel her forward. “There’s booze over here,” I point to the counter near Natalie and Moira, “and dinner should be ready in a few minutes. Can I get you anything?”

When I turn back to face Mel, her gaze has fallen on Natalie. The expression on her face is hard to decipher. Perhaps shock? Did she not expect to see people from the industry? At the very least, she should have expected Natalie.

“Everything ok?” I ask.

“Yes.” Mel shakes her head and looks up at me with a grin. “I’ll take a glass of white wine.”

“Chardonnay ok?” I ask, stepping forward to grab a glass.

“Perfect.”

“Can I introduce you to a few people?” I fill the glass halfway and hand it to her.

“I’ll, er-”

“Come on.” I motion for Mel to follow, which she does reluctantly. “This is Moira Hall and Natalie Weston.” I gesture at the women before us who have stopped conversing. “Moira, Nat, this is my boss, Mel.”

Natalie gasps, her eyes wide.

“Mel?” she repeats with obvious reverence. “Oh my god,you’reMel!” Without spilling a drop of her cocktail, Natalie wraps Mel in a tight hug. I fight the urge to laugh at Mel’s shock when she goes rigid in Natalie’s grasp. “You’re seriously my hero.” Natalie pulls back and then yells off toward the living room. “SOPHIE!”

“YEAH!” Sophie isn’t visible, around the corner, but sheisaudible.

“MEL IS HERE!”

Sophie appears within seconds, her mouth hanging open.

“Oh my god, Mel.” Her brown eyes swim with tears and she hurries forward to hug Mel who doesn’t seem to have recovered from Natalie’s embrace. “Thank you,” she whispers.

With Mel’s back now facing me, I can meet Sophie’s gaze. I smile, showing my support. I don’t really care that Mel hates hugs and affection. She saved Sophie’s life, she help us get her back. Sophie hasn’t had the chance to show her appreciation until now.

Mel clears her throat and Sophie finally lets go.

“It was nothing,” Mel assures the group. Moira knows some of what happened but is otherwise in the dark. It seems Miles gets talkative when he’s had a few mimosas.

“It wasnotnothing,” says Natalie.

“I know you can probably get anything you want and all that,” says Sophie with a wave, trying to recover from the emotional moment, “but if there’s ever anything I can do for you, just say the word.”

Mel smiles–a genuine smile, if small–and nods. She brings the glass of wine to her lips and I nod at Sophie.

“Hey, Moira, why don’t we hound Miles about what he’s wearing for the awards show in January.” She slips her arm around Moira’s shoulders and steers her back into the other room.

“I’m sorry,” I say to Mel when they disappear. Natalie is far less animated, having expressed her gratitude. “You should be able to get through dinner without having to hug anyone else, but I can’t make any promises about afterward.”

“It’s fine,” says Mel. She takes another sip of wine. “I’m glad she’s all right. I worried about her state of mind when you told me.” She glances at Natalie, then back to me, “what happened.”

“She’s doing ok.” I nod, picking up my cocktail from the bar where I left it when she arrived.

“She’s strong,” says Natalie, raising her glass. “Sophie has been through a lot, but the woman is resilient.”

“I’m glad.” Mel nods and I catch looking quickly at Natalie again.

“I’d like it if you got to know her a little. Maybe dinner with the three of us or something.”

“Isn’t that what we’re doing tonight?” she asks with a grin. I’m glad to see she’s warming up.

“I meantjustus.” I shake my head.

“What am I, chopped liver?” Natalie snorts.

“You telling me you wouldn’t find that boring?” I raise an eyebrow over my glass as I take a sip.

“Dinner with my best friend, her idiot boyfriends, and a beautiful woman? How could that be boring?”

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