Page 110 of January

“I know. I’m not mad. I just need to get back inside.”

“I thought you were talking to the contractor, or I–”

Kyle turned to her and said, “Babe, you just stood up to my mother for me.” She smiled. “No one’s ever done that. You don’t have to be sorry.”

“But I overstepped.”

“No, you didn’t. We’re together. If your mother ever would’ve said–” Kyle looked behind Melinda to the group and added, “Let’s talk about this later.”

“Yeah, okay.” Melinda took Kyle’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “Maybe we should start thinking about that furniture shopping you wanted to do for this place.” She winked at her.

Kyle watched Melinda as she apologized to the group for the interruption and began walking them the rest of the way down the street.

CHAPTER 30

“Oh, just talk to her already,” Bridgette said.

“About her mom? I assume that’s going to happen, but she said it was fine. I considered actually going to jail there for a minute, but I don’t think I’d do well in jail.”

“You’d be your cellmate’s bitch in a heartbeat, but I’m not talking about running into her mom. Tell her about how you desperately want her to stay and never go away.”

“We’re dating, Bridge. I think she knows I want her to stay.”

“Then, at least ask her what her plans are,” Bridgette suggested as she turned the car on the street that led to Kyle’s house, the garden one, which Kyle had requested Melinda to stay in with her that night for some reason.

“She already has. She’s staying until the house is finished.”

“And then, what happens? She leaves? Do you visit her? Does she come back here in a month or something?”

“I know we have that stuff to work out, but if I bring it up now and she says she doesn’t know when we’ll see each other again, I don’t know what I’ll do.”

“So, you’ll continue to delay this very important conversation until you’re saying goodbye to her at the airport?”

“God, don’t talk to me about airport goodbyes. I’m not ready for that.”

“I’m only saying that I think she’s in, Mel. She’s in with you. You two just need to figure out what that looks like after the house is done being fixed up.”

“We will, but not tonight. Her mom is causing all sorts of problems, and I don’t want to add to them by asking her questions she might not be ready for. I mean, what am I going to say, really? Please move here for me, even though we just met and you’re going through probably one of the most difficult parts of your life? I think I’m in love with you, and Iknow I told you that I move fast, and it’s always been wrong, but that’s not what’s happening now? Please trust me? You’re different?”

“All that sounds good to me,” Bridgette said before she pulled the car over and parked, turning to Melinda.

“Bridge, I can’t put all that on her.”

“Maybe notallof it, yeah, but some of it, at least.”

“Not tonight,” Melinda replied. “Now, go home. And thank you for the unnecessary ride.”

“I hardly ever have the car, so I figured why not take advantage of it.”

“Speaking of that… Whydidyou? You didn’t tell me.” Melinda reached into the back seat for her overnight bag.

“Just doing the replenishment today.”

“You? What happened to that company you use?”

“Nothing. We just don’t use them anymore,” Bridgette replied.

Melinda met her eyes for a second before Bridgette looked away.

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