Page 15 of Reclaiming Love

“You know what, hon?” Heather touched Melissa on the wrist. “Finn wanted to meet up tonight, and I might catch him if I leave now.” Heather’s face was tight and she’d already made up her mind, with one of her arms through her coat sleeve. Beside her, Matt sat quietly, not even offering the apology Melissa wanted him so desperately to make. But, knowing him as well as she did now, she didn’t expect an apology, or anything else from him.

Knowing that the brunt of Heather’s rage was directed at Matt, Melissa couldn’t ask her friend to stay. “Okay, I’ll see you later. Shall I wait up?”

“It’s not going to be a late night.” Heather stopped, and Melissa got the impression that she’d have asked her along if Matt weren’t here.

Heather stood up, grabbed her bag and looked straight at Matt. “It’s been interesting meeting you. We must do it again sometime.” She gave him a plastic smile, so forced that her cheeks rose upwards.

“Definitely,” Matt replied, in a completely put-on voice.

Heather vanished and she and Matt faced each other miserably again. For a moment they sat in subdued silence. Melissa didn’t even want to look at him, let alone make conversation.

“I never thought your friend would be so awkward,” he said.

And she probably never thought you would be such a pigheaded moron, Melissa thought but she couldn’t bring herself to say it, knowing it would only lead to further trouble.

Suddenly, she craved solitude. She wanted to go home, by herself, to a quiet apartment and spend the evening doing nothing. The idea of staring at nothing and listening to the sound of silence beckoned. She got up and started putting on her coat.

“What are you doing?” he asked, jerking up from a semi-slouched position. “Don’t you want to hang around a bit more?”

She picked up her bag, hung it from her shoulder. “No. I need to get back. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“What’s the matter?” he asked, puzzled. It pissed her off even more that he seemed totally ignorant as to why she was angry. The guy had no idea.

“I’ll see you at the gym then.”

She stopped and stared at him with contempt. “I’m not coming to the gym.” How could he be so insensitive?

“Have it your way.” He turned back to his drink and she closed her eyes, taking a breath in before she stepped away. It was a good thing Heather had gone off to meet her friend. It meant she wouldn’t be at home to grill her about this “gorgeous” guy she was dating.

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