Page 55 of Fresh Start
When we got back to Melody’s, Dawson went to return the basket, and I returned to my bedroom for a much-needed shower. I had sex and sand all over me, and only one of those things felt good.
Once I was out of the shower and after I shaved my scratchy face off, I found my phone was functional again and I was just about to call Milo, when there was a knock on my door, and I pulled a robe around my naked body to answer it.
Melody barged in before I could stop her, and she sat on the bed, putting her feet up.
“Tell me everything,” she squeaked, and I was quick to shut the door.
“Mel, we’re not twelve, for fuck’s sake. We’re almost forty. Well, I am. You already are,” I said, and as I went back into the bathroom to change, she flipped the bird at me.
“Ass,” she called me, and I could tell she was standing right outside the bathroom because her voice still carried inside. “What happened? What’s going on? How do you know Dawson Eldred, and oh my God, he’s gay? What about Paris Wells? Or any of the other girls he’s been with.”
Once I was appropriately dressed again, I opened the bathroom door and found Mel leaning against the wall looking just as excited as she did when we talked boys when we were teens.
“Okay. But you have to keep your mouth shut because he’s still in the closet. Capisce?”
Mel nodded her head so fast I thought it’d come off as she jumped back on the bed. I sat opposite her, crossing my legs like her, and I told her everything.
I’d never told a soul what happened between Dawson and me. At first, because it was too painful, and then because I didn’t want to out him. And for all I knew, he had either been experimenting with me during college or he was bi.
It felt good getting it off my shoulders again, and once again I realized how stupid it had been of me to be mad at him for choosing his career over me. He was a great actor, and it wasn’t his fault I’d crapped my chance to get an agency on the industry night.
Dawson was right. If it had been me, I’d probably have done the same. I’d have chosen my career over him. And I’d probably be more broken than I was now. Being used and abused like Dawson’s agent had done to him, I knew, would have broken me. It would have broken anyone.
But it didn’t break him.
And that said so much about Dawson’s strength. More than he, I, or anyone else could ever describe.
I told her about meeting him again that first morning, and about Summer and the butterfly tour. Then I told her about our fight and the angry kissing. I tried to keep some details to myself, not because I didn’t trust Mel, but because they were too private to share.
Not that she cared. She wanted all the juicy details. Which I didn’t get. I had no interest in finding out how she liked to have sex. But maybe it was a girl thing I didn’t understand.
“I love him,” she said. “Can you guys get married, like, yesterday? You guys are too cute together,” she said and fanned herself.
“Shut up, Mel. How can I marry a guy who’s in the closet? It wouldn’t work,” I said, but I also allowed myself to fantasize what it’d be like.
“You never know, sweetie. You never know,” she said and took my hands in hers. “He’s changed a lot since you were in the closet. Maybe he’ll surprise you with how much.”
Mel stifled a yawn and turned away from me until she composed herself again.
“Okay. I’ve told you about me. Now your turn,” I said, and boy was it high time we had this conversation.
“My turn what? I’ve got nothing to tell,” she chuckled.
“Funny thing. Nathan mentioned you were engaged and then this asshole walked away with your money.”
Her eyes popped open and her jaw dropped.
“That little douchebag. I told him not to say anything,” she said.
“But why, hon? Why wouldn’t you tell me?”
“You had your own crap to worry about.”
I squeezed her hand, and she looked me in the eyes.
“I was embarrassed, okay? I’m like a walking and breathing cliché. I met this guy online, and we started chatting. Then, after a while, we met up, and it was like I met the man of my dreams. He promised me the moon and the stars. He wanted to help me expand and take up the warehouse next door to run as a restaurant and convert the top floor into more rooms.
“He was an entrepreneur, you see. He wanted to help me with the expansion so that we could make more money to get married and buy our very own house. So then he proposed to me, and stupid me said yes, of course. Because, why wouldn’t I? God, I’m such an idiot,” she said and slapped her forehead. Her shoulders dropped.
