Page 79 of On The Edge
“Baby, are you okay?” I ask softly. She nods, curling into my chest, but doesn’t look up.
“Mel, we’re not going to decide anything right now,” Adam speaks softly, leaning in to kiss her shoulder. “We have time.”
“There’s nothing to think about, Adam. If I wasn’t here, you guys would go. It’s good for your brand and your business, right?”
“I guess,” I mutter. “But, to be honest, none of us really care about that right now.”
“Melody,” Reis says softly, and she tenses in my arms.
“Reis,” she mumbles against my chest, her voice muffled by my shirt. I rest my chin against her head, showing her with my presence that I’ve got her.
“Can we talk? Please?” Reis asks gently. I know I should let them talk, but my hold on her tightens. I don’twantto let her go.
Nothing bad can happen to her if she’s in my arms.
“I guess we should get this over with, huh?” She mumbles quietly, and I nod. Melody sighs, unfortunately for me, untangling herself from my hold and standing up. Adam and I follow.
There are big red marks on her legs and arms from sleeping so hard on me. I really… I like it. I can see the imprint of my pant seam on her thigh. On her cheek, there’s a red spot and imprint of where my shirt was creased right where she laid against my chest.
Ireallylike it.
But I’d like to leave somebettermarks, if she’ll let me. Melody leans in, and kisses me.
“Thank you for holding me. And letting me vent,” she says softly before putting her hands on my chest. “I’m so sorry for touching you in any way but kindly.”
I cover my hands with hers, bringing them to my lips.
“I understand, and it’s okay. I love you, baby.”
“I love you too,” she returns my love with a small smile. I kiss her lips and nod. Melody nods back, understanding that I’m okay, and steps into Adam’s arms.
“Thank you for being here when I woke up, for checking on me.” She threads their fingers together, and kisses him gratefully.
“Of course,” he says, cupping her cheek with his free hand and looking down at her with a look so full of love, I almost want to tease him.
I don’t though. Instead, I just let them have their moment.
“Come on, man. We better let them talk before Reis gets sick from anxiety.” I smack Adam on the shoulder and reluctantly, we leave.
But not before I give Reis a threatening look. A glare that says, ‘She might give you more chances, but we’re not. So get it together and get it right.’
NINETEEN
The door closesand the tension immediately rises between Reis and I.
“Why do we always have to have these kinds of talks in private because you’ve said something stupid in public?” I cross my arms over my chest, putting up a barricade between us as much as I can. I love him, I really, honestly, truly do, but he’s making it so fucking hard to trust him.
And what’s a relationship without trust?
“Because I’m an idiot,” Reis says with a self-deprecating, humorless chuckle. “Let me explain, love. I swear, I didn’t mean it as cruelly as it came off. I was trying to help you, even if I went about it wrong.”
The way he calls me ‘love’ so effortlessly makes my heart soar.
Traitor.
“Okay, explain,” I say stubbornly, sitting on the bed and crossing my legs. Looking at him expectantly, I raise my eyebrows. “Get on with it.”
“God, okay,” he sighs, running his hand through his hair before starting to pace in front of me. “Melody, I promise, whenI told Louis to hire you, I was only looking for a way to keep you with us. I was, at that time, trying to force you to stay with us. Now, I’m begging you to stay with us.” He slowly drops down to his knees, and my eyes widen.
