Page 127 of Stick Side
She took a soothing sip of her London Fog—a drink she’d grown addicted to since trying it at Snakes & Lattes—before answering. “I’m sorry. I haven’t been a great friend lately, have I?”
Eric furrowed his brow, his look one of obvious surprise. “What makes you say that?”
Melody averted her gaze, giving herself a moment to take in the landscape around them, before returning her attention toEric. “I got all wrapped up in my relationship with Ben and didn’t do a great job of making time for you.” She smiled apologetically. “I’m sorry.”
Eric inclined his head and shrugged, both acknowledging and dismissing her apology. It was funny how a person could say so much without having to say a word.
Eric put his hands in his pockets and looked down before kicking a pebble along the gravel path. “You know . . . I never thought you’d consider dating a player.” He studied her beneath the bill of his ball cap. “What with how protective your dad is and everything.”
Melody didn’t even try to hold back her laugh. “You say that like you guys were knocking my door down.”
Eric shot her a quick sideways glance before returning his attention to the path in front of them. “I would have . . . I mean . . . I still would.”
Melody’s eyes flared. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “What?” she asked in disbelief.
Eric stepped off the path and onto the grass. Melody stumbled to a halt beside him. She felt a little dazed as she focused her attention on Eric and waited for him to elaborate.
Eric took a steadying breath before focusing his attention on her. “You know I care about you, Mel. Is it really such a surprise to hear I’d be curious to know whether we could turn our friendship into something more?”
Her gloved fingers rose to touch her parted lips. “Honestly?” she asked after a moment that felt uncharacteristically long. “Yes.”
Melody shuffled back a step and bit down on her lip, debating how much to say.Whatto say.
“Aren’t you curious, Mel?” Eric urged. “We’re so good together.”
“Good as friends,” Melody corrected. “Great, even.”
One corner of Eric’s lips hitched up into a smile. “What is it they say about friendship? That it’s the best foundation for a relationship?”
Melody’s tongue felt thick and heavy as she struggled to find the right words. “I can’t say that I’ve never been curious,” she said cautiously, “but that was before . . .”
A guarded look passed over Eric’s face. “Before Ben?” he guessed.
“Yes,” Melody confirmed. There was no use denying it.
Eric kicked at a patch of dirt. “As much as I want to dislike Logan for sneaking in and stealing my shot with you, I find that I can’t really hate the guy.”
Melody had a suspicion she’d do better to let sleeping dogs lie, but she couldn’t seem to help herself from asking, “Why?”
Eric swung his arms in a display of nerves before swallowing visibly. “Not only was the recent crap show totally made up,” Eric paused. “It’s clear to anyone with eyes that he’s in love with you.”
Melody’s hand rose to cover her heart.She could feel it hammering beneath her palm.
Eric’s lips twisted up into an expression that was almost a smile but somehow missed its mark. “And it’s equally obvious that he holds your heart.”
Melody bit down on her lip, at a loss for words. She blinked furiously, trying to dispel the sudden moisture in her eyes.
Eric’s lips twisted up into another attempt at a smile, but just like the last, it fell flat. With a look of resignation on his face, he extended his arm and gestured toward the trail. They stepped back onto the path and resumed walking in silence. What was she even supposed to say after hearing a revelation like that? Thankfully, Eric didn’t seem to expect a response.
Chapter 65
Melody
AsMelodywalkedthelast few blocks toward the National Museum of Mexican Art, where she was meeting Nolan before a shared supper, she couldn’t help but contemplate the crazy twists and turns her life had taken over the past few months.
She’d somehow gone from a disenchanted twenty-seven-year-old who was still feeling raw over the breakup of her one and only real relationship to a woman with more romantic options than she knew what to do with.
What with all the male interest currently being thrown her way, she couldn’t help but feel like she was a contestant on a dating show. Contestant Number One was, of course, the lovable jock who made her heart flutter and her libido dance a feisty paso doble. Contestant Number Two was the quintessential boy-next-door do-gooder who made the world better by helping and healing others. Contestant Number Three was the rascal friend whose feelings for her seemed to have emerged out of the woodwork.
