Page 28 of Save the Drama for your Mama
Funny, but she wasn’t letting go of it.
“I get it—you were never held as a baby, and you’re craving that physical touch. Take your time. Let me know when you’re done.”
She snorted. “The last thing I want or need is to touch you.”
“And yet you still refuse to release me,” I pointed out, lifting our joined hands and fluttering my eyelashes. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, the way you were spying on me in the bookstore.”
“I wasn’t—”
“Yes, you were,” I said.
“Have you ever agreed with anybody about anything?” Melody asked.
“So, that’s it,” I said. “You can’t handle someone with a different opinion.”
“I can’t handle someone who doesn’t base their opinions on facts.”
“You get your facts first, then you distort them as you please,” I said.
Melody blinked. “Mark Twain.”
I nodded, surprised she knew. “He also said, ‘The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog.’”
Just the mention of the word got Romeo to come over.
Melody glanced down at him. “Have you ever considered obedience training?”
“He doesn’t need it,” I said.
Melody sniggered at her own humor. “I wasn’t talking about for the dog.”
“No need to let your embarrassment make you testy.” I seized the opportunity of her being distracted with Romeo and twisted my hand, breaking free from her grip, then clasping her hands shut around the money.
Two coins fell to the floor.
“Hey! You tricked me.” Melody bent down to pick up the coins, inspected them, then held one up, her eyes open wide. “Wow. This is a 1913 Buffalo Nickel. Where did you get this?”
I shrugged. “My desk drawer . . . which used to be my mom’s desk drawer. I was looking for the exact change to give you.”
“Are you crazy?” she asked, turning the coin over to look at the other side. “You shouldn’t be spending these. They’re very rare. Do you know how much this thing is worth?”
“I have no idea.”
Melody inspected it again. “Based on the condition, I’d say around five hundred dollars. Maybe a thousand.”
“For a nickel?” I jokingly lunged for it. “I’ll take that back.”
She held it behind her back, leaning away as I reached around her to grab it. Our faces were just inches apart, and for a moment we froze, eyes locked as our bodies brushed up against each other.
Something flashed in Melody’s eyes.
Did I detect a flicker of interest?
But as quickly as it appeared, her expression vanished.
“Keep it.” I took a small step back, wondering what the hell that was between us as I cleared my throat and tried to pretend like it didn’t happen. “Is that a habit of yours? Looking at dates on coins?”
“Not as often as I used to, since I use my credit card for just about everything these days,” Melody said. “I’ve been checking the dates on coins since I was a little girl. I used to do it with my grandma and even have a coin collection. It’s silly, I know.”
