Page 12 of Only in Your Dreams

It’s so contrary to the girl I remember. The one who only gave out smiles when you earned them. Who scowled so good she could skewer you with a glance.

Despite my best efforts, the image of her walking out of a skyscraper pops into my head. It was dark out. Wet, the tail end of winter, slush around my feet. I’d sat in the cold for hours, just trying the build up the nerve to go in there, knock on her door. Only to see her come out holding hands with some buttoned-up guy in a peacoat and tightly wound scarf, who monologued his way down the sidewalk with her trailing just a little behind him, a flaccid smile taped on her face.

I have been desperately, pathetically, feel-nothing-unless-she’s-in-the-room in love with Melody Woods for fourteen years. I’d already been struggling hard since the day she left town, but seeing her that night fuckingbrokeme.

Ever the gracious host, I hear Brooks stride across the campsite and picture him getting Mel into one of his suffocating hugs.

“Of course, it’s okay,” he tells her. “The more the merrier. Is Parker not coming?”

“He has a… He needed me out of his apartment for the weekend. But he said I could take over his spot in one of the tents. Which one’s his?”

No.

No.

What thefuckis he playing at—

“It’s the one right over there. Go make yourself comfortable,” Brooks tells her, oblivious to the utter fucking meltdown happening in the tentright over there.

Now it’s nothing but the sounds of wind and footsteps muffled on dirt, heading for me. I scramble off Parker’s bed—Melody’sbed because my oldest friend fucking hates me—and move toward the tent opening, heart beating uncomfortably fast. I fiddle with the zipper, get it all the way open just as the footsteps come to a stop outside.

And that’s how I find myself crawling around on hands and knees at Melody Woods’s feet.

Sounds about right.

I let my gaze rake up her body. The spotless white sneakers that look brand new. The dark leggings confirming that my memory of her perfect legs has been serving me right all these years. The fitted sweater, hugging the curve of her waist.

The way she looks down at me, blue eyes wide, lips popped open. Long blonde hair curtaining her face as she takes me in, kneeling before her. Staring up like she’s the sun, and I’m here on my knees, ready to worship it.

Mel’s mouth shapes over a word that never makes it out.

We’re still staring at each other, and I can’t tell whether her heart is about to give out too, or if it’s just me feeling all this. The pounding in my chest. The light layer of sweat building at the back of my neck, even though it sure as hell isn’t warm out, even for early September. I’m also brutally aware of the two other people taking in this wordless exchange.

“Melody.”

The sound of my voice seems to snap her out of this loaded staring contest. She takes a step back, away from me. And then another.

“I’m about to become an only child,” she mutters, but I don’t think she’s speaking to me. “I am going tokill him—”

“You and me both.”

I don’t know why I’m still kneeling on the ground. But it’s where I continue to stare as Mel throws me a look—scathing and maybe a bit afraid—and digs her phone out of her back pocket.

None of those lifeless smiles for me, I guess.

“There’s no cell service for miles, remember?”

Her eyes widen. “Are you seriously talking to me like it’s nothing right now?”

I know what she’s getting at. What she’s already accusing me of, what I know that, despite the cheery tone earlier, she’s still Melody Woods. The Melody Woods I know doesn’t let anyone off the hook when they’ve fucked up as big as I did.

And damn if I’m not aching to see her in all her no-nonsense glory. I missed it.

“How would you like me to talk to you?”

She takes another step away. “I don’t. I want you to get off your knees and help me reason with the others.”

“Reason how—”

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