Good Lord, did every woman in my office’s name start with an M?
Just get to the crux of the matter, Will, before patients start to get out their phones and posting videos on YouTube. The No Cell Phones sign is only going to hold up for so long.
“Everyone just relax for a minute,” I said on a sigh and looked at my beautiful and very frustrated girlfriend. “Okay… What exactly happened?”
She sighed but jumped into her story quickly. “Marlene was taking lunch orders. I ordered an Italian sub and a Coke and gave her ten bucks. And when she got back, I went to collect my order. Our interaction went something like: ‘Hey, Marlene. Is this a good time to get my lunch?’
Yada yada… she grumbled and said, ‘What’d you order?’
‘An Italian sub and a Coke.’
She rifled through her bag again and came up empty. ‘I don’t have that.’”
“I didn’t have that!” Marlene exclaimed in the middle of the story, but Melody just shot her a glare and continued on.
“And then I responded, ‘Um, but…I ordered it.’
She looked through the bag again and offered, ‘I’ve got a piece of toast and a pickle. You want it?’
‘A piece of toast and a pickle? I gave you ten dollars for a sub and a Coke.’
She shrugged and just shoved the pickle and toast into my hands. ‘Here.’
‘But I gave you ten dollars.’
‘Yeah, well, them’s the breaks.’
And scene.”
Melody’s breathing was heavy as I looked down into her hands. Toast and a pickle.
Good Christ, Will. Do not laugh. Do. Not. Laugh.
“Are you gonna let me speak?” Marlene snapped. I just pinched my lips together and shook my head…taking a deep breath to gather myself.
Finally, when I had control over the urge to explode into laughter, I spoke. “No, I’m not,” I told Marlene.
Reaching forward and easing the now smashed piece of toast and dripping pickle from Melody’s hands, I deposited them in the trash can and waited for her eyes to meet mine.
“Come on. I’ll take you to get a new lunch. On me.”
Quite frankly, this situation played right into my hands. I’d taken other staff to get lunch before after Marlene fucked it up, so the whole thing would seem rather innocuous. But it would also give me the opportunity to clear the air with my girlfriend once and for all.
“Get your stuff,” I instructed gently as everyone looked on. Marlene cursed under her breath, and I shot a warning glare in her direction. “Everyone else get back to work, or take your lunch to the break room.”
Melody complied, walking woodenly down the hall and coming back with her purse tucked over her shoulder.
Luckily, I already had my wallet in my pocket, so we moved right for the door.
Silence descended as we walked to the corner deli and ordered her another Italian sub and a second one for me and sat down at a table in the back—practically in the kitchen, actually. This was the absolute last time I needed prying eyes following my conversation and recording it to post on Instagram. Luckily, the owners knew me well, and as a favor, had started to keep this table empty for me, just in case.
“So…” I ventured, when she started to eat in silence.
Her eyes met mine over the bulk of her sandwich.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
She chewed quickly and set her sandwich down. “You saw what Marlene did! God, that woman is infuriating sometimes.”
“I did. But I’m asking what’s going on with you and me. You’re acting weird, Mel. Did I do something?” I asked earnestly. Because I honestly had no fucking clue.
She sighed once and then again before opening up to me. “No. I guess sort of, but not really. You’re just you.”
“Well, that narrows it down,” I teased, and for the first time today, she gave me a half smile.
“The show last night. You were so flirty. Flirtier than normal. And with a nurse.” She shrugged. “I guess I’m feeling a little jealous.”
I laughed and she scowled.
“I’m sorry,” I apologized. “It’s just…you have nothing to worry about. You’re the only woman I’m interested in. I swear.”
She nodded, but she still didn’t look sure.
God, I hated that uncertainty in her eyes. I didn’t want anyone else but Mel. She’d burrowed herself under my skin so deeply that I literally didn’t see anyone but her.
“Mel,” I started, just about ready to tell her I love you when she interrupted.
“I know. Really, it’s fine. It’s just been an off couple of days, you know. All the patients flirting with you all the time, watching you on the show. It just seems like someone turned a dial on these fucking women ever since you jerked off on camera. I’m fine, really.”
“I didn’t jerk off on camera, and you know it!” I defended on a near shout. I’d been loosening the laces on my sneaker, for fuck’s sake. But it was amazing what a camera angle could do.
She pursed her lips.
Noting that the moment felt a little too sour for first-time declarations, I reached into my pocket and slid the only other thing I had to offer over the table with a sigh.
“Another tongue depressor?” she asked, a small smile curling one corner of her mouth.
“Obviously,” I teased in my best Valley girl voice.
“Where do you keep them? Like, honestly, this is starting to get creepy.”
“Just read it,” I advised.
I watched as she looked down and studied my scrawl for far longer than it took to read that many words, but when her gaze finally met mine again, I had my Mel back.
“I’m pretty sure I’m always happy to see you.”
That makes two of us.
“Good evening,” Will greeted me at the door of his apartment after three short knocks.
The expediency with which he answered made it seem a little like he’d been waiting just on the other side.
Butterflies took off in my stomach at the thought of him being that anxious to see me.
Of course, he looked as handsome as ever, dressed in black slacks and a pale blue button-down, collared shirt that made his eyes appear even bluer. And Lord almighty, it looked good on him—snug in all the right places with both sleeves rolled up and showcasing his strong forearms.
“Uh…” I paused and glanced down at my slightly casual black summer dress that I’d paired with open-toe wedges. “I think I’m a little underdressed…”
He shook his head, his eyes lighting with a gleam to reinforce his words. “You’re perfect.”
Will leaned in to press a soft kiss to my cheek and then led me through the door and into the loft-style apartment that was starting to feel like a second home.