Living Lies (6 page)

shoulders. “I was 13 when I started smoking, ditching school and using drugs.” His voice held the tone of contrition. “My revenge. I treated her like shit, calling her names, slamming doors. She felt guilty about how unhappy I was so she took my abuse, but the day she found my cigarettes her head nearly exploded. She pulled me out of school and found a place to live across town. I raised hell, but she wouldn’t let me out of the apartment. She made me box all our stuff. I hauled every box from the old apartment to a truck she’d borrowed and then into the new apartment. By the end of each day I was too exhausted to fight anymore. She enrolled me in a new school and signed me up for football and boxing. Every day for three years I was in two sports with only a couple of hours to do homework and no TV. She threatened military camp if my grades fell below a B average. I believed her.” His voice was calm, his eyes sparkled and his face flush from be whipped by the wind.

“She put me in tough sports, letting my aggression out in a monitored environment. Basically, she saved my life.” He rubbed Melanie’s thigh. “More than you wanted to know?”

“No, I want to know everything.”

He put his lips on her mouth and kissed her more completely than he had before. “I haven’t told many people about my past.” The creases in the corners of his eyes deepened as he smiled.

“Thank you.” Melanie looked at the people around her, all carrying their own stories – secrets that they hid, masking private moments that created the essence of who they are. Even she had one.

Starving when the boat finally pulled into port, Melanie and Danny headed for the nearest hamburger joint.

“I don’t know what it is about you, but it feels like I’ve known you all my life,” Danny said.

“So I don’t make you nervous?”

“It’s not nerves, it’s excitement. I’m excited walking up to your apartment or thinking about you or even now sitting here talking. I think we’re more than dating, I think we’re friends, don’t you?”

It sounded innocent, but Melanie hesitated, “Yeah, I’d say we’re friends.”

“Are you all right? You look kind of funny.” Danny reached for her arm.

Melanie nodded, but she could feel the tendons in her neck tightening.

After a pause Danny grinned just slightly. “Do you think I just pulled the, ‘Let’s just be friends’ line?”

“Did you?”

The amusement on his face was unmistakable. “I’m psycho about you, okay? Don’t you know that?” He grabbed her by her shoulders and gave her a soft shake.

She did know. The electricity in their touch was too intense for them both not to have felt it.

God, I hate being insecure.

Kissing goodbye inside her apartment, Melanie was startled by the sound of a key in the door.

CHAPTER 4

“Melanie, I’m home.”

It was Trish. She hadn’t seen Melanie and Danny as she wheeled her luggage down the short hallway and into her room. Melanie’s sad expression reflected Danny’s as he placed a soft kiss on her forehead. She cleared her throat, fixed her sweater, and went to greet a now-blonde Trish.

“Hi, how was your trip?” Melanie asked, giving her friend a hug.

“Not too bad.” She paused and narrowed her eyes. “Okay, where’s the guy? I smell male.” Trish walked into the living room to find Danny.

Melanie held her breath throughout the introduction. This was proof, her relationship with Danny was real.

“I’m going to let you two catch up,” Danny said, jacket in hand.

“Aren’t we going to the club later?” Trish asked.

Melanie hadn’t thought about the club, but it could be fun. “Club?”

“I’ll pick you up at 9:30.” Danny leaned in for a quick kiss before walking out the door.

“My little Melanie did good. What a hottie,” Trish said making a purring sound in the back of her throat. “How long have you been seeing him?”

“This past week,” Melanie gushed.

“You look awfully comfortable with each other for only a week,” she said with a note of skepticism.

“We have been together every day. It’s been wonderful.”

It was the first time she’d been able to share her heavenly secret and Melanie swooned.

“Slow down girl, or a certain boy is going to think you’re in love. Trust me, that’s not what you want,” Trish said, from the kitchen, ready to fix a sandwich.

“Trish, when was the last time you dated the same guy for over a week?” The bitterness in her voice filled the room.

Trish set the plate on the table before responding to Melanie’s snide remark. “I’m trying to protect you, Mel. You’ve never been heartbroken and a guy like that breaks hearts. I’m speaking from experience. It takes a long time for a heart to heal. The next time passion comes along you won’t be so eager to respond. Love and pain go hand in hand and it can change a person forever. So don’t be naïve.”

The words of her friend cut deep, Melanie didn’t want to admit that Trish could be right and was about to pout alone in her room when Trish broke the awkward moment.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be such a bitch. I’m sure he’s a great guy and you know exactly what you’re doing.”

“I do,” she said, while the back of her mind shouted
No, you don’t!
“Why are you back early?” Melanie squirmed, easing into a neutral conversation.

“Oh, a huge storm was expected so I decided to get out while I could. Lots of people had the same idea. O’Hare was packed by the time I arrived. So I took the initiative with a very powerful ticket agent,” she giggled. “He even bumped me up to first class, so to speak.”

They talked until it was time to get ready for their evening. Melanie hadn’t been back to the club since she was dating Malik and her stomach twisted at the thought of seeing him there.

“Oh, Mel, I brought a blouse that’s perfect for you,” Trish said excitedly as she opened her luggage and dumped its contents all over her bed and onto the floor. “I loved it but it’s so not me. Let me see.” She rummaged around and finally pulled out a tiny black shirt.

“Trish, that’s too small.” It looked like it belonged to a sixth grader. But it was cute, black with blue rhinestones around the collar and along the sleeves.

“It stretches. Not over my ample bosom but definitely over your tiny boobs.” Trish was very proud of her newly purchased breasts and took every opportunity to share them with the public.

Melanie gave Trish the evil eye for her rude comment before trying on the shirt. It did stretch but clung to her body.

“I have the perfect skirt, too.” Digging once more through her clothes.

“It’s too cold for a skirt,” Melanie protested.

“Please! No one’s ever said beauty was easy.” Trish strapped on a pair of four-inch heels, a micro-mini skirt and a tank top.

Unbelievable,
Melanie thought.

“Wow,” Danny said when Melanie opened the door.

“I told you that shirt was great. It even makes you look like you have boobs,” Trish said when she saw Danny staring at Melanie’s chest.

Melanie shook her head. “We don’t pay attention to her,” she said.

“Come on, I didn’t get all dressed up for you to ogle her in our doorway.” Trish pushed Melanie out the door.

The club was more crowded than usual. The line to get in wrapped around the building but Trish, Melanie and Danny walked right in.

“Hey, Trish, you are looking especially hot tonight,” said the huge bouncer guarding the entrance.

“Hi, Bubba, aren’t you sweet.” Trish kissed his cheek and then wiped away the lipstick mark.

“Mel-A-Nee,” he said, bobbing his big round head, smiling until he saw Danny. “Friend, you need to wait over there.” He pointed to a smaller crowd waiting in the corner.

“No, Bubba, he’s with me.” Melanie patted Bubba’s enormous arm.

“This guy?” He asked looking Danny up and down.

Melanie smiled. Bubba was totally messing with Danny.

“You watch yourself, pretty boy. This here is my girl.” Bubba gently elbowed Melanie in the arm and gave her a wink.

“Thanks, Bubba.”

“Where’s my kiss?” he asked leaning down so she could place a peck on his cheek.

But Melanie patted the big mans arm. “Sorry, Bubba.”

“Understood,” he said, narrowing his beady eyes to glare at Danny.

Once inside, Danny asked, “You guys never wait or pay a cover?”

Melanie shook her head and pointed at Trish. “She comes with perks.”

Trish took the “reserved” sign off their table and headed for the bar, returning a few minutes later with three beers.

“I’m going to do the walk,” Trish said and left to scout out the territory.

“She is something,” Danny replied.

Melanie sipped her beer, thinking about how their relationship was changing. Whether she wanted it to or not, they were back on familiar ground and Melanie had seen his friends gathering across the room.

During their week there had been an adjustment to Danny’s behavior. His cocky, peacock strut had all but faded, his reckless flirting and urging comments of sex had vanished as well. And whenever they were together somewhere they were touching, hands, arms, legs – somewhere.

She wondered if he’d change back once he was again among his cohorts.

“Dance?” He stood, holding out his hand.

The dance floor was crowded and people were everywhere, on the tables, speakers and on the platform above the D.J. Melanie and Danny found a small space where they danced close.

The music slowed and his tender gaze led to a soft, passionate kiss as they held each other on the dance floor. A rainbow of lights reflected off the huge disco ball spinning above. Melanie closed her eyes and pressed her cheek against his chest, breathing in the scent of his cologne.

“Are those your hands?” she asked, looking up into his eyes.

With a small chuckle he said, “These are my hands.”

He gave her butt a squeeze. “And these are my hands and these are my hands.” He was running his hands slowly up to her waist, along her sides from her hips to her breasts, caressing her shoulders and into her hair.

“Okay, I was just checking.”

Her desire was engulfing her senses, drowning out every other emotion, more intensely than she’d even thought possible, and now she wanted Danny to be her first.

“Danny, can we talk?”

“Hey Dan!” His friends yelled, beckoning him from off the dance floor.

Melanie felt each pair of scrutinizing eyes on her as she and Danny approached. Wanting to shrivel and hide, she tried to convey confidence, standing straight and returning the stares. Danny coiled his arm around her waist, pulled her close until their hips met and he introduced her to the group. Danny was cool and if he noticed the six people get suddenly quiet and exchange glances and smirks he didn’t let on.

“I didn’t know you were in town,” said one of the guys, moving over so Melanie and Danny could sit down. “When did you get in?”

“Last week.”

Watching him with his friends was like being invited into your favorite TV sitcom. You knew the characters, their places, their faces and yet they were always just beyond reach. Tonight she was sitting in with Danny, Joe, Barbie, Kaitlyn, Sara, Angelo and Chaz. The only one missing was Carolyn. Was she the new Carolyn? The thought almost made her laugh out loud. She could never be Carolyn.

But Danny did look happy, his grin was wide and with ease he moved from their seclusion to his regular seat at his regular table – she was the only thing
irregular
in this picture. His laugh was genuine, carefree, his voice loud enough for the entire table but directed to the boys. Even his perfect hair had its natural buoyancy. Beneath the table his hand had snaked its way over her thigh and his fingers wiggled beneath her leg. It was a clasp of reassurance and protection. He turned toward her and gave a heart-melting crooked smile.

“So, how did you meet Dan?” one of the girls asked for what must have been the second time.

“What?”

The girl, Sara, rolled her eyes, shook her head and tried again. “Where did you two meet?” her words were slow and precisely annunciated. She even had the gall to use hand gestures. The three girls laughed heartily.

Right
, Melanie nodded,
I’m the idiot here.

“We have classes together,” Melanie said, guarded but not wanting to make eternal enemies.

“Well, Dan goes through a lot of girls,” another girl snickered. “Don’t get too comfortable.”

“Dan usually goes for blondes. I guess he’s testing out the old adage, if blondes really are more fun.”

“If blondes
do
have more fun.”

“Same difference.”

Okay, it’s official – I hate these girls
.

“How are things going over here?” His deep voice was rough and she cherished its raspiness.

“We’re just discussing your usual appetite for blondes,” Melanie said, defiantly.

“Okay, then.” His chuckle was casual but sent ripples of excitement through her that were only intensified when Danny cocked his head and whispered in her ear. “I want you to consider letting me spend the night tonight.”

His warm breath was soft and tickled her ear.

“Don’t decide right now. Just think about it.”

Then as a bonus he kissed her, not a regular peck, but lustful, tongue laden, full-mouth kiss.

“Think about it,” he said, looking squarely in her eyes. Then he squeezed her hand and returned to his conversation.

Melanie clung to his hand, her heart pounding. Blood coursed through her, first draining to her toes before riding a roller coaster right back up to her woozy head.

The girls were talking yet she heard nothing – her blood was pumping, his words, his breath filling her. In her panic it seemed she’d forgotten to breathe. She was no longer Melanie, a whole person, she was a billion molecules frantically colliding into each other.

“Mel, I need you.” Trish was leaning over the chair behind Melanie.

Melanie saw the boys gape, each hoping her tank top would give away and reveal what little was hidden.

“What’s up?” Melanie asked, shaking, panting and dizzy.

“I met someone. Are you okay if I leave?”

Melanie took a quick look at Trish’s “someone” as Trish motioned for him to approach.

“Mel this is, um, what’s your name again?”

“Leo Miller.”

Leo was a completely average college student, brown shaggy hair, a few too many pounds around his midsection, wearing baggy jeans and an old faded gray T-shirt.

“You go to the U?’ Melanie quizzed.

“Yeah.”

“What’s your major?”

“Haven’t exactly decided. Liberal Arts, I guess.”

Trish handed her a slip of paper with Leo’s phone number.

“Okay, be safe, Trish.”

“Thanks, Mel.” Trish gave her a kiss on the forehead.

Trish and Leo hadn’t reached the front doors when Melanie was faced with a burst of her own reckless freedom. Danny’s hand, resting warmly on her leg, sent her pulse rising.

“Are we getting out of here?” She breathed softly in his ear.

“Yeah?” he asked sounding surprised and delighted.

“Yeah,” she answered with certainty.

Danny immediately stood. “We’ll catch you guys later.”

He grabbed her hand, ignoring the questions from his confused friends, and whisked her toward the swinging front doors. The crisp night air came in puffs as replacements for exiting patrons were let in. Melanie could barely feel the chill on her burning cheeks.