Fifty-Three

Those were fair inquiries. She couldn’t deny it. And if he took her plea into consideration, those questions were a start, but something told her that wasn’t the case. Suspicion stained his face. Henry wasn’t angry, but he wasn’t at ease either, and Melina had to be careful and choose her words or she wouldn’t get him talking, and the wall would get a few cinder blocks higher.

“Before I give you the answers, I want to know if you’re going to listen to me, but listen for real, like a man, not a spoiled brat.” Her voice sounded gentle. She didn’t intend to rile him up, but coaxing him to talk, open up to her.

She got off of him when his hold loosened on her, sitting beside Henry. Melina needed a rational mind and on top of him, with his hard-on pressing on her, they’d get nowhere. His eyes darkened even more and a soft blush covered his cheeks. Melina wanted to laugh at his reaction, but it wouldn’t be a wise decision. Now she realised how much her little girl took after him, and if reversed psychology worked with Eve, it’d work with Henry as well.

“Are you going to come out clean first?” He shot his eyebrows to his hairline, staring at her confused face.

“What do you mean? I’m not hiding anything from you!” Outrage was clear in her voice, and she wanted to kick herself for it. Creating an argument with him wasn’t a smart move. “Please, Henry. I’m not here to pick a fight with you. Just tell me straight what’s bothering you and I’ll be happy to explain.” Melina tried to touch him, but he grabbed her wrist, stopping her in midair.

“This change has something to do with your call to Ella?” He narrowed his eyes at her, settling her hand on his chest. Eyes fixed on hers, expecting her answer, but she didn’t have the surprised semblance he wanted her to have. It was almost a disappointment.

“She told you, then…” Electricity jumped to her, traveling from her palm and up her arm, gathering around her heart and speeding up its rhythm. She splayed her fingers to feel more of his warm skin. There was something alluring to feel his heart beating against her palm. It was so real, and just to think she could have lost him. A heaviness pressed on her chest and tears glinted in her eyes.

“Melina!” He called her when she zoned out. Her eyes flung to those pools of honey, staring at her with worry and confusion. “What’s wrong?” he asked in a gruff voice.

“Your heart…” she mumbled and trailed off, shaking her head. For a scant second, her thoughts scattered and Melina felt lost, as if she was far away.

“What about it?”

“I can’t go through that again… I can’t. You could have died!”

“Maybe it would’ve been for the better, don’t you think?”

If he hadn’t been fast, she would smack him again. Henry seized her hand in midair, his gaze fuming at her. It was a stupid shit what he just said, and by the look on her face, she didn’t find funny or amusing. There was a volcano about to erupt inside Melina, as he could see in her features all the emotions crossing her face. She looked shocked and confused, if he could bet, she came to some sort of conclusion, and didn’t know what to do with the answer she got, but made him feel like crap was the sob that escaped her mouth, and suddenly she was locked behind the bathroom door.

“Melina! Come back here.”

“Go to hell!”

The muffled yell crossed the distance between them, and if it wasn’t for her choked voice, a smile would have shown on his lips. He liked this new sassy Melina. She wasn’t afraid of speaking her mind to him. The last thing he wanted was to behave like a spoiled brat as she said, but it was stronger than him. He was so frustrated by her, he couldn’t help himself. Was it so hard to see past his past deeds? Give him a chance to be with her fully? Make him part of the beautiful life she built for herself? Lord, he craved that.

She’d end up hating him for his crass behavior with her, but that wasn’t what he wanted? Her hatred, because it’d kill him to see gratitude in those chocolaty eyes once he told her about the big scar on his back? They had to work on some common ground, but he didn’t know how to do it. He always had a nasty comment and pushed her away when she tried to get closer to him. Get closer. It has been her goal these last few days, but he cut her short in each of her attempts. Maybe it was time to give her a chance, since he saw an unfamiliar emotion on her face when he made that crude comment. It seemed almost painful to her the idea of his death.

“I’m sorry, Melina. Please, can you get your pretty little ass back here?”

“No,” she whined, but there was uncertainty in her tone.

“Please, I promise to act like a man and listen to whatever you have to say.”

It was three in the morning, only lunatics would be engaged in a quarrel at this hour, but butterflies fluttered in her stomach, listening to his words. She’d never wished for his death, not even when she thought about all the awful things about him, and when he spoke those words aloud, pain ripped through her. She couldn’t see life without him in any way possible, and if he was willing to hear her, she’d take it. Opening the door, she went straight to the armchair facing the bed, but she didn’t dare glance at him. Melina sat on it and dragged her knees to her chest, still averting her face.

“So, she told you I called her?”

“No, Kitty Kat. She didn’t. That same day, I gave my phone to my guys to sweep and see what you wanted with it.” It didn’t have a hint of anger in his confession, he just knew the fact, and he saw relief cross her face.

“My phone is there.” She pointed to the nightstand. “You can give it to one of your guys to sweep, you’ll see I only called her a day ago, and what I talked to her there’s nothing to do with my change of heart.”

“Why did you call her then?”

“I needed answers, Henry, but you have a loyal friend on your side, and she didn’t give me much.” A small smile curved his lips, listening to her. “But I liked her. She sounded like an amazing woman.”

“She sure is.” Satisfaction washed over him when she finally turned her soulful eyes to him and jealousy crossed at them. “Ella is just a friend, a dear friend.” He had the urge to clear the issue.

“I know.” It was her brief answer. “Are you willing to listen to me, or not?” She sighed loudly when he nodded. “You told me I don’t get to apologise to you.” She began. “But I have to. I was wrong, Henry.”

“You’ve got me listening. I don’t have a place to run and hide, as you can see.”

She squeezed her eyes shut, and counted to ten, hoping when she opened them her orbs had sucked in the tears forming there. She wasn’t about to fall for his childish behavior, but his words hurt her. Maybe she deserved them, since part of the blame for him acting like an ass fell on her.

Melina combed her hair with her fingers, pushing the strands out of her face and circled her arm around her knees, bringing them closer, and adhering to a defensive posture, but her chin went up with defiance while her eyes stared at him. Stubborn jerk! He just didn’t realise yet, she could beat his stubbornness hands down. The tension between them stretched into the room, and it wouldn’t be easy to get out of her chest what she had to say since he was facing her with such a hard stare.

“I don’t know if you meant to joke, but your words hurt me. I’ve never, not even for a second I wished something bad for you. So your stupid words make little sense. My life wouldn’t get any easier if you weren’t around.”

“Didn’t you want your life back the way it was? We’re going to talk about the truth, right? Do you think it was comforting to barge into your life again after years of searching for you, wanting to make you pay for all the loneliness you’ve put me through just to realise I wasn’t missed? You had a loving grandma to give you a home, moved on, built a beautiful life for yourself with friends who supported you when you needed to. You became an independent woman and caring mother to a daughter I didn’t even know existed. Melina, you don’t need me. I’m the one who needs you.” He finished his speech in an ugly frown.