Fifty-Nine

“Daddy, daddy!” Eve came running to him and threw her arms around his legs as soon as she saw them leaving the bedroom. She was already getting comfortable in his house and the cats didn’t need to lead her around as much anymore. Henry still felt dazed from his sultry afternoon with Melina and his shoulder was bothering him, so he sat on the floor and leaned his back on the wall, opening his arm and welcoming Eve to him. “Daddy, after Yiayiá talked to her friends, Eli and Josh took us to the shore, and I brought a gift for you.” The little hand extended to him, a chipped shell forgotten by a hermit crab that may have found a better house, leaving this one on the sand for a pesky little girl to find.

Henry took the shell as if it was made of gold. Melina just observed the scene, the turmoil happening in him. His emotions were still raw inside him, since there was too much going on these last few days, and their afternoon only added to the pile. It was the first gift from his daughter, and Melina knew exactly what he was feeling because she had been there. It was only a simple shell, but the love put in it was bigger than all their hearts combined.

“Thank you, Muffin.” He ended up referring to her the same way Melina did, because it fit her with perfection.

“Why are you crying, daddy?”

He just noticed tears down his face when the little hands caressed his cheeks and she voiced the question. Her little gift touched him beyond words, and he needed a few seconds to collect himself. “They are happy tears, princess. It’s because I love you so much,” he said and kissed her face, making her giggle. Melina, seeing him distressed, sat beside them.

“Mommy also cries when she says she loves me!”

“I do Muffin, you’re right.” She chuckled, and their eyes met. Melina didn’t hold herself back and embraced both of them to her. When the cats came to them, trying to be part of the moment, Melina knew her family was complete. “I’m not letting you throw away your future beside us, even if it means saving you from your stubborn self, Henry.” She whispered only to his ears.

***

Melina wanted to do something different. She was sick and tired of being a reclusive, and after much talking, convincing and seducing, Melina got what she wanted. A night out with her friends, and of course, Henry. There was a little restaurant by the shore she loved, so she called Xanthos about the changing of plans and letting him know where to meet them on Sunday evening. She was thrilled and couldn’t wait for all of them to be together again.

“Hey Gabs!” She squeaked when she heard her friend’s voice. “I miss you so much! Please, come for a visit.” Melina put all the begging she could on her voice.

“I miss you too, but…”

“Listen, let’s make a deal. Henry booked Ariadne’s little restaurant by the shore for Sunday evening. It’ll be only us there. Please come for dinner. Henry is all bark and no biting, and if your impression about him changes, you’ll promise to visit me more often. I miss you so much. Xanthos will be there with swooning Catalina...” A soft laugh made its way to Melina.

“I miss you too. We never had been this long from each other, and it’s killing me.”

“Then please Gabs, come to dinner.”

“Fine, what time?”

“Yay! Be there around eight.”

“And how are things with mister mobster?” The way she said it, Melina could see Gabs turning her nose at him, and a smile came to her lips.

“Oh Gabs, we do need a day to talk about it. So many things happened between the two of us. There was so much more than I’ve always imagined, but we managed to step into a common ground for now. He didn’t tell me everything yet, but I’m not pushing him, because I know in time all the pieces will fall into the right places.” Happiness invaded her. Gabs was part of her life, and she missed their friendship. It felt so good to talk to her again, like old times.

“You sound happier, Mel. So I hope you’re not wrong about him, and I trust you to know what you are doing.”

“I am, don’t fret about me. Have you talked to Xan these days?”

“Yes. Sort of. Here and then…” And Gabs broke into laughter. “In all these six years, I’ve never seen the man so swooned by a woman. She’s keeping him very busy.”

“At least she is keeping him out of our heels. He never went a day without calling or texting me, now I go days without a word from the man.” They both laugh. “Let’s see how they behave on Sunday. She’s going with him. You can take your brother. Is he still around?”

“I’m not even bothering. I had planned so many things for us to do together, but he found a slut as soon as he got here, and I barely saw him. He’s all over the island with this woman and when he gets home, he’s leaving next minute. It’s frustrating.” Gabs huffed on the phone, and knowing her friend, his dismissive attitude hurt her. She got all happy to see Tadeo again, and once he set foot in Santorini, he turned her down for a fling.

“Forget about it. You have me and Xanthos, you have Yiayiá, she loves you as a granddaughter, we are a happy family, like the purple dinosaur sings.” They laughed together at the mention of the character. “So, let’s have fun on Sunday and forget about it.”

“Okay. So… Can I take a date, so I won’t feel like a third wheel?”

“That’s news to me!!! Of course you can! Who did you meet?”

“Well, he moved here recently from Athens, and Karissa needed to take a leave, and referred him to replace her in the clinic. So we met!”

“Is she okay?”

“She had a course on Feline and Canine dermatology coming up, so Karissa packed her bags and left for the mainland. We’ll see her back next year.”

Melina hung up with a smile on her face and a light heart. She was counting the days for her to take back the reins of her life again and enjoy her new beginnings, but the first step was to clear Henry’s bad image with her friends. They had to accept him, give him a chance, because she didn’t want to come to where she’d have to choose between them. Then find a way of him to trust her enough and tell her about what happened to him, why he had to suffer such a painful ordeal so he could get her safe, and of course, come out clean with whatever was bugging him, only after all this, she’ll put her plan into action, and Darryl and Eli agreed to help her out.

***

Sunday came and Henry’s shoulder was much better since Melina cared for him like a mother hen. He smiled at the awkward thought, since it was kinda kinky to bang mother hen. But he enjoyed every minute of her concern for him, and all the pampering Melina and Eve gave him. Melina showering with him became routine, a scorching hot routine. She’d unwrap his shoulder, then they’d have their naughty way with each other, and once out of the bathroom, she’d take care of his wound. It was almost healed, and Melina had brought a sling for him to wear.

“Come, let’s get you dressed.” She pulled him inside his closet, and he got a silk navy blue dress shirt with details in soft gray, and to match dark gray formal pants. Melina helped him get in his clothes, and her eyes settled on the bracelet on his left arm. It was so part of him that sometimes she didn’t even pay attention. She raised his wrist to her lips, placing a kiss on the jewelry under his lustful gaze, then she got busy buttoning up his shirt, and an impish smile curved his sinful mouth. She stared at him and frowned, placing her palms flat on his chest. “Why the funny face?”

“Do you think I look better than the phony god?” She chuckled and stepped back, looking at him from head to toe. A day earlier, she had helped him with his beard and hair. He didn’t like them long, and it was getting on his nerves. “And?” He wiggled his eyebrows at her.

Melina pulled him down to her lips for an intimate and passionate kiss, desperately trying to erase this nonsense from his mind. She stepped closer to him, molding her soft body on his chiseled one, hoping the echoes of her erratic heartbeat could reach Henry and show how much it beat for him.

“Henry…” a soft murmur left her lips in the middle of the kiss. “Did I answer your question?” Their lungs worked overtime to find their breaths as she parted an inch from him, lust and mischief shining in her eyes. “Besides, I have a kink for bad boys and Xan is a goody-goody.” Melina chuckled when he faked outrage, whimpering in delight as he tightened his arm around her waist, bringing her closer for one more section of heavy make out. For the last two weeks, she was in heaven and didn’t feel like coming down from it. “I love you, silly man.”

“Are you sure, Melina? Are you certain of your new feelings for me?” He questioned, killing the moment they were having. Melina moved to get away from his arm, but his hand slid to her nape, bunching his fingers in her hair and tipping her head to face him. “Is it love, Melina?” He gritted out, eyes fixed on hers.

The pang in her chest weakened her knees, and Melina had to grasp at him to keep herself standing. She faced him because she had no other option, so she made sure he saw the anger flashing in her eyes. Her semblance softened after a few wild thoughts crossing her mind, and she laid her palm on his cheek.

“I know what you’re doing, and I won’t fall for that. You’ll let go of me, so I can go make myself beautiful for you and take your breath away.” They stared at each other for endless minutes until Henry relaxed his arm, and she moved away from him. At the door of his closet, she turned to him, eyes full of fire. “I won’t let you sabotage yourself!” Then she marched out, straight to her house.