Alluring Infatuation (26 page)

I never realized how much she’s affected my life in the past few months. I need her to forgive me. She has to.

Showering quickly, I throw some shorts on and lay in bed as I check my phone. Nothing from her. I send a quick text in case she’s sleeping. I don’t want to wake her.

“Dade:

Forgive me? I’m sorry. Call me or text me.”

Even though I tell myself it’s stupid, I stay up for an hour waiting for her response. Though none comes.

She’ll forgive me… she has to…

Melonie

C
areful. That’s how everyone has been treating me for the past month. I feel like everyone is walking on eggshells around me. I hate it. I’m not a delicate flower they can’t trample on. Yes, my heart was stomped on, but it’s still beating. It hurts like a mother, but its beating and because of that I have hope that I’ll heal from the heartache.

It’s a Friday and for some weird reason, the schedule is not jam packed. I had two patients this morning and I have two more this afternoon. One of which, I’m not entirely certain I can face.

A firm rap on my office door has me looking up from the doodling on the legal pad I was supposed to be making a list on. Monica pops her head in. “Is it safe? You’re not going to throw anything at me, are you?”

Glaring at her, I wave her in. “It’s safe. When have I ever thrown anything at you?!”

“Well, you haven’t. But the mood you’ve been in lately everyone is just waiting for you to snap.” She frowns as she sits down in front of my desk and folds her hands on her lap over her lab coat. I’m the one behind the desk, but I suddenly feel like I’m about to be scolded by the principal. She sighs as she looks at me. “Melonie, have you talked to him at all?”

I shake my head vehemently. “I have not.”

“Well, you need to.”

She shifts in her chair as I pin her with my glare. “I don’t. I said everything I needed to say, Monica.”

“Look, I’m not saying you shouldn’t have been pissed. You totally had the right. But… it’s been a month, Mel. You’re here, but not here. I saw you after you got back from St. John and seeing you hurting just about killed me. Everyone in this office is just waiting for you to snap. We’re all worried sick about you. It’s like you’re walking around like a zombie.

I know I’m not that much older than you, but I feel like we’re family. I’m maternal towards you and I’m pissed enough to smack the shit out of the fine ass musician…. Yet, this time… This time is so much worse.

You take care of your patients. You read books and spend too much time with your cat. And you go out drinking with your friend.” I look at her in horror. Does she think I drink too much?! I don’t. I rarely drink at all. Stopping myself, I concentrate on what she’s saying. “But you are like a shell. A hollow shell. You need to snap out of this. It’s really starting to worry me. I’m thinking you’re falling into depression.

I checked your schedule. I know Clove is coming in today. Are you going to be ok with seeing her? Do you want me to take her?!”

I can’t do that. Not to Clove. My issue is with her brother, not her. I’m not going to hurt her by passing her off to Monica.

“No, I’m going to see this through. I’m her doctor. I can handle it. Dade is just a topic that will not be discussed.”

You’re fooling no one, you idiot. You mope around carrying only half of your heart and everyone knows it. You dream about him every night. Hell, several times a day, you’re thinking about him in the middle of the day.

Shut up! I miss him. I know I miss him. But, he doesn’t trust me and I don’t care how much I love him. Without trust, we have nothing. Nothing!

I deserve more than that. So, shut the hell up, Melonie.

Monica chews her lip and rubs her forehead. “Ok, then. I’m worried about you, though. This is me on the record. I’m worried about you.” She stands up and walks out.

No one needs to worry about me. Honest…

Liar…

I sit at my desk and stare into space until the receptionist tells me my patients are here. Standing up, I walk into the hall. I’m a professional. I can do this.

I hope.

It’s only a twenty week check-up for patient one and as I’m doing her ultrasound, she tells me she does not want to know the sex of the baby. Lots of patients don’t want to, but this one surprises me. At previous appointments she’s expressed excitement about finding out. “Are you certain? I remember you were looking forward to this day?”

She smiles at me. “I still want to know, Dr. Bird. But my husband had to work today and I want him here so we can find out together. We can wait another month.”

Ah, I understand now. Smiling, I nod. As I finish up, I wipe off her stomach and turn toward her. “Everything is wonderful. Perfect measurements. Both of you are healthy. I’ll see you in four weeks.”

She grins and I help her sit up. “Thank you, Dr. Bird.”

The joy in her voice is infectious. I smile back. “You’re welcome. Keep taking your pre-natals. Rest is important and make sure you’re staying hydrated. The heat is only going to get worse, so hydration is very important. Four weeks.”

Smiling, I leave the exam room and turn towards Clove’s room. I can hear female laughter behind the door. No Liam this time. For whatever reason, that calms down my nerves a bit. Looking at the chart again, I notice a significant change. I smile.

Taking a deep breath, I knock on the door before opening it.

I see Clove, Bradi, and Blue. All three are staring at me. A smile splits Clove’s face. “Hi, Melonie. Sorry. Hi, Dr. Bird.”

I smile back. Blue and Bradi just look at me. I can feel Bradi’s gaze. “Hey, ladies.” Then turning to Clove, I look at her over her chart. “Wow, you’ve grown in a month. How are you feeling… Mrs. Christianson? And you absolutely call me Melonie.”

She really has. She’s all stomach now. According to her chart, she’s at thirty-three weeks, but she’s carrying very low. And it appears as if Clove is a newlywed.

She smiles and sighs as she rubs her lower back. “Yes, I am married!” She dangles her hand out where her beautiful vintage ring now sits on top of a delicate rose gold band. “It was fast and we just decided to do it. We wanted to be married before he comes along, but as you can see, I’m massive. This little dude is playing soccer with my kidneys and bladder. I pee all the time. I can’t sleep. I’m constantly uncomfortable and I’m driving everyone crazy.” She smiles. “But I’m great!”

I chuckle. “I’m sure they don’t mind. And congratulations. I’m so happy for you.”

Bradi grins at me and mutters, “The hell you say. She’s a crazy person.”

Blue laughs. “Yeah, she’s catching up to
you
!”

Clove groans. “Shut up, you two. I’m miserable and you’re making fun of me.”

Grinning at them, I do the exam. Everything is perfect, but I don’t think she’s going to make it seven more weeks.

We go over everything and I instruct her to stay off of her feet as much as possible and to keep them elevated. She’s got some swelling, but being this pregnant and the heat make that normal.

We’re finishing up the exam and Clove looks at me. “Are you done for the day?”

I nod. “You’re my last patient.”

She picks at her nails. “What, Clove?”

Frowning she looks at me. “He looks about as good as you do, you know.”

I frown back and snap the chart closed. “I’m sorry.” I turn away from her. “I’m not talking about your brother with you. I’m just not, ok?!”

She sighs and I turn back to look at her. She looks defeated as she looks at Bradi and Blue. They all look at me. Blue asks, “What are you doing tonight?”

Clicking my tongue, I cross my arms and answer her. “I don’t have plans.”

Clove smiles impishly. “The guys are out of town looking at an arena for the tour. Liam was pissed he had to go, but he sent these two as babysitters in his place. I’m not allowed to be alone since I’m so pregnant. We’re having a girl’s night at my house tonight. Come.”

Bradi smiles. “I’m a killer bartender! Yes, come.”

I think it through. The guys are gone. I’ve missed seeing and hanging out with the girls. And I could use a drink. I nod. “Ok. I’ll come. But the guys are not home, right?!”

Clove nods. “Right. They are not home.”

Blue chuckles. “Oh, lord. This is going to be fun.”

I agree to meet them at Clove and Liam’s house about six tonight and decline meeting them for lunch. I need to clean my apartment and I promised Ms. Maureen I would help her weed her flowerbeds since I worry about her in the heat.

Later that night, I pull up in the driveway and see three cars already there. Grabbing my bag, I head to the porch. Before I can ring the bell, Bradi is swinging the door open and grinning at me with some red concoction in her hand. Grabbing my hand, she pulls me into the back of the house where I find, Clove, Blue, and Lexi already seated. Lexi is doing Clove’s toes and Blue is trying to make a design on her nails.

Everyone greets me. There’s a pitcher of the red stuff Bradi made on the coffee table and Clove has a large bottle of water. There’s also an assortment of finger foods, dips, and sweets.

Bradi looks at me and grins. “Want a drink, Doc?”

I chuckle. “Sure. What is that?”

Pouring me a glass she laughs. “No fucking idea! Lots of alcohol and it tastes good.” She clinks my glass with hers. “Cheers!”

Shrugging, I take a sip. Why the hell not!? It’s yummy. It’s fruity and goes down smooth. I’m going to have to pace myself or I’ll be wasted soon. As we laugh and talk about nothing and everything and avoid the main topic on everyone’s mind. I see that Lexi is not drinking.

Pointing to her ginger ale, I raise my brows. That gets Bradi and Blue’s attention, too. Bradi says, “Yeah, why aren’t you drinking my good shit?”

Lexi smiles and I instantly know her reason. I’ve seen that look a lot. Bradi screams and Clove and Blue start clapping as Lexi confirms it. “Yes, I’m pregnant. We just found out yesterday! I was going to wait to tell y’all, but Melonie is too observant.”

I’m truly happy for her. She and Jude will make amazing parents. “Congrats! I’m so happy for you.”

The congratulations are abundant and there’s lots of hugging and more screaming. This is what it’s like to have girlfriends to share the important aspects of your life with. It’s really nice.

Things finally calm down and Lexi turns her golden eyes towards me. “So Melonie, are you taking new patients?”

Grinning, I nod. “Absolutely!”

Clove squeals. “We’re going to have two Bayou Stix babies within a year! This is awesome!” She turns to Blue and Bradi. “Now, it’s y’alls turn.”

Bradi says, “I’m ready!” Blue looks panicked at the idea.

A couple of hours later, I’m very drunk. Bradi turns up the music and we all dance and sing as Clove watches from her position on the couch. The new Lady Antebellum song comes on and I belt it out.

When I’m done, everyone is looking at me strangely. I hold out my empty glass and call out to Bradi, “Hey, bartender!”

Laughing, she fills my glass and we fall into the couch in a fit of giggles. Blue and Bradi are probably as drunk as I am and I don’t care. I’m having so much fun and my mind is not on Dade. See, I don’t care if he’s gorgeous and I’m horny and looking at his sister across the room. Nope, I don’t miss him at all.

Bradi stares at me. I stare back. We have a stare off before we both erupt into a fit of giggles. She suddenly sits up and points at me. “He misses you.”

I sit up, too. I glare. “I don’t care. Shut up.”

“You don’t care. Right, ok. So if you don’t care, why won’t you talk to him?”

I mutter under my breath about her being a nosey bitch. “Because I don’t care!”

Clove sits up and reaches towards me. “Melonie, you need to talk to him. He misses you and he’s miserable. You don’t look too good yourself.”

Sitting up, I get pissed as I look at the four of them. “Ok, I get it. This was an attack. I don’t want to talk about it, so you bring me here and get me drunk. Well, I don’t care. I’m not talking about it. I don’t care if he misses me. I don’t care. Fuck him. And fuck all of you for setting me up. I thought we were friends!”

Blue stands up. “You don’t miss him, Melonie? You can just push it away. Just like that? And we
are
your friends!”

Whirling on her, I scream out. “No, of course I miss him. I can’t breathe sometimes it hurts so bad and I miss him so much. But I don’t care! He doesn’t trust me!
Do you get that!?
I fell in love with him even though I told myself not to and he punched me in the gut and walked out on me, not once, not twice, but three times. Screw that!” Tears are running down my face as they all watch me. “Screw him!”

I see Bradi look over my shoulder with apprehension, toward the door and my blood runs cold.

Turning, I know what I’ll see…

Dade