Unbreak Me (Second Chances #1) (9 page)

She walked down the hall to her room and flopped back on her bed.

Zach, you’re an amazing kisser.
She giggled to herself.
Ahhhh, what have I gotten myself into?
she asked as she climbed into bed and passed out from exhaustion.

Chapter 8

The past week had gone well for both Melanie and Katie. Austin had called several times and even stopped by for lunch once. Melanie had been slowly warming up to the idea of him and was finally able to see a future without so much heartbreak. Katie had begun to trust Zach more, but still tried to keep him at arms length. She wasn’t sure how serious he was about having a relationship with her. He’d never mentioned dating her exclusively and she hadn’t asked. “He doesn’t date, he hooks up,” Hannah had told her. Katie was worried that the only reason that Zach wanted anything to do with her was because she kept turning him down. She had told Hannah that Zach was “barking up the wrong tree” if he thought that he was going to “hook up” with her.

As she was standing at her locker putting her books away, Hannah walked up.

“
I’m having a small group over tonight for pizza and a movie. Wanna come?” she cocked her head at Katie.

“Do I get an invite to this “get together” too?” they heard from behind them. Just then Zach appeared and slung his arm around Katie’s shoulders.

Hannah glanced at Katie
,
then back at Zach, then back to Katie, “Sure. We’re meeting at my place at seven.” Hannah turned on her heel and marched off to class.

“So, another party, huh?” Zach smiled wickedly. “I liked the last one. This should be fun. Can I at least pick you up this time?”

Katie blushed and looked at the ground as she toed her shoe into the tile floor, “Whatever,” she huffed.

Zach put a finger under her chin and lifted her face so she was looking him in the eye
.
“I thought we were going to give this a shot? I mean...we are, aren’t we?”

“Yeah. Come get me at 6:30. I’ve gotta get to class,” she turned and walked away.
What was that?
she asked herself.
Zach just asked you out on another date, he likes you. I mean really likes you. What’s wrong with you, you goof?
She shook her head and was mumbling to herself as she walked into class and saw Hannah sitting on a desk talking to Sam.

“We’ll have a great time. See you tonight,” she heard her say.

OOOOOOO

Melanie was sitting at her desk going over a chart when her office phone chimed.

“
Dr. Andrews,” she answered. “Yes, I’ll be right there.”

The reception desk had called to let her know she had a delivery downstairs.
I wonder what that could be? I’m not expecting anything
she mused. She got up and headed downstairs to the main desk. When she got there, there was a box sitting on top with a red ribbon tied around it.

“Who’s this from?” she asked the receptionist.

“I don’t know, but there should be a card somewhere. Maybe it’s inside?” the receptionist smiled. “Somebody fancies you.”

Melanie grabbed the box and walked back to the elevator to head back up to her office. When she got inside, she set the box on her desk and pulled the ribbon to open it, gasping when she lifted the lid. Inside were a dozen beautiful long stemmed red roses with a card lying on top.

It read…
You’re beautiful
.
Join me?
She shook her head.
Join who, where?
Just then her phone chimed again.

“Dr. Andrews,” she answered.

It was the receptionist calling to let her know there was another delivery. Not wishing to repeatedly stop what she was doing and go back downstairs again, she sighed, “Just send him up would you?” After a few minutes, there was a soft knock at her door.

“Come in,” she called.

“Delivery for Dr. Andrews,” the young man responded. He opened the door and came in – with another white box with a red ribbon.

“Thank you,” she took the box and placed it on the desk. She untied the ribbon and lifted the lid to find another dozen red roses and another card.

It read…
tonight?

She shook her head and dug carefully in the box for another card.
What’s going on here?
She stuck her head out of her office door to look for the deliveryman. Something wasn’t right here.
Who sends flowers with such cryptic messages?
As she was pulling her head back in the door, she saw another deliveryman coming around the corner heading right for her. As he approached her, she held out her hand and raised an eyebrow.

“For you,” was his only answer. She repeated the process of opening the box.

This message read…
at 5:30?

The flowers kept coming throughout the day with a little more info each time. By the time lunch rolled around she had seven dozen roses in her office. She placed the cards next to each other to read the message.

You’re beautiful. Join me tonight at 5:30 for a night at the opera? Love, Austin
.

She smiled and leaned back in her chair. Just then her phone chimed again.

“Dr. Andrews,” she answered.

“Hi, so do I get an answer?” a male voice came over the phone.

Melanie giggled, “An answer to what? Who is this?”

“Ummmm, didn’t you get my flowers?” he sounded confused.

“What flowers?” she was turning red from trying to hold in her laughter.

She could hear Austin grumbling and what sounded like papers being shifted around on the other end of the phone. After a pause, she decided to put him out of his misery. “You do realize that I’m teasing you, right?” she giggled.

“That wasn’t a very nice joke. I was getting ready to call that flower shop and give the delivery boy a piece of my mind. So do I get an answer to my question?”

“Yes and yes, they’re beautiful,” she was giddy with excitement. She hadn’t had this much attention from a man in along time, at least this much
wanted
attention.

“I’ll pick you up at five,” he chuckled.

Once she hung up the phone, she flipped open her schedule to make sure she could leave in time to get ready. She didn’t have time to shop, so she was going to have to make due with a gown she already owned. As much work as it was going to be to do this last minute, she appreciated Austin’s spontaneity in the planning. She felt like a schoolgirl being courted again. Austin was sweet, caring, and most of all romantic. She spun her chair around and threw her head back. She didn’t have any appointments scheduled for the afternoon, but she was on-call until six. She needed to find someone to cover her for a few hours so she could leave. Just then William stuck his head in her office.

“You look happy,” he chuckled. “What is all this?” he swept his arm out in front of him and crinkled his brow.

“Oh this?” she laughed. “They’re from Austin, aren’t they beautiful?” she leaned over and placed her nose over a bloom. Smiling, she turned back towards him, “I’m very happy.”

“That’s good, it’s good to see you laugh and smile again. I missed that about you,” he smiled back at her.

Just as he was turning to walk away, she called him back, “William, do you think you could cover my shift for the rest of the afternoon?” She smiled and gave him a pleading look.

He rolled his eyes, “Now I know you’re getting back to your old self. Here you are asking me for favors again.”

She stuck out her bottom lip and batted her eyes, “Please, I’ll owe you.”

“Fine,” he sighed, “I don’t have anything going on tonight. Do you have plans?” he asked.

“Yes, Austin’s taking me to the opera, and I need to get home in time to get ready,” she grinned and bounced in her chair.

She had that dazed look in her eyes. William could tell that she was daydreaming about what the night might hold. She had that look of a woman in love. He shook his head to rid the thoughts that he was having. He longed for her to look at him that way. A good friend was all he’d ever be. He’d come to accept that, but it still hurt to watch her fall for another man that wasn’t him
...

April 1993

“Sean and I are going to see a movie after school today, you wanna join us?” Melanie smiled.

“No thanks,” William grumbled.

“What’s going on with you?” she turned in his direction as she placed her lunch on the table. “You aren’t acting like yourself.”

“I just don’t feel like hanging around you guys today, ok?”

“Fine, I thought we’d hang out. Apparently you’d rather sulk about whatever is bothering you,” she shrugged her shoulders and started to turn away from him.

William whirled around, eyes blazing as he lit into her, “You don’t
get
it, do you?”

“Get what?” she looked at him with pleading eyes.

“Nothing, never mind. You just don’t understand,” he began to take a bite of his burger when she let out a big sigh beside him. He turned abruptly and glared at her, “I don’t like watching you hang all over him.”

Her eyes went wide. She’d never seen him like this and was beginning to wonder if he’d always felt this way. “What are you talking about? Sean and I? We bother you?”

“Ah, look who just came to the party,” he glared.

“William, why are you just now telling me about this? I thought we were friends?” she felt her chest tighten as his stormy eyes bore into hers. “How long has this been going on?”

“It doesn’t matter
.
I’m going to go study in the library before class. I’ll see you later,” he stood, tossed his tray in the trash and stormed away.

Melanie sat dumbfound as she tried to process what had just happened. William had seemed almost jealous of Sean. That couldn’t be true. She and William had always been friends. She would have noticed if things had changed, right?

September 2012

“
So when are you supposed to get off?” he cocked his head to the side. “I wanna make sure I stay for your whole shift.”

Her smiled widened when she realized she’d won the battle. “Thanks, I‘m scheduled until seven,” she jumped up from her chair and threw her arms around his neck. “You’re the best.”

William tensed slightly when she hugged him, but soon relaxed when he realized that she hadn’t noticed. His eyes grew sad as he turned to leave her office, mumbling over his shoulder, “Have a good time. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Once he had left her office, she gathered her things and headed out the door. It was already four o’clock and she needed to get home to get ready. She had decided to leave the flowers in her office and let the smell permeate the air, and she smiled one last time before closing the door and locking it behind her.

Once arriving at home, she found Katie pacing the living room.

“Something on your mind?” she questioned.

“No, Hannah asked if I could come over tonight for pizza and a movie. I’m pretty sure Sam and Anthony are going too. Zach offered me a ride. Can I go?” she pleaded.

“I don’t know if I like the idea of you hanging out with Zach over there without adults around,” Melanie crossed her arms over her chest.

“What do you mean ‘without adults‘?” Katie questioned.

“Austin’s taking me to the opera tonight, and last I checked he was the only adult that lived with Hannah,” Melanie stated. “Plus you and Zach seem to be getting awfully close lately. I really hope that you aren’t letting him push you in to anything.”

“Is this another sex talk?“ Katie rolled her eyes. “Please say no. I get it mom, really. No sex before marriage. Blah, blah, blah… All we’ve done is kiss,“ she huffed. “Don’t you trust me? When have I ever done something to make you question my judgment?” Katie begged.

“Oh alright, home by midnight!” Melanie surrendered.

“Yes, of course,” Katie jumped up and down. “Thanks mom, you’re the best.”

“I try to be,” she laughed. “Now I need to go and get ready before Austin gets here.”

She turned and went down the hall to her bedroom. She pulled open her closet and dug to the back, looking for several gowns from outings she’d gone to with Sean. She’d been to an insane amount of charity functions and hospital balls. Pulling out a green dress she hadn’t worn in many years, she asked herself,
I wonder if this still fits?
She placed it on the bed and dug for some shoes.

Meanwhile Katie was having her own dilemma about what to wear. She knew that this was a casual affair and she should just relax. But, this was also a night with Zach. She wanted to look nice for him.
You have to get past mom to get out of here tonight
she told herself.
Make sure you don’t go overboard.
She knew that Melanie would make her change if she didn’t deem appropriate what she was wearing.

Katie had uniforms that she had to wear everyday to school, which made it that much harder when she had a choice to wear something different. She finally decided to on a denim skirt with a pair of black leggings. A gauzy white top with a pink tank underneath finished the look. Her pale shoulder peeped out of the neck so she decided to keep her hair down. She didn’t want to appear like she was trying too hard. She also didn’t want to send Zach the wrong message. He had hinted at wanting more, but she had no intention of giving that to him. After straightening her hair and putting on just enough makeup to highlight her features, she grabbed her purse and shoes and made her way out to sit on the couch and wait for Zach.