Page 20 of Romancing Melanie
As soon as he got to his childhood home, he saw his mom waiting expectantly, arms open for Connor.
“There’s my wee man,” she cooed at him.
“Wow, thanks, Mom,” Noah said sarcastically as his mother ignored him and bustled into the house with her grandson in her arms.
“Oh, you hush. I spent over thirty years doting on you, now it’s time for Connor.”
Noah grinned. His mother had fallen head over heels in love with his son, which made life seem that much more bearable. Once he and Mel ended their fake relationship, he knew he would be counting on his mother more and more for help with Connor.
“Well, would Nana mind having the little dude for an hour or two? I would love to get out on the road for a quick ride.”
“Of course, dear. You go and take your time. Nana and Connor will be just fine.”
With one parting kiss to his son’s head, Noah headed back out the door and made the drive home to his apartment in record time.
Even though it had been just over a week, it felt strange walking into his apartment. Without any baby toys or blankets scattered around, without Mel’s feminine touch, the place felt empty. Trying not to dwell on that for too long, Noah quickly changed into his cycling gear, grabbed his bike off the hooks on the wall where he stored it, and headed out to hopefully clear his head, and burn off some of the pent-up energy from living with Mel, getting closer and closer, then the interruption of what he knew would have been mind-blowing sex. Sex that didn’t seem to be on the table anymore.
Goddamnit. Now I’m thinking about sex with Mel again.He shook his head regretfully as he locked his apartment door and wheeled his bike to the elevator.
Moments later, he took off at a slow pace to warm up his muscles. The route he was going to take was so familiar he could do it without focusing on anything more than his road safety. Portland was great for bike lanes, making things relatively simple and safe. Once he hit the first straight stretch that would lead toward one of the city’s many parks, he cranked up the speed, hunching over his handlebars and letting the wind race past him, drowning out the noise in his head. This was what he needed. A mind–body connection that calmed and centered him unlike anything else. For a while he let himself just be in the moment. He could feel his heart beating steadily and strongly, as his legs pumped up and down, using muscles that hadn’t been used in this way for way too long. It was rare for Noah to go more than a couple of days between rides, before Connor had arrived in his life. In the winter he had a bike trainer, a contraption he could set up in his living room and hook his bike into so he could ride indoors. As soon as the first dry day hit, and the roads weren’t icy, he was out there needing to feel the fresh air stinging his face.
Just over an hour later, Noah was coming to the last section of his route. He slowed his speed, knowing he needed to give his legs a chance to cool down from the intense exercise he had just completed. As he rode past one of the breweries he and Mel often stopped in at when they did this route, he felt the sting of her absence. Even before Connor and the whole fake engagement scenario, she had become such a huge part of his life. They had fallen into their friendship easily, and he loved that. But it could be so much more, he just knew it.
Now I need to get her to know it.
But first, he needed a shower, and then he had a baby to pry out of his mother’s arms.
* * *
Melanie walked up to Anna and Ryan’s house shortly before eleven. It had been next to impossible to sleep after her short shift at the hospital, the silence in her apartment was deafening without Noah and Connor there. Shaking off her exhaustion, Mel rang the doorbell. She had a bottle of prosecco in one hand and a bag that held chips and guacamole, her stress-food of choice, in the other. When she was at the store, she briefly wondered what it meant that she needed alcohol for this conversation with her friends, then she decided she didn’t care. A slight buzz might help her relax.
Anna opened the door with a smile and welcoming hug. Mel had to bend down to wrap her arms around her petite friend, but Anna’s slight stature hid her inner and outer strength.
Walking inside the house, Mel saw that the others were already there, relaxing in the kitchen where they were enjoying some snacks that Anna had thoughtfully prepared. She dumped her bag of chips and guacamole on the table, opened the bottle of prosecco and said, “Who’s drinking with me?”
Three hands went up amidst the laughter, and Anna went to get glasses. No one bugged Mel to start explaining what was going on, and she loved that. There was no pressure from her friends, they knew she would share when she was ready, and in the meantime, everyone was content to just be together.
Once she had her fill of chips and guac, and half of her glass of prosecco was gone, Melanie decided she had to start talking.
“So, Reagan was right you guys. I think I’m falling for Noah and I don’t know what to do about it.”
Conversation stopped, and three pairs of eyes looked at her with knowing glances.
Then they all spoke at once.
“Well, duh, saw that coming months ago,” said Reagan.
“Oh my god, that’s so exciting!” Anna shrieked.
“I honestly never thought I would see the day Melanie Haynes fell for someone,” came Callie’s response.
Mel shook her head and laughed. “Wow, okay then, I guess I don’t need to ask how you guys feel about that.”
Reagan walked over and put her arm around Mel’s shoulders. “Girl, we’ve all seen you two dancing around each other for months. Your friendship is great, don’t get me wrong, but the looks he gives you are WAY more than friendly most of the time.”
Callie had been looking at Mel thoughtfully. Out of the four women, Callie knew Mel and her history with her divorce the best, but even she didn’t know all of it. “Mel, what’s so wrong about dating Noah? We all know he’s a great guy, and he’s obviously nuts about you. I know your divorce sucked, but Noah isn’t Darren.”
Mel sighed. “Funny, Noah said the exact same thing. You’re right, he’s nothing like my ex. But every relationship has the potential for heartbreak, and I’ve had my fair share of that in life.”
