Part 32 (1/2)
Steven tried again. ”What I meant was-”
”I don't care care what you meant, Steven.” what you meant, Steven.”
”I can see that,” he answered calmly. ”So, what happened, Melissa? Was your mother scared by a member of the Dream Team when she was pregnant with you?”
”Ha-ha,” Melissa said.
”Can't we just agree to disagree?”
”Yes,” she said, after swallowing visibly. ”We can agree to disagree. How about forever?”
Steven whistled, long and low. ”h.e.l.lo? Don't you think you're overreacting just a little here?”
”All we have to do is pretend nothing happened-”
”No,” Steven interrupted flatly. ”We aren't going to do that.”
”Why not?”
d.a.m.n, she was stubborn. Too bad he found that quality so attractive in a woman. Or, at least, in this this woman. woman.
”Because it did did happen.” happen.”
”Now you're just nitpicking,” she protested.
Steven rolled his eyes. ”We went to bed together,” he said slowly and with emphasis.
”Keep your voice down!” Melissa retorted, glancing toward the door.
He flung out his hands. ”I give up.”
”Good,” Melissa said. ”It's about time.”
He leaned in, so their noses were almost touching. ”For now,” ”For now,” he clarified. Then he left her standing there, and strode out into the corridor, headed back to Tom's office. he clarified. Then he left her standing there, and strode out into the corridor, headed back to Tom's office.
He had business to attend to-and he'd better put Melissa O'Ballivan out of his head.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN.
”THIS IS AN INTERVENTION,” Olivia announced solemnly, a week and a half after Melissa's last conversation with Steven Creed. Olivia announced solemnly, a week and a half after Melissa's last conversation with Steven Creed.
Melissa looked around Olivia and Tanner's living room, sweeping Meg and Ashley up in an indignant glance.
”You tricked me,” she said, in an accusing tone. Olivia had suggested that all four of them meet at her place that Thursday evening, after Melissa got off work, to discuss the parade, which was scheduled for the following night. Ostensibly, her devoted sisters and sister-in-law were supposed to a.s.sist her with last-minute logistics.
What a sucker she was.
”We had to do something,” Ashley said earnestly, near tears. ”You've gone around the bend.”
”You're definitely not yourself,” Meg added, plainly concerned. She took in Melissa's outfit. ”Since when do you go to work in sweats and sneakers?”
”Without makeup,” Olivia pointed out.
”And look at your hair, hair,” Ashley all but wailed.
”Plus you haven't been running,” Olivia contributed. This whole confrontational thing had probably been her idea-she'd always been the bossy big-sister type.
”Maybe I'm a little depressed,” Melissa admitted, feeling defensive. ”It'll pa.s.s as soon as they catch Nathan Carter and this d.a.m.n parade is over.”
”Even after you and Dan parted ways, you didn't let yourself go like this,” Ashley pressed, waving off Melissa's words as she spoke. ”We're worried about you.”
”You're falling apart,” Olivia said.
”I think this mood mood you're in has something to do with Steven Creed,” Meg insisted. ”You've been different ever since he hit town.” you're in has something to do with Steven Creed,” Meg insisted. ”You've been different ever since he hit town.”
Olivia and Ashley nodded in unison.
”No, it does not not have to do with-him,” Melissa lied. The truth was, she couldn't seem to get the man out of her mind, even for her own good. have to do with-him,” Melissa lied. The truth was, she couldn't seem to get the man out of her mind, even for her own good.
”Level with us,” Olivia urged, her eyes softening. ”We want to help you.”
”I need help with the parade,” Melissa said. ”Not my personal life.”
Olivia, Ashley and Meg all looked at each other, exchanging unspoken messages.
Melissa stood up.
”Sit down,” Olivia said firmly.
Melissa sat. ”This is silly,” she said.
”Are you in love with this Steven Creed person?” Ashley wanted to know.
”No,” Melissa said, hoping she sounded convincing. By then, she was so confused, she didn't know what what she felt. Was wanting somebody-not just physically, but emotionally and mentally and even she felt. Was wanting somebody-not just physically, but emotionally and mentally and even spiritually, spiritually, for pity's sake-the same as for pity's sake-the same as loving loving him? ”It was just a case of temporary l.u.s.t.” She waved one hand dismissively, much as Ashley had done earlier. They were, after all, twins. ”Anyway, it's over.” him? ”It was just a case of temporary l.u.s.t.” She waved one hand dismissively, much as Ashley had done earlier. They were, after all, twins. ”Anyway, it's over.”
”What happened?” Meg asked.
”That,” Melissa said, ”is none of your business-any of you-but I'll answer anyway. Yes, there was an attraction. But Steven and I are both lawyers. Worse yet, we have very different viewpoints, since he's Defense, and I'm Prosecution. While that may not seem like a big deal to most people, most people, it const.i.tutes irrevocable differences in our private philosophies. When it comes to our philosophies of life, we're polar opposites.” it const.i.tutes irrevocable differences in our private philosophies. When it comes to our philosophies of life, we're polar opposites.”
Ashley shook her head, marveling. ”What a lot of gobbledegook,” she said.
”I'd call it BS,” Olivia interjected.
”Now you know why I didn't want to talk about this,” Melissa said loftily. She stood up again, and this time she meant it. She was leaving. ”I knew none of you would understand. And why should you? All three of you have children, and happy marriages-”