Page 24 of Frozen Hearts

“Hmm, you might be right about that.”

Mel was surprised when Brianna seemed to need a minute to ponder. Surely the realization must have occurred to her at some point. Mel smiled at her friend and gave her a pat on the shoulder.

“I wouldn’t worry about it. We know we’re best friends and that’s all that matters,” Mel encouraged.

“What are you going to do about Willow?” Brianna asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Aren’t you going to talk to her?”

“I’m sure we’ll see each other around,” Mel explained.

“Friend, come on.” Brianna shook her head.

“What?”

“It’s pretty clear you like Willow. So go over there and deliver her clothes to her. Then ask her out.”

“You really think I should ask her out?”

“I think it’s pretty clear that you like Willow. And let’s face it, you haven’t gone out on a date in a while.” Brianna tried softening her words with a smile.

“First of all, ouch,” Mel teased. She covered her chest with a hand and laughed.

“I don’t mean it offensively. I’m obviously not dating much either,” Brianna laughed.

“Fine. I will take Willow her clothes. But only because I’m being polite. And if we happen to talk about seeing each other again, then so be it.”

Mel grabbed Willow’s clothes from the previous night.

“Wish me luck,” Mel teased.

“Oh, look at you. You don’t need luck,” Brianna laughed.

Brianna plopped down on Mel’s couch and watched her leave. Mel felt a pang of nerves as she approached Willow’s door. She rang the doorbell and waited. Mel could hear Sushi barking inside, and was a little surprised when Willow didn’t appear. She gave one final knock on the door and heard movement inside.

“Coming,” Willow called as she pushed the door open.

Mel caught the moment when Willow’s eyes landed on her. There was a note of surprise and excitement on her face.

“You left before I could give you back your clothes,” Mel smiled. Willow rearranged her face. Willow smiled courteously but the excitement was gone.

“I was afraid maybe I had interrupted something.”

Mel caught the subtext. Willow was wondering if she’d interrupted something romantic between her and Brianna.

“Brianna is my best friend. She spent the night in my extra bedroom. But nothing romantic has ever happened between us,” Mel explained.

Mel wondered why she wanted Willow to believe her so badly. Was Willow’s opinion of her really that important? There was a momentary flash of a smile across Willow’s face.

“In that case, would you like to come inside for coffee?” Willow asked. Mel offered her a small smile.

“I would like that. I have a couple of hours before work.”

She followed Willow inside. Mel felt a pang when she looked down the hallway and remembered Willow’s bedroom. There was a pleasant soreness that still lingered between Mel’s thighs from the night before. Willow disappeared into the kitchen and brought back two cups of coffee.

“Thank you,” Mel said, taking one of the cups from Willow’s hand.

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