Page 41 of Changing Tides

“Yep...that’s me.” I blow air out of my mouth and don’t meet her eyes.

“If you decide to join, I could take you through my routine. Maybe help you navigate the weights,” she offers. She seems genuine but since Liam just permanently friend zoned her, I don’t know what to think. I don’t have time to answer her before the man hangs up the phone and turns back to me.

“So, what’ll it be?” He leans on the counter opposite me and now I’m sandwiched between him and Melanie. “You two know each other?” He’s talking to Melanie.

“Yeah, Duke, we do.” She cracks her gum again. “Sophie here just moved in next to Liam. What do you say we let her try it out before she joins?” Melanie asks, and if I’m not mistaken, bats her eyes at Duke.

Duke drops his hands in defeat. “Whatever.”

Melanie smiles big then turns to me. “Let’s go!”

* * *

I’m notsure what I’m doing or how I got here but I am sitting at a chest press machine pushing the lightest amount of weight possible and Melanie is next to me talking my ear off. So far, I have learned that she has lived here all of her life and that Liam is…or was…her best friend. She told me about the car accident and how Liam is fucked up from it and can’t sustain normal relationships. I don’t know what to say to all of this, so I just listen to her and react in short answers. She doesn’t ask me anything about myself or why I moved here and that much I appreciate.

“Liam just doesn’tknowwhat he wants. I just feel so sorry for what he has been through, so I keep going back to him. But like, it’s sostupid. Not anymore.” She snaps her gum.

We switch spots so Melanie can take her turn. She adjusts the weight up twenty pounds from what I did, and I want to laugh but can’t because I’m too busy digesting this information. Hearing Melanie talk about Liam in this way should scare me. After all, she’s another woman and she’s been scorned by him. Instead, it only makes me want to know him more. I want to peel back his layers and uncover the broken man that I know is hiding underneath his prickly exterior.Fix him?I shake the thought away immediately.

“That’s…really sad,” I tell her, meaning it. “Liam hasn’t told me anything personal about himself.” That much is true. We made it home from our walk last night before he could share anything. I like to think maybe he would have if we had more time.

Melanie finishes her set, and we move on to another machine that says chest fly. Melanie hasn’t explained anything to me about how to use these machines. She is just waiting for me to sit down and figure it out. I let her go first this time. “And all my friends are married to his friends which issuperannoying. So, he makes me mad and then I can’t even really avoid him. I’m tired of waiting for him to figure things out though.”

“Mmm.” I nod. “I can see why.” It’s my turn now and I sit down and start to mimic the same motion I watched Melanie do moments before.

“Anyway, you should totally come out with me tonight. You’re new in town, you look single. Why don’t we go out and try to find some men?” She snaps that gum again.

I stop what I’m doing.How did I get here? Ilooksingle? And why is she being so friendly?“I don’t know…” I trail off.

“Oh come on, girl! Live a little. Be my wing woman. I promise, I’m a ton of fun.” Melanie does a little dance that reminds me of something Claire might do. I really don’t have a good reason not to go, other than it would probably irk the hell out of Liam. But why am I worried about what Liam thinks? It wouldn’t hurt me to have a girlfriend here since my best friend is four hours away, and Ellie is not exactly in my age bracket. “I will introduce you to some locals. You’ll fit right in.”

Work on building your social circle,Doc’s words echo in my head.

I stand up, ready to move to the next machine and take a sip of water. Melanie has stopped talking now and is eyeing me suspiciously. I know she’s waiting for me to give her an answer.

“Okay, okay. Yeah, why not?”

“Yes! That’s my girl.” Melanie claps. “We’re going to have a great time.”

“Okay. Where are we going?” I ask, following her over to a flat bench and some free weights.

“You ever heard of The Rusty Nail?”

* * *

I callClaire on my walk back from the gym and neither of us knows what to make of the interaction with Melanie.

“That’s so weird!” Claire says. “And last time you saw her she acted like you didn’t exist?”

“Last time I saw her it was super contentious and awkward. Like she didn’t like me babysitting for Liam.” I stop at a Do Not Walk and take a swig of my water. The streets are filling with people walking to get breakfast or coffee or on their morning jogs. The Saturday morning air is salty and sweet, and I can hear the sound of the ocean. Iwantto be optimistic. “Maybe she just needs a friend?” I suggest. “She did say all of her friends are married to Liam’s friends.”

Claire makes a tsk sound. “I don’t know. It’s fishy to me. Be careful. Maybe take your own car.” She sounds like a mama bear. “I wish I was there to go out with you again. That place was fun.”

“Maybe you and Derek can come for Memorial Day?” I suggest. “And I will be careful. I don’t have anything to lose by trying to make friends. And she doesn’t know anything about me. Nor did she ask.”

“See, that’s what makes it weird to me,” Claire says thoughtfully. “Why wouldn’t she want to know more about you?”

“Maybe she is thinking she’ll find out tonight? How about this… You call me at 9 p.m. and if it sucks, I’ll make your call an excuse to leave.” I laugh. “Just like our bad dates in college.”

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