Page 96 of Another Love, Another Time
I send my mom a text letting her know that I’ll be out of town for a few days and that she shouldn’t worry. She will know why. I don’t want to talk to her either.
I don’t even remember how I got home, but I start to pack an overnight bag and look for the soonest flight out. I find one that leaves in three hours. I’ll be able to make it to the airport in plenty of time. I send Bax a text letting him know that I’m heading his way. Again.
River: Hey I’m coming back to see you. Make room!
Baxter: What happened?
River: I’ll tell you when you pick me up.
Baxter: What time do you land?
River: Midnight
Baxter: I’ll be there.
I never should have come back here. It was a big mistake.
I pick up my bag and walk out the door.
Chapter 31
Auggie
When I walk into the party, I know I’m running late. I’m looking for River. I need to talk to her about a case we are working on. Melissa has been texting me, asking me where I’m at. So has River, but I was on a call with someone in the department. I texted them both back that I was about five minutes from the house.
As soon as I’m through the gate, I’m looking for River. Someone grabs my hand, and I’m pulled in another direction. I’ve been in Melissa’s backyard before, but it’s never been this crowded or this put-together. I’m not sure who is dragging me through the crowd until I run my eyes up the length of the person’s arm: Melissa. I start to pull back. At the motion, she turns her head and gives me a small smile.
“Hey, slow down,” I say jokingly. “Where’s the fire?”
She answers, “I need you. You’re late.”
“Okay, okay.”
She pulls me up on a stage. I let her. Maybe she needs my help with something. Her mom is talking to the crowd. I’m not paying attention to what is being said. I’m looking in the crowd for River, but I can’t see her from where I am.
The next thing I know, I hear something about Melissa being engaged. I’m confused, not sure what’s going on. I look around for River again, and I smile when I finally find her. I see hurt in her eyes, and then, Melissa’s lips are on mine.
I’m frozen in shock for a second. I don’t return the kiss, unsure of what is going on, but when I finally come to my senses, I pull away.
I look for River, but she’s gone. I need to talk to her, but I need to find out what the hell is going on first. River had to see how confused I was.
I need to talk to Melissa alone, but before I have a chance to talk to her, Melissa and I are swarmed with friends and family who would like to congratulate us. I know my parents are here. I’ve seen a few people from work here. “How the hell am I going to explain this?” I wonder.
~~
I’m wearing a tight smile. Before another person congratulates us, I turn to Melissa and tell her we need to talk. I excuse us from the crowd, drag her into the house, and pull her into a guest room. I need to understand how she could have concluded that I had asked her to marry me. When I shut the door, I turn on her.
“Melissa, what’s going on?” I demand. She pulls me closer, going in for a kiss, but I pull back, putting distance between us. “What is going on?”
She furrows her brows. “What do you mean?”
“We both know I did not ask you to marry me,” I growl.
“What? I thought—”
I interrupt her. “Melissa, I’m telling you I did not propose. If I did, it would have been clear. I would have given you a ring. Where the hell did the one on your finger even come from? Forget it. I don’t even want to know. I just need to know what is going on. What did I say to make you think we are engaged?”
I can see tears in her eyes, but they don’t seem genuine. For the first time, I can see the Melissa that River sees. The manipulator. She’s putting on a show. Now I see her for who she is. She played me, used me, and the only person I can blame is myself because I allowed it to happen.
