Forever and Always (21 page)

“Our Song” Sam said softly and his eyes locked with hers. “Would you care to dance?”

“I don’t think that’s such a good idea “she replied.

“That is a shame” Sam said sadly turning his attention back to the vegetables.  “You were always such a great dancer”.

“Sam why are you doing this?” she sighed.

“Because you cut your finger” he replied without looking up from what he was doing.

“That’s not what I meant” she frowned. “I mean why you are here. Why did you agree to come? I don’t get it”.

“Melanie not a day has passed that I have not longed to see you” He replied as he finally put down the knife and looked at her. “When I saw you the other day in the hospital it was like I had finally woke up from a terrible dream”.

He walked around the island and stood in front of Melanie. She instantly felt her heart begin to pound in her chest. Feeling her fight or flight instinct kicking in, she was on her feet before he reached her.

“Melanie I have never stopped loving you for a second in the past seven years” He said as he took her hands. “And I can’t just give up and walk away without a fight”.

Melanie just stared at him and swallowed hard.

“I know you still have feelings for me” he continued. “I can see it in your eyes and I could feel it when you kissed me. I think you are about to make the biggest mistake of your life and I plan on helping you see this too”.

“Sam I am with Simon” she replied as he moved closer and closer to her until his face was almost touching hers. He reached up and softly traced his fingers down her cheek.

“Tell me you don’t love me anymore” Sam whispered softly into her ear.
His lip brushing softly against her lobe.
“Look me in the eye and tell me you haven’t thought of me too.
That you don’t want me as much as I want you right at this minute.
Tell me you love him more then you love me and I will walk away”.

He pressed his lips tenderly against her neck and traced butterfly kisses from her neck around her jaw and up until his lips finally reached hers.

She knew she should have pushed him away and demanded he left at once. But she didn’t, instead she leaned into him and pressed her lips harder to his. She wanted him right there and then.

“Melanie I’m home” Simon called from the door as he walked into the apartment.

Melanie pulled away from Sam like she had been hit by a bolt of lightning. She felt her cheeks flush as she quickly put some distance between her and Sam.

What the hell was she thinking? She loved Simon, she was marrying Simon. She had no right to be kissing Sam. She decided that she would tell Sam just that as soon as she had the chance. And she would tell him to leave her alone.

“Hey Coop” Simon said surprised to see Sam, who was now standing back on the other side of the island chopping vegetable. “Don’t tell me Melanie has you making your own dinner”. 

He walked over to Melanie and kissed her softly on the cheek.

“Well I offered to help Melanie” Sam explained. “She had a little accident”.

“What happened” Simon asked turning to Melanie, the concern clear on his face. Melanie held up her hand and showed him her finger in the bandage.

“I cut myself with a knife” Melanie explained as her heart tightened with guilt. He was so concerned about her and all she could think about was how Sam’s lips had felt so good on hers.

“I arrived just in time with the things you asked me to drop off” Sam continued the story when he saw Melanie face. She looked like she was about to burst into tears. “I put some butterfly stitches on and dressed it for her. She is going to be just fine”.

“Oh sweetheart” Simon exclaimed as he pulled Melanie into his arms.
“You poor thing”.

Melanie felt her stomach flip. How could she betray Simon so easily by kissing Sam? She swore to herself she would never let that happen again. She loved Simon and Sam needed to back off.

It was just after eight when Lucy and James arrived. Simon introduced Sam and he greeted them happily and asked how Calum was. Lucy smiled and began to talk very animatedly about her little boy. Melanie could see Lucy had instantly taken to Sam. Melanie rolled her eyes. She needed Lucy to help her get rid of him and being sucked in by his obvious charms would not help her in the slightest.

They all sat down to the dinner that Sam had made for them. Simon sat at the head of the table and Melanie sat to his left, Lucy sat next to her, James sat facing Lucy and Sam sat next to him facing Melanie.

Melanie was quiet all through dinner while the other four chatted happily between themselves. Melanie’s appetite seemed to have vanished too. She pushed her dinner around the plate but ate very little.

On more than one occasion she looked up from her plate to find Sam’s piercing blue eyes staring back at her. Every time she would feel her face flush with embarrassment and she would quickly look away. Thankfully Simon never seemed to notice the tension that radiated between the two old lovers.

As her guest ate their desserts Melanie stood and said she was going to make some coffee.

“I’ll help” James said standing up also. Melanie thought she caught a little look of disappointment in Sam’s face. She thinks James beat him to the punch with his offer of help. Melanie felt instantly grateful to James.

Melanie opened the cupboard above her head and pulled out five black mugs as James switched on Simon’s state of the art coffee maker.

“Are you ok Mel?” he asked as he moved around the kitchen area, keeping his voice to a low hush so the others couldn’t hear him.

“I’m fine” she replied with a smile she really didn’t feel. She was surprised by his question.

“Mel I don’t know much about women” James smiled, he eyes were soft but filled with concern. “But one thing I do know is when a woman says she is “fine”, she rarely is”.

The first day she met Sam came into her mind so clearly, he had said almost the exact the same thing to her on that day and the memory made her heart ache and tears sprung
in
to her eyes.

“Hey” James whispered taking her hand. “I am sorry Mel I didn’t mean to upset you”.

“You didn’t upset me James” she replied.

“It’s Sam isn’t it” he asked.

“Sam?” she asked confused as to why he would ask that.

“Mel I am not blind” James said. “I can see how he is looking at you and how you look at him”. Melanie just stared as panic swept over her. If James has noticed maybe Simon has too.

“Don’t worry I don’t think Simon has a clue” he continued as if to answer her question. “Sam is the guy, isn’t he”
.

“What guy” she asked but she knew exactly the guy he meant. Whenever Melanie, Lucy and Katie got together and Simon wasn’t about and drink was involved, someone would mention the guy from the beach and it would nearly always end with Katie saying if she ever came face to face with him, she would kick his ass. Many times James would be there but he would never really comment except usually to say with were a bunch of cackling witches and laugh.

Melanie wondered just how much James knew about Sam. No doubt Lucy had filled him in on every little detail because that’s what a husband and wife did. They told each other everything. She told Simon everything, didn’t she? Then she thought that actually no, she didn’t. She hid a lot of things from Simon. She never told him she hated his apartment. Or that she hated coffee. She never told him the story of what happened with Sam or the real reason she couldn’t have children.

What did that say about them as couple?  When she thought about it there were so many things he didn’t know about her. The most important thing she hadn’t told him was the fact she had been was having doubts about the wedding long before Sam even arrived. Just what did that mean?

“Mel I know about what happened when you were younger” he explained nervously, unsure if he should continue. “And I know Sam is that guy. It’s written all over your face. And if you want me to throw him out on his ass I will do it, no problem”.

Melanie looked at James in surprise. James was a big softy really and he offering to throw Sam out was so out of character for him. But as she looked at him she knew he meant it. But when she thought about it that was the last thing she wanted.

“I didn’t think so” he replied reading the expression on her face. “The thing is Mel, Simon is a nice guy and Sam seems pretty cool too but you have to decide who it is you love. Who is going to make you happy because right at this moment you don’t look very happy and I hate to see you look so miserable”.

“Thanks James” she smiled warmly at this sweet caring man. “You know Lucy is lucky to have found someone as special as you”.

“Hey what’s keeping the coffee” Simon called from the dining area. “I hope she isn’t pumping you for info about the stag’s weekend”.

“Don’t worry Simon your secrets are safe with me” James said and winked reassuringly at Melanie before he walked back to the table carrying a tray with the cups and the pot of coffee.

“Hey Sam you should come with us” Simon said as Melanie finally returns to the table. She quickly shot Sam a pleading look.

“I would really like to” Sam said staring back at Melanie then turned to Simon and smiled. “But some of us have to cover for all you losers at the hospital. So I am afraid while you lot are off living the high life some of us will be elbow deep in broken arms, busted lips, high temps and vomiting”.

“Too bad” Simon laughed and slapped Sam on the back.
“Should be a great weekend”.

“What time are you leaving at tomorrow” Melanie asks.

“Flight is at eight” Simon replied as he poured the coffees. “Then it’s three days in Barcelona, plenty of sun, sangria and golf”.

When they were finished their coffee’s Lucy helped Melanie clear up after the dinner and left the men chatting about sports.

“That wasn’t so bad” Lucy said as they both loaded the dish washer. “Sam is a nice guy, maybe he just wants to be friends”.

“Maybe” Melanie replied. She was tired and really wasn’t up to another deep and meaningful conversation.

“You sure you are ok Mel” Lucy asked regarding her friend with concerned eyes.

“Yeah I am just tired” Melanie lied and smiled.

“Well thanks for a great night” Lucy said and hugged her friend tightly before she turned to James and called. “Come on
Mr
Malone, bring me home and take me to bed or I won’t be dropping you to the airport tomorrow”.

James stood up and laughed. He thanked Melanie for a lovely evening and gave her a warm hug. Melanie knew the hug meant more than just thank you. It was also a take care hug and Melanie felt very grateful. And they headed towards the door.

“You know I think I will head off too” Melanie said much to Simon surprise.

“You’re leaving” he asks, his surprised very clear in his voice.

“I’m not feeling great” Melanie explained. The truth was she didn’t know how she was feeling right at that moment and she needed time to think. She needed time to herself. “If I am coming down with something I don’t want to let you catch it and ruin your stag weekend. Best I go home and sleep whatever it is off”.

“Well if you are sure” he said unable to hide his disappointment. He kissed her softly on the lips aware they had an audience. “But how will you get home, you’ve been drinking?”

“She can share a taxi with us” Lucy said happily.

“Don’t be silly” Melanie said to her friend. “That would take you miles out of your way. I will be fine in a taxi on my own”.

“You could share with me” Sam said suddenly from where he had been standing watching with interest what was going on. “I would be happy to drop you home, I am going that way and I will make sure you get home safe and sound”.

Melanie stared at him in disbelief. She wanted to say he didn’t even know where she lived but before she could get a word out Simon start talking.

“Thanks Sam” Simon said with a grateful smile on his face. Then he turns back to Melanie. “There, all sorted”.

Five minutes later Melanie was climbing into the back of a taxi, followed closely by Sam. Pulling the door closed behind him he looked over at her and smiled.

“This is not going to end well” Melanie thought to herself as the taxi moved away from the curb and headed out into the late summers night.

When they reached Melanie’s apartment, Melanie was surprised when Sam climbed out of the car too.

“Eh…where do you think you are going?” Melanie asked abruptly.

“I told Simon I would make sure you got home safe and sound” Sam said as he leaned in to pay the taxi driver. Then before Melanie could say another word the car pulled away from the curb and left them alone on the side of the road.

“Come on” he said taking Melanie’s hand and walking towards the front door of the red brick building in front of them. “I will walk you to your door”.

“I can make it to my apartment myself” Melanie insisted pulling her hand free from his. Sam just stood by the door and stared at her. She knew he wasn’t going to take no for an answer. She sighed and slid her key into the front door and opened it.