The Game Changer (29 page)

“I know I said you had to give this place a try, but we can go,” Julian offered. “We might have time to catch a late movie, or we could just go back to my place and watch movies.”

Melody shook her head. “No, it’s okay, I’m not going to let her run us off.” She turned her back on Rick and Sydney and faced Julian. “Want to buy me a drink?”

Julian grinned. “Of course. A place like this seems to call for something like beer and a shot of whiskey. You game?”

The look on his face told Melody that Julian didn’t think she’d accept the offer of a beer. It wasn’t normally her drink of choice, but she was always up for a challenge. “Make it a Guinness and you’ve got a deal.”

*****

It took half an hour, a pint of Guinness, and two shots of Irish whiskey before Julian could coax Melody onto the dance floor.

The whole place had a completely different vibe from Atlantis’s sophisticated feel—everyone was dressed casually, very few people had cocktails as their drink of choice, and the crowd was a lot rowdier. People flailed around the huge dance floor, arms swinging wildly to the music that sounded to Melody like a mixture of country and rock. She wasn’t sure she could dance to it, but she was willing to give it a shot, if for no other reason than to prove Julian wrong.

She’d just found her groove, with Julian holding one of her hands and dancing in front of her, when someone bumped into her roughly, sending her reeling into Julian.

She spun around and saw Sydney’s smug face. “Oops, sorry,” she sang, batting her eyelashes before sashaying away.

“Bitch,” Melody muttered, spinning back around to face Julian.

“Drink?” Julian asked.

Melody laughed. “Are you thinking of that second night at Atlantis when Olivia and I got hammered after my scary run-in with that evil little troll?”

“Pretty much,” Julian confirmed with a shrug. “It worked that night, didn’t it?”

Melody laughed again. “Yeah, it did. Let’s go.”

They wound their way through the crowd, and Melody groaned when she saw Rick standing at the bar waiting for drinks.

“Hey,” he called to her, motioning her over. “I saw what Sydney did on the dance floor. I’m really sorry.”

“Do you really want a girlfriend you have to apologize for, man?” Julian asked before Melody could speak. “She doesn’t even know Melody, but she’s got some issue with her, and she seems to think it’s okay to threaten her.”

“Wait, she threatened you?” Rick asked Melody. Then, turning to Julian, he said, “Who are you?”

“This is Julian,” Melody said quickly, deciding to let Rick wonder what their relationship was. “And, yes, she threatened me the night we first met at Atlantis. Cornered me in the bathroom and told me to stay away from you.”

Rick’s eyes widened. “I’m sorry, Melly. I had no idea. I’ll talk to her.”

“No!” Melody said forcefully. “You’ll probably only make things worse. Just...keep her away from me.”

Rick lowered his head, looking embarrassed. When he glanced up again, he nodded solemnly. “I’ll do my best. I really am sorry.” He took the drinks the bartender laid on the bar and disappeared into the crowd.

Melody sighed loudly and rested her elbows on the bar.

Julian leaned in close, and rather than comforting her like Melody expected, he said, “
Melly
?”

Melody shoved him away, but couldn’t stop the laugh that escaped her throat. “I
despise
being called Melly, but I never had the heart or the guts or
whatever
to tell him that. Do
not
start calling me that, not if you want to remain friends with me.”

Julian held up his hands in defense, his face alight with a wicked grin. “I wouldn’t dream of doing anything to jeopardize our friendship.”

“Smart move.”

Melody never thought she would have so much fun in a country bar. She and Julian spent most of the night on the dance floor, breaking to make trips to the bar or rest their feet at one of the tables near the dance floor.

The place was small enough that Sydney was almost always within sight. Rather than making Melody nervous, it was oddly comforting; she could keep an eye on her and make sure she didn’t come too close for comfort. Sydney, like a mean girl in school, shot dirty looks at Melody every chance she got; after awhile, Melody and Julian started to laugh about it, and agreed it was pretty pathetic that a woman in her late twenties still had the mentality of a snotty teenager.

Every time Melody thought she’d had enough to drink, Julian would suggest another trip to the bar. She was having so much fun she didn’t turn him down. After that second night at Atlantis, she’d sworn she wouldn’t drink that much again for a long time, but she felt safe with Julian. She knew he would keep an eye on her and make sure she didn’t do anything she’d regret.

By the time the bell was rung for last call, Melody was a giggling, wobbly-kneed drunk. Julian seemed to be able to hold his liquor much better than she could, and he appeared to find her very amusing as she slurred her words and spun around the dance floor with her eyes closed.

“Think we should head out before there’s a mass exodus and we have trouble getting a cab?” Julian asked.

Melody nodded. “My place or yours?” The words were no sooner out of her mouth than she burst out laughing. “That sounded dirty.”

Julian chuckled. “How about your place? I’ll go up with you and make sure you get in safely.”

“You’re such a good friend!” Melody exclaimed, allowing Julian to take her hand and lead her through the crowd.

Several cabs were waiting outside, and Julian helped Melody into the back of one before sliding in next to her and giving the driver her address.

It was a struggle to get up the long staircase to Melody’s apartment. She was so exhausted, she felt like she was dragging herself up the stairs. Halfway up, she was contemplating crawling the rest of the way when Julian heaved a sigh and lifted her into his arms, carrying her the rest of the way.

“Nobody’s ever carried me before,” Melody giggled. “This would be really romantic if we...you know...”

Julian chuckled and took the keys from Melody’s hand to unlock the door. “Here we go.” He set her on her feet inside the apartment, and she stumbled against him.

Still giggling, Melody gripped Julian’s shirtfront, trying to steady herself. She held onto him, inching closer. “You smell so good,” she breathed. “And you’re so pretty.”

Julian laughed softly. “And you’re really drunk.”

“Yeah, I am,” Melody slurred. “But it’s true. You’re just so...” She fell against him and buried her face in his neck. Julian was standing very still, his breathing shallow. Closing her eyes, Melody inhaled deeply, her mind spinning. Only half aware of what she was doing, she pressed her lips to Julian’s neck, feeling his pulse throb under his skin.

Julian gently pushed her away, startling her from her mindless daze. She opened her eyes and looked into his, which appeared darker than usual. “Melody,” he said, his voice hoarse. “Stop.”

“But…” Melody sighed. “I’m so lonely, Julian.” She barely recognized her own shaky voice.

Julian shook his head. “That’s not a good reason to…” He waved a hand between them.

“That’s not the only reason. I can handle being alone…being lonely. I’m good at it. But…I like you. I’ve tried so hard not to like you, but you make it so…hard.” She giggled, some distant part of her brain registering that she wasn’t making sense, then registering that she had just said something embarrassingly honest, and it was too late to take it back. Now she remembered why she didn’t often drink so much.

“Melody,” Julian groaned. “Don’t do this.”

“You think I’m playing a game?” Melody asked. “I wouldn’t do that. You said you hate that.” She stepped away from him and started walking across the room, then stopped and turned back. “You were the one who originally approached me, remember? You…you must have seen something you liked. You even said earlier there was something about me. You don't feel it now?”

“You’re drunk,” Julian stated firmly. “We’re not going to do this right now. I don’t even know if it’s really you talking or the booze.”

“And if it
was
me?”

“I…well…Melody.” He sounded flustered. Melody had never seen him get flustered before; she wouldn’t have thought it was possible. “I think you should go to bed and sleep it off. We can talk about this some other time.”

Melody laughed bitterly. “Right. Some other time. Which is guy speak for ‘never’.”

“Why don’t you let me tuck you in,” Julian suggested, ignoring her comment.

Melody started to protest, but when she stumbled into one of the kitchen stools, she knew it was time for bed. Time to forget this whole strange day and escape into oblivion.

“Come on.” Julian crossed the room and hooked one arm around her waist, leading her down the hall to her bedroom. He pulled back the sheets and arranged her pillows, then stepped aside for her to get in.

“Wait, I can’t sleep in my clothes.” The room was beginning to spin slightly as she yanked her tank top over her head, then undid the buttons of her jeans, pushing them down over her hips until they lay in a puddle on the floor. Stepping out of them on shaky legs, she climbed into bed in her bra and panties.

“Oh my god,” Julian muttered, casting his gaze up to the ceiling. He tossed the covers over Melody, then lowered his head and arranged the blankets.

“I’m sorry,” Melody whispered.

“What for?” Julian asked, avoiding her gaze.

“For being so messed up. I know this isn’t what you signed up for when you said we should be friends. I don’t know what’s happening with me.”

Julian let out a long breath. “Don’t worry about it, Mel.” He perched on the edge of her bed and gently brushed her hair out of her face. Melody’s eyes shifted in and out of focus, but she could have sworn Julian’s eyes were full of affection, the way they often were when he looked at her lately.

“I can’t lose you too,” she whispered.

“You’re not going to lose me, Melody. I promise.” He continued to smooth her hair back until Melody’s eyes drifted shut. His weight shifted on the edge of the bed, and she felt his soft, warm lips brush against her forehead. He whispered something Melody didn’t catch, but she didn’t have time to think about it before everything faded away.

CHAPTER 15

Melody’s head felt as if it was full of cotton balls, and her throat scratched like she’d swallowed sandpaper. She opened her eyes slowly, hissing like an angry cat when bright sunlight burned her retinas. With a groan, she snapped her eyelids closed and flung the blankets over her face.

What day is it? Why do I feel like someone used my head as a bongo drum?
She opened her eyes, letting them adjust to the semi-darkness of her little blanket cave.
Why the hell am I half naked?
She slowly stretched out her arm to make sure no one was in bed next to her. Sighing with relief when her arm hit cool, empty sheets, she tossed the covers aside and sat up.

Julian. She and Julian had gone to Sweet Home Alabama last night. Rick and Sydney were there, Melody had danced with Julian all night, and they drank a lot.
A lot
. When she glanced at her bedside clock, she noticed a glass of water and two little white pills; she grabbed for them, gratefully popping the tablets and chugging the tepid water until the glass was empty.

With her head throbbing in time to her every movement, she slid gingerly from bed and pulled on her housecoat. Halfway down the hall, she heard noises coming from the kitchen, and she found Julian there, still in his clothes from the night before.

“Hey,” she croaked, then cleared her throat. “Morning.”

Julian spun around from his place at the stove. When his gaze landed on her, his lips twitched slightly. “Morning. I was hoping the smell of food would wake you up. I’m making bacon and eggs. That’s your hangover remedy, right?”

It was actually Olivia’s remedy, but it was such a sweet gesture she didn’t want to correct him. “Right. You didn’t have to do that.”

“Actually, I did.” He turned back to the stove to flip the bacon. “I’m the one who kept buying rounds last night.”

Melody climbed unsteadily onto one of the kitchen stools. “Well I had fun,” she said, stifling a yawn. “At least I think I did.”