Page 28 of His Savage Bride
“When I told you before that Maximo might just be love-bombing you, I might…I might have just been talking about myown experience with men,” Melissa admits. “You know how hard I fell for Mike our sophomore year of college and what it did to me when he dumped me. I hope that you and Maximo are like my parents and not like me and Mike.”
“I love him,” I assure her. “I mean, I’m in deep, Mel. I fucking adore him. It’s not just his lifestyle or his character or his body…”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Melissa scoffs.
“Sure, the physical part can be overwhelming. He’s the first man who seems to know my body better than I do. That’s how I got into this situation.” I smile as I place my free hand on my stomach. “I get so eager when I’m with him and my good sense flies right out the window.
“But it’s more than all that,” I continue. “I like… no, I love who I am with him. Maybe it’s because my background has been in the service industry helping my dad with Monroe’s, but I’ve been treated like a servant my entire life. Not by my father. I mean, he was nothing but wonderful. I mean the customers. It didn’t matter if I was hosting, or serving, or running back of house, I always felt looked down on. Does that make sense?”
“Connie, I’ve waited tables. I know exactly how it makes you feel.”
“I know you do. You’ve definitely lived it, too. I’ve always admired you, though,” I explain to her. “Because you have this presence in every room you’ve walked into ever since high school. I think it’s because you were one of the top students, and you always knew you were the smartest person in the room. You always outscored me on every test we took.”
“That’s not true, Connie. You would’ve done just as well as me if you hadn’t spent so much time running Monroe’s with your father. I had advantages you didn’t have, like rich parents and free time for extra-curriculars.”
“I would hardly call your parents rich.” I roll my eyes. “I used to think they were until I saw how Maximo lives…”
“Well, not rich, but well enough off that I didn’t have to work until my hands bled.”
“That was just in the winter when I had to fill in for the dishwasher.” Even as I protest, though, Melissa pulls the hand she’s holding up to eye level and then rubs her thumb over the scars on my knuckles.
“I’m glad he makes you feel special, Connie. You are, and you deserve a man that loves you like this one does. I mean, look at the bodyguards he’s assigned to you. How does he even pay these guys? Are they just always with him somehow?”
“You know I never actually asked,” I say with a laugh. “Maximo runs an investment firm. I suppose he just has his crews on salary somehow. Maybe they are just security?”
“I wonder if their benefits are any good.” Melissa sighs. “I might have to take Trenton up on his dinner offer. I doubt I’ll be getting many more for a while.” Melissa waves her free hand at her swollen eye and nose, as a tear trickles down from her good eye. She wipes it away quickly, then forces a smile. “I’m getting weepy. Don’t mind me. It’s just the pain medicine.”
“Oh, Mel. You’re beautiful and you’re going to be fine. You said the doctor told you that you would be good as new. You’ll shake this off in no time, and you and I can go out dancing when you feel up to it. I’ll bring Maximo. Maybe he can introduce you to someone…”
“I saw how Trenton looked at me,” Melissa sniffs. “And my parents. Even you, when you came in the door. The pity, the disgust…”
“There was no disgust. If there was pity, it’s only because we love you and I feel responsible for your pain and suffering. Your parents and I can’t stand seeing you hurting. But think aboutit, Trenton doesn’t know you. If he was hitting on you in your hospital bed, you can’t look all that bad, right?”
“I haven’t looked in the mirror since I woke up from the surgery,” she admits. “But I did last night. With my nose all flattened I looked like my mom’s Persian cat!”
“Mr. Bungle? The black one with the weird weepy eye?” I clarify before I burst out laughing. “Oh Mel, it’s not that bad. I didn’t see you last night, but I’m sure since they’ve set your nose, you don’t look like that wonky-eyed cat!”
“God, I hope not. It’s all I could think of last night, when I wasn’t worrying about you. Before they took me in for surgery, I looked just like Sloth from theGoonies. I actually tried yelling, ‘Hey you guys,’ at my reflection in the mirror. I thought about doing it to you when you came in, but I figured you would just think I had gone crazy.”
“I already knew you were crazy.” I squeeze her hand. “I would’ve lost it if you had hit us with that when we came in to see you.”
“Now I wish I had done it,” she says with a heavy sigh. Her grip on my hand loosens, and I lay her hand down on top of the sheets.
“Are you getting tired?” I ask her. “When did they get you into the room? Just a few hours ago?”
“It’s hard to remember.” Her good eye flutters at me. “I am sleepy. Whatever they’re giving me for pain is knocking me on my ass. Oh! Before I fall asleep or forget, reach in that little closet there behind you.” She raises her hand and points. “When the ambulance guys picked me up, I grabbed your purse and phone too. I probably should’ve given them to the police, but I was in rough shape and wasn’t thinking clearly. I just knew I had to give them back to you as soon as I saw you.”
“Thank you! Last night the thought crossed my mind that I needed to cancel my debit card. I had no idea where my pursehad gone. I was sure someone had run off with it. I can’t believe after everything you still had the presence of mind to grab this for me. You’re the best.”
“It was the least I could do,” Melissa replies faintly. When I turn to her, I see that her good eye has given up its fluttering and is completely closed. “If I pass out, I’m sorry,” she mumbles.
“I’ll leave you to rest for now but call me when you wake up and let me know when they’re going to let you go home. If you need anything, I’ll be right here, okay?” When her only reply is the soft sigh, I pull my phone out of my purse and send her a text.
I left to let you rest. Text or call me when you wake up. Let me know when you can leave, or if you need anything at all. I’ll see you soon.
I hear her phone “ding” from the little table by her bed, then I stand up and make my way to the door as quietly as I can. When I crack it open and step outside, Joey and Tony both turn to nod at me. Trenton is standing nearby, talking to Melissa’s parents.
“Everything okay out here?” I ask them.
