AllFreeNovel
Share Us
41
Mel came out of the house as soon as Nick rolled into the Beckett driveway the following night. She was moving quickly, and he did not take that as a good sign.
As soon as he rolled down the window, she said, “What did you do?”
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“What did you do to Hayley?”
Nick had been looking forward to starting the evening on the moral high ground, and he was more than a little annoyed. “Who told you I did anything to Hayley?”
Mel’s face told him she was not in the mood. “Nicky, you will get out of this car and tell us what happened.”
Gavin was waiting by the foot of the stairs as Nick came through the front door. “She handed off Rose when we saw you coming,” he explained.
“Rose wanted to talk to Hayley before bedtime.” Mel kept talking as the men followed her to the kitchen. “I thought it might be better to text, in case she was busy.”
“Mel, I don’t know what she told you, but—”
“Please tell Rose I love her.” Mel cut Nick off with her recitation. “Nick and I are over.”
They faced off, with the sink at her back. Nick registered Gavin moving behind him toward the refrigerator.
“That’s all it took?” Nick was indignant. “One text and you drag me out of my car?”
“I can see it on your face!” Mel retorted. “You were going to sneak Gavin out of here so you’d never have to tell me what you did.”
She was absolutely right, and he didn’t care. “Maybe talking to him is easier than talking to you,” Nick said. “You think that might be a possibility, Mel? Or do you think I look forward to these interrogations of yours?”
He’d slowed her down a bit, but Mel was used to being able to read people. “I know you,” she said.
“Really? Did you know she called me a cripple?”
“Okay.” Gavin stepped between them. “I have beer. Sit down.”
Mel didn’t argue, and Nick welcomed the distraction. Gavin sat at the head of the table so that his wife and best friend were facing each other, on either side of him.
“Obviously, we don’t know what happened,” Gavin said. “I would appreciate you telling us. Both of us.”
Nick stared across the table. “Interrupt me and I’m out, Mel. Swear to God.”
She nodded, and then Nick had to decide what to say.
Lying to his friends had never really been an option, certainly not while he was looking them in the eyes. So he told them the truth. All of it—which meant he didn’t have much of an excuse when he realized he wasn’t painting a very flattering picture of himself.
“So then I left,” he said finally. “There wasn’t anything else to say.”
Gavin and Mel were quiet. Nick didn’t sense much sympathy, but he didn’t see anger either. It might have been sadness.
“You can speak now.” Nick tried to make it a joke.
Gavin went first. “I’m really sorry, buddy.”
“Do you at least understand, though? I wasn’t using her.”
Gavin glanced at his wife. “You talk to him,” Mel said. “I’m good.”
“Come on,” Nick said. “Kevin was being a dick.”
