Love Means Nothin'

by Markee Anderson

“Unless we would’ve dated. Then I’m marked.”

  “No, I’ll keep you safe. She’s a nobody.” He finished his hot dog, and checked his watch. “Ready for the wedding tonight?”

  “I guess so.” She knew she had to go home after the wedding, and the countdown was on to lose a friend. It made her sad to think about it. He was her friend, yet she had to keep her distance. If she told him too much, he’d walk away.

  “You don’t sound too convincing,” he said.

  She popped the last of the bun into her mouth and stared out the window. She wiped her eyes, not realizing that saying goodbye to him would be this tough. At least she still had the night to spend in New York with him.

  He pulled her to his chest, leaned down and kissed her head. “If you stay, you don’t have to put yourself through this.”

  She couldn’t say a word, or she’d just cry. She wasn’t allowed to cry, so she just kept her mouth shut. But how did she fell about him? Deep down, she loved him and wished life were different—that she could stay with him forever, leaving West Virginia behind.

  They arrived at John’s house and picked up Melody’s suitcase while John got dressed. Melody waited in the car, until John walked outside in a black suit with Ted, who was also in a suit. Dawn left the house with Dennis, both dressed up as well. Melody was the only one who was still in shorts, but didn’t care. She had so much support from the rest of them, she felt the pull to stay in New York, no matter what she looked like or her background.

  They all sat in the back, with John beside Melody. As the driver started down the street, she studied John from top to bottom.

  “You’re so handsome,” she whispered. “I knew women fell at your feet before, but when you’re dressed like that—I think that should be your logo.”

  “What?” He looked down at his clothing. “Me in a suit?”

  “Yep. Very, very hot. You have no idea.”

  He leaned over and kissed her. “No, I don’t, but I’d love it if you’d show me.”

  She didn’t know how to reply. “I said somethin’ I shouldn’t have, didn’t I?”

  “Don’t ever be embarrassed for being honest.”

  They arrived at the hotel with plenty of time to spare. After dodging members of the media, they headed toward the elevator.

  “When’s the wedding?” one person yelled.

  “Are you pregnant?” another shouted.

  “What about your mother, John? Did your father leave her?”

  John turned to Melody and took her arm. “Come on.”

  While Dennis, Dawn, and Ted took care of the reporters, John and Melody took the elevator to the presidential suite with John pulling her suitcase behind him.

  As soon as they got into the room, John took out his cell phone and pressed a number on speed dial. “Dad, they’re back.” He faced Melody, and held his hand over the receiver so his father wouldn’t hear. “Go get dressed and I’ll deal with the reporters.” He turned back to the phone. “The reporters are all over your hotel, asking questions about Mom and you.” He sat down on the couch while Melody got her things. “No, I didn’t tell them anything. How could I? I was in the car for the past few hours, remember?”

  Melody glanced at her watch. It was nearly five o’clock, because the traffic was terrible coming back into the city. She could never live here, just from the traffic alone. Who could get used to driving in this mess?

  She went into the bathroom and returned with her hair in a French braid, like Elise had told her. She was wearing a maroon dress, which was off the shoulder and tea length, with hose and maroon pumps. It was a beautiful outfit, but she knew she was pressed for time and didn’t have time to stare at it. She grabbed her purse and walked toward the door.

  “Are you ready?” she asked John, lying on the couch with his eyes shut. “I think I’m going to be late.”

  He opened his eyes and stared at her, raking his eyes over her with a grin. “You’re gorgeous. I really want the paparazzi to see you tonight.”

  “I don’t. I need to get to that weddin’ and get it over with so I can enjoy myself.”

  He stood up and straightened his jacket and tie. “Nervous?”

  “Like you wouldn’t believe,” she answered. “I hate being in front of people, and if that Brandi lady starts anything, I’m afraid I’ll have to deck her.”

  He crossed his arms and chuckled. “I’d like to see that.”

  “Oh, I bet.” They walked into the hallway and a cameraman snapped their picture. John put his arm around her waist and moved her toward the elevator.

  “You have to talk to us sometime,” a man yelled. “We’ll print lies unless you do.”

  “Go for it,” John whispered into Melody’s ear. “I hope they’re good lies.”

  She started to chuckle, and turned back to see the man just as someone snapped another picture of them. She was sure she’d be on the front cover of as many papers as possible, but didn’t even care anymore. She had a mission, and that wedding was something she had to do. It was the reason she came to New York and she considered it her job.

  They took the elevator to the main floor, where police officers were holding back the reporters. Oohs and aahs filled the air as the cameras snapped shot after shot of Melody and John. He stopped her in the lobby and looked into her eyes. “Kiss me?”

  “Why?” she whispered.

  “So I have something to remember you by and to convince you to stay.”

  “Here?”

  He pulled her to him, whispering into her ear. “It’ll be all over the newspapers, so I’ll see your face everywhere. That way, the other girls will leave me alone.”

  She leaned up and captured his lips, while he pulled her in, his arms surrounding her. The kiss was amazing, and she felt the chemistry between them like never before. She didn’t want it to end, knowing she had to leave the next morning. She put it out of her head and kissed him back, dancing with his tongue and nibbling on his lips. When he finally pulled his head back from hers, he blew out a breath and smiled.

  “You keep denying you’re in love with me,” he whispered. “I know love, and that’s nothing but love.”

  She smiled and they continued on their way, ignoring the crowd of reporters and their questions.

  They got to the room across from the ballroom, and before she entered to stay with Elise and the rest of the girls, John pulled her in for one last kiss. “Dance with me later.”

  “I’d love to, but I only know one dance.”

  “It doesn’t matter. I just want to stare at you anyway. That way, no one will be in my way.” He gave her a sweet kiss and backed off. She rubbed a bit of lipstick from his lip, then walked into the room with the rest of the women in the bridal party. Elise was standing in front of a mirror in a beautiful white dress with a veil, while the other girls were doing each other’s makeup.

  “Melody! I’m glad you’re here,” Elise said. “Did you have fun in the Hamptons today?”

  “How did you know I was there?”

  “It’s all over the news. So, John’s parents are splitting up?”

  “I have no idea,” she said. “But I have something for you. I wanted to give this to you before the wedding. I didn’t know what you needed, so I gave you something I wish I had.” She opened her purse and handed her friend a card. “Open it later.”

  “Thank you.” She studied her makeup. “You need help with your lipstick. Were you out there kissing the reporters or what?”

  “Not the reporters.”

  “John?”

  Brandi walked over from another mirror and stared at Melody. “You were kissing John?”

  “It was just for luck. Don’t worry; I’m leavin’ tomorrow morning. We’re just friends.”

  “Friends don’t kiss,” she said, her hands flying to her hips.

  Melody grinned. “They do if they want the cameramen to have a story.”

  “So it was to throw off the scandalous divorce?”

  “I don�
��t know, but I’m hopin’ it’ll work.”

  “Oh, smart,” Brandi said. “Pick a girl from out of town to do the dirty work. So he’ll dump you at the end of the night, right?”

  “We’re friends,” Melody said. Was he really going to use her like that, and not be her friend after all of this was over? He wasn’t like that and she knew it.

  After waiting for what seemed like an eternity, the wedding planner walked into the room. “This is it. Girls, line up and get ready. The men are already waiting, and Elise, your dad is pacing in the hallway.”

  “That’s Dad for ya.”

  They did as told and walked into the hallway, standing in line. Elise was behind Melody and her father walked up beside her.

  “Melody,” he said. “I got a phone call from back home. Your daddy isn’t feeling well. He’s askin’ for ya.”

  “What’s the matter with him?” she asked.

  “I don’t know. He said his stomach hurt, so it’s hard to tell, but he was goin’ in for tests.” He leaned up closer to her. “I think you need to get away from him, but that’s my opinion.”

  “I know, but he’s my daddy.”

  Mr. Johnson grabbed her arm. “I need to talk to you sometime.”

  She studied his face, not quite understanding it. He looked almost angry and definitely determined. “Sure.”

  Melody faced forward and waited for the wedding planner to have them start. She just wanted it over with. Her father needed her, and she knew she had to go home to make sure he was still alive. If he died, she’d never forgive herself.

  ~~~~~

  Chapter 7

  “Do you, Elise Johnson, take this man, Charles Westbrook the Third, to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

  The wedding was beautiful, making Melody wipe a tear. Her best friend was getting married and she should be happy. But it made her sad as well. Even though they hadn’t talked much in the past few years, it meant she was more alone than ever. She always knew Elise was there for her, but now, with her married, Elise would drift away, to begin her life with her new husband, just like the rest of her friends from back home.

  She glanced back at John. He was smiling, just watching her from the end of the aisle mid-way back in the crowd. Beside him sat Dennis, Ted and Dawn, with Dennis whispering into Dawn’s ear. Melody wondered if Dennis and Dawn were going out.

  Her mind was a million miles away, not really paying attention to the ceremony. It was a standard type of thing, so she knew she was just there as window dressing for the pictures.

  She was going to miss New York. She’d met some really nice people, and some not so nice people. She’d learned a lot about life and about herself. She now realized that everything she knew back home didn’t seem even close to her dreams.

  Melody put it all out of her head. They were just dreams—silly dreams from a young naïve girl. There was no way she could have what she wanted. She looked toward Elise, putting the ring on Chuck’s finger. Elise knew what she wanted and went for it. She got the gold ring, literally. Why couldn’t Melody do the same thing? One simple answer—her father. Elise had a nice father, but Melody’s father kept her from her own life. She never realized it before, but her own father sabotaged any chance she had for happiness. He made her stay with him, with threats of death if she ever left. How evil was he, really? He reminded Melody of John’s mother, he was that evil.

  “I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the minister said. “You may kiss the bride.”

  Chuck pulled Elise into his arms and kissed her for all he was worth. Melody glanced back at John, and he winked, then blew her a kiss. She smiled and almost laughed at him.

  The couple turned and everyone smiled. “I’d like to present Mr. and Mrs. Westbrook.” They walked out arm-in-arm, followed by each of the wedding party, matched up to walk out together. When it was Melody’s turn, she took Bobby’s arm.

  “So is this the closest I’m going to get to you?” he asked in a low tone.

  “Yep.” They passed John and he smiled at her. She raised an eyebrow and grinned back.

  “Are you sure ya don’t want to date me when we get back home?” Bobby asked.

  “Nope.”

  “Why not?” he whispered.

  “I have goals, and I don’t have time to date right now.”

  “You’re lying,” he said, smiling at the guests. “You have no goals, and are living from paycheck to paycheck. I know what it’s like and we could put our funds together and live as a couple.”

  “Not gonna happen,” she answered.

  As soon as they got into the receiving line outside the room, he grabbed her shoulders and made her face him. “Why do you hate me so much?”

  “I don’t hate you,” she said, throwing his hands off her. “Just leave me alone.”

  “No.”

  “Do as the lady says,” Ted warned, standing behind Bobby. Bobby spun around and stared up at Ted, who was much bigger than Bobby.

  “Who are you?” Bobby asked.

  “Her bodyguard.”

  He looked back at Melody. “Why do you need a second bodyguard?”

  “It’s a long story.” She turned and started shaking hands with the guests.

  He wouldn’t let it die, even though he was shaking hands as well. “Are you gonna have a bodyguard when you get back home?”

  “No.”

  “So we can go out then, right?”

  She shook an older woman’s hand with a smile, then turned slightly to Bobby. “No.”

  “The lady said no, and that means no,” Ted said into Bobby’s ear. “And if I hear you doing anything to her back home, I will personally come down there and make sure you never walk again.”

  Melody stifled a chuckle. “Thank you, Ted. I appreciate it.”

  “As long as you get out of town and leave John alone, I’d do that for you.”

  “Thanks for thinkin’ of me.” He still worried her. He was like a loose cannon just waiting to go off.

  They continued to shake hands, until John came through the line. “May I have a kiss from a bridesmaid?” he asked.

  “If you don’t think I’ll get beaten up by Brandi,” she whispered back.

  He smiled, pulled her to him and dipped her right in the line. Everyone stopped greeting people and the place became silent. John gave her a huge kiss, making everyone moan their oohs and aahs, except for Brandi. Melody kept her eyes closed, lost in the kiss.

  “Now, you’ve gotten your kiss, so get out of town, you witch!”

  Melody opened her eyes, seeing Brandi standing in front of them with her hands on her hips. John stood Melody upright and held onto her, ignoring Brandi and stared at Melody’s face with a grin. “Can you stand now?”

  “No, and I have a feelin’ I’m gonna be beaten up.”

  “Not a chance. Ted’s on it.”

  Melody glanced around the small hallway and all eyes were on her. Elise started to clap, and everyone joined in, making Melody’s face heat up with embarrassment. John laughed, gave her a quick kiss then walked on to shake the other’s hands.

  Brandi turned and faced him as he went through the line. “Will you give me a kiss like that?” Brandi asked him.

  “No, I’m done after that,” he said. “She’s a tiger.”

  Melody began to chuckle, and was suddenly pulled to Bobby, forcing her to kiss him. She pushed against him, and without warning, he was yanked away from her.

  “I said to leave the lady alone,” Ted yelled into Bobby’s ear. “Would you like to be arrested for assault?”

  Bobby pointed toward John. “But he did it!”

  “She wanted him to do it. Big difference.” Ted turned to Melody. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine,” she said, wiping her lips.

  Dawn joined the group with Dennis and handed Melody a mirror. “You’re a mess,” she whispered.

  Melody looked at her reflection and wiped away some lipstick, then handed the mirror back to Dawn. “Thank you.” Sh
e continued shaking hands, being as pleasant as she could, but she couldn’t get John out of her head. Why did he think it was necessary to put on a show in front of all these people? It was Elise’s day, not hers. Did he do it so Brandi would get the message, or just to show off?

  They finished with the receiving line, then had a few pictures taken of the bridal party. Melody walked with the rest of the group to the dining area, with Dawn following closely behind her.

  “So, Bobby’s a problem,” Dawn said.

  “Sure is. You missed a lot of it.”

  “We were fighting off reporters. There are more reporters out there asking for you than for John. You photograph well, even when kissing.”

  “Very funny,” Melody said with a grin. “Just get ready for Bobby. I don’t think he’s gonna give up that easily.”

  “We have plans for him,” Dawn said with a grin. “We’re going to fix him up with Brandi. Two idiots together, if you ask me.”

  Melody started to laugh and they entered the dining room. She walked to the front and sat with the wedding party. After sitting down and making sure her dress wasn’t bunched up in the back, she searched the room for John. After a second pass, she saw him standing at the cocktail table talking to Ted. He turned around and smiled at her, then walked up to the front of the room and leaned down to her ear.

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  “Sure. Why?”

  “Bobby. Why did he do that to you?” He didn’t look happy, but Melody didn’t want to cause a scene.

  She leaned up to his ear. “Because you did it. You started it.”

  “I just wanted to kiss you because you’re the most beautiful woman anywhere. I don’t think that’s too much to ask.”

  “He’s very jealous of you.”

  “I know,” he replied. “Ted’s going to shadow me like crazy, because knowing Bobby, he’ll try something.”

  “I’ve turned him down more times than you can imagine, too. He reminds me a lot of my idiot brother.”

  “I understand.” He took her hand and kissed the back of it. “I have to go, but after this is over, come home with me for the night?”