by Mae Martini
Another knock and before Logan could say come in, Jay opened the door and walked in. The boys stopped talking about it.
****
When Melanie got home, she paced the house for hours. Not knowing what to do. She cried, she grew angry then she cried some more. Then she got on the internet and bought a one way ticket to Florida. It would be good to see her parents. It’d been a while. But part of her knew she was running to mommy and daddy for support.
All she had was some clothes to pack. She only had one suitcase that her sister had lent her when she first came to Texas. Whatever didn’t fit, she placed in the car. On her way to the airport, she would stop off at a store and buy another suitcase.
Yep. All she had was some clothes. It hit her that she was on the run again. Well, at least no one was after her this time. Yeah, Logan wouldn’t look for her, she was sure.
She had a rough night’s sleep. Not only did she toss and turn with what went down with Logan, God, she loved him and knew she’d never get over him. The ache in her heart was wrenching, but what she witnessed in that house made her feel very uneasy. She did not want to be there.
She was ready to leave by 6:00 am, even though her flight wasn’t until noon, but she waited for a respectable time to call Charlie to thank him and tell him she would not be living in his home anymore. It was only right to keep him informed.
For the next few hours, she cleaned his home from end to end, ignoring the phone, when it rang, after seeing Logan’s name on the ID screen.
As she left the house for the last time, she thought about Gabe, that sweet, sweet man. She would have loved to stop off and see him one last time but he would try to talk her into staying, claiming his grandson’s an asshole and to forgive his stupidity. She smiled sadly. She reasoned that the hospital was in the opposite direction of the airport.
Chapter 38
“You ever gonna shave?” Richie asked Logan as he walked into Logan’s living room.
He always let himself in. It was funny, he thought, while Melanie was around, he stopped doing that.
It had been two weeks since the incident and Logan was looking scruffy. Logan just grunted. He was lying down on the couch with the TV on, not really watching.
On the floor by the couch stood a box with the lid half opened.
“What’s that?”
“Nothing.”
Richie ignored him and opened the box. He pulled out a little black dress. He cocked his eye at Logan. “It might be a little tight around your waist.” He joked.
Logan didn’t even crack a smile. “Geli told me Melanie was admiring this dress the day Linda came in. She said Melanie really liked it and was going to buy it but Linda fucked that up, so I had told Geli to put it aside. I bought it for her. I was going to give it to her the night…..” He couldn’t even bring himself to say he threw her out.
Logan went through the motions of living but he was dead inside, numb. He went to work, came home. Heath always looked at him like he knew something was wrong. He got so used to seeing his father with Melanie that he kept asking where she was and when they were going to get married.
Logan would ignore and deflect, but for how long could he do that?
He played conversations he had with Melanie over and over again in his mind. She wanted children, she wanted to settle down, and she loved being here in Texas. She never said it but he knew she loved him or at least had deep feelings for him.
He had her, he had her but he fucked it up.
He’d sit for hours, replaying the events in his mind. Thinking at the time he made the right decision. He was fighting for full custody, damn it. If he got into any kind of trouble with the law, he was afraid he would lose joint custody.
He replayed his stupid decision to give her some time. If only he went to her that next morning.
He remembered telling Richie, he was going to give her some time to cool off. It killed him but he waited two days. He wasn’t sure if that was enough time for her but it was more than enough for him. He called her. She didn’t answer. He texted her, she didn’t text back. He went to her house, rang the door bell and banged on the door. He sat on the little porch and waited and waited and waited. He went home past midnight and was right back at her front door the next morning and waited and waited. Around 6:00 p.m., he went next door to his grandfather who called Charlie. Charlie told him that Melanie left about three days ago. He said she didn’t tell him where she was going, when Gabe asked.
Logan’s heart fell. He hadn’t been right since. Always nervous, jumpy, and edgy. No one wanted to be around him. Richie was the only one to put up with him knowing what he was going through.
****
One month later……
Logan sat there, at his kitchen table, staring at the opened package that came that day. He had them specially made. In fact, it was Heath’s idea way back when.
‘It’s Melanie’s favorite colors; Heath pleaded his case, which he didn’t need to. Logan was on board from the moment his son asked him.
The pain in his heart was still strong. It seemed it was getting stronger and stronger as time passed by. Wasn’t it supposed to get easier? Wasn’t his heart supposed to heal as time went by?
Chapter 39
Two months later…….
“Come on, Melanie. You know you want to. Are you going to let me waste these tickets?” Ally asked her.
Ally had flown down to Florida a few days before with the hopes of snapping her sister out of her depression. She saw the ad for the rodeo in town and thought it would cheer Melanie up.
“Since when are you into rodeos?” Melanie asked her sarcastically.
“I always liked them.”
Melanie just stared at her, shaking her head.
“Okay, but I know you like them. Come on, it will be good to get you out. Geez, you’ve been pathetic lately.”
Melanie had been living at her parent’s house for the past two months with no signs of moving. She didn’t want to go back to New York. She did want to go back to Texas but that wasn’t going to happen any time soon. She’d been working from her parent’s house. She even joined a gym but she had hardly used it. She never had much energy for anything. Her heart still ached for Logan. Wasn’t it supposed to get easier? Didn’t time heal all wounds?
“Let me see those tickets.” She said to Ally.
Ally handed them to her and she studied them. She wasn’t sure what the name of the rodeo Logan’s brother was affiliated with but she was sure, that wasn’t it. He’d never mentioned Florida.
She could go for seeing a rodeo. In her own mind she thought it would be a reminder of everything Logan. She wanted to never forget him. Maybe that was the way of healing. Not forgetting, but remembering her one, for she knew there’d be no other, true love.
“Okay. Let’s go.”
****
The arena was outdoors, at the fairgrounds. Melanie felt calmer just enjoying seeing people in their cowboy hats. She should have worn one too, she thought.
It was a cool night. Melanie wore a pair of black skinny jeans that hugged her ass with black high heeled boots and a lavender long sleeve, ribbed sweater top. Her hair was long and loose. She was definitely a looker and her sister who looked much like her but with brown hair was a cutie too. They were getting stares from the moment they walked into the fairgrounds.
Melanie and Ally stood at a counter talking, eating chicken fingers, and Ally was sipping a beer. The rodeo didn’t start for another half hour.
Melanie’s back was to the throngs of people passing by. Ally saw a man ogling them. She rolled her eyes and was just about to tell Melanie when the guy came up to them.
“Hello, ladies.”
Melanie knew that voice. She spun around. “Richie?”
“Melanie? Hi, darlin’.”
She giggled. “Were you hitting on us?”
He grinned. “Guilty. But in my defense.” He paused. “Okay, I got no defense.”
They all l
aughed.
He didn’t want to tell her that he was scanning for a chick to entice Logan with in hopes of getting him to forget the very woman he was staring at.
Melanie introduced him to her sister and they exchanged polite greetings.
“How you doing, sweetheart?” He turned back to Melanie to ask.
“Okay. Oh, is Logan here too?” she asked with alarm.
Richie sensed her unease. She had the look of flight on her face. “No. He’s not here.”
She began to relax. If he had said yes, she would have pulled Ally back to the car and driven away. As much as she would have loved to see him, she knew she’d break down if she did.
“What are you doing here in Florida?” he asked, wanting to get as much information for Logan as possible.
“My parents live here. I’ve been staying with them.
“Oh. Where are your seats?”
Ally took out the tickets and studied them. “I’m not sure?”
Richie looked at the tickets. “Oh. On the side. Here these are better seats,” he said as he pulled out and handed Ally a pair of tickets. He, as well as Logan and Brett always carried around an extra pair of tickets for good seats in case they met a chick or two they wanted to get to know as they walked around the arenas. They haven’t given any to women in months. It had just become a habit for them to keep a set on them.
“That’s very kind of you. Thank you,” Ally said.
“How’s Kara? Is she here too?” Melanie asked.
“No, well, yeah. She’s down here in Florida but you know rodeos aren’t her thing. She’s got family here. She’s visiting.
“Oh, well, please say hi for me.”
“I will,” he said as he looked at his watch. “I gotta run, darlin’. It was so good to see you,” he said as he reached in and kissed her cheek. “Enjoy the rodeo.”
“Be well, Richie and thank you.”
He walked away smiling.
“These are great seats your friend gave us.”
“Yeah,” Melanie said as she scanned around.
They were above the chutes. Yeah, Richie told her Logan wasn’t here but she couldn’t help but scan for him. Disappointed, yet, relieved she didn’t see him, she settled in to watch the events.
The Rodeo started with the grand entry, followed by the bareback bronc riding.
The chutes filled up with a lot of cowboys. They watched the first chute, where a cowboy climbed in and the cowboys around and on top were helping him get settled. She watched him nod his head. The chute opened and out he came.
They watched the next three riders too. In fact, that last rider held their attention and Melanie didn’t see who climbed in the chute next. She was talking with Ally when the next rider left the gate.
She glanced down and something about the rider was familiar. She looked down at the chutes and saw a little boy next to Richie. She looked up and saw Logan’s name on the electronic board.
She gasped with a hand by her mouth as she looked back at the rider. It was Logan.
She froze. She watched him ride and she watched him dismount with the help of two pick-up men who rode up along both sides of the bronc. The crowd cheered.
Logan wasn’t too far from the chutes when he dismounted. He knew he had a great ride and even managed to smile a little. He heard Richie calling him from the chutes. He looked to him in question.
“Look up behind me,” Richie said with a smile.
Logan looked up and so did Heath when Richie said that.
Logan did a quick scan then slowly scanned back. Melanie was standing next to a woman. Everyone around was clapping except for Melanie. Her hands were suspended in a clap motion and she was staring right at him.
“Melanie!” She heard her name from below, at the chutes. She looked down to see Heath.
“It’s me, Heath,” he said grinning as he took off his hat and waved it at her.
She smiled down at him and waved. Then she looked back to Logan and realized he was wearing black chaps with lavender fringes. She looked back to Heath, he had on an identical pair of chaps. She gave one last look at Logan.
“Come on, Ally, we have to go.” She grabbed her sister’s hand and dragged her out of there.
Logan froze in place when he saw Melanie. Then he saw her grab the woman’s hand and he sensed she was going to flee. He moved. He ran to the chutes and climbed up. He hoisted himself up into the stands. People kept patting him on the back which slowed him down. He was so frustrated.
“Mel, slow down. You’re going to make me fall,” Ally said as they were behind the stands and moving toward the entrance. “What’s the matt-”
“Melanie.”
She heard his voice right behind her. She stopped and turned around to face him. Her eyes were watery. She was trying her hardest not to cry and not to fling herself into his arms.
“Mel, you know him?” Ally asked.
She didn’t answer. She just kept staring into the most beautiful pair of hazel eyes she’d ever seen.
Logan looked from her to the woman.
“Logan, this is my sister, Ally.”
“Logan? Isn’t that-” Ally began but Melanie stepped on her foot. “Oww, hey!”
Logan warred with himself. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and never, ever let her go. He quickly nodded Ally’s way in greeting but went right back to watching Melanie.
“I didn’t know you were here. I’m sorry,” Melanie said and she turned to walk away.
“Melanie, wait.”
She paused but didn’t turn to him.
“Don’t go.” He sounded desperate.
When she did turn back around, she saw Richie and Heath running up behind Logan.
Richie stopped but Heath kept right on going to Melanie and he gave her a big hug. She hugged him and kissed his cheek.
“Hi, handsome.”
“Hi, Melanie.” They hugged for a few more moments and Melanie smiled at hearing him pronounce her name correctly.
She looked up to Richie and softly said, “You said he wasn’t here.”
“He wasn’t. He wasn’t in the arena yet when you asked.”
Logan looked to Richie.
“Look who I ran into earlier,” he said to Logan sheepishly.
Logan looked from him then back to Melanie.
“Come on, buckaroo, let’s go get an ice cream,” Richie said. “Ally, why don’t you come join us?”
Ally looked from him to Melanie but Melanie didn’t give any indication what she should do either way so she nodded to Richie and the three of them walked away leaving Melanie and Logan staring at each other.
Logan broke the silence first. “How have you been, Mel?”
“Goo, ahem, good. You?” She found it hard to find her voice.
“I’ve been better. You look great.”
“Thank you. So do you,” she said as she scanned from his face to his chaps.
She walked over to him and stared at his shirt as she brought a hand up to lightly touch it at the upper arm. It was a lavender button down. Then she lowered her gaze. “I like your chaps,” she said with a hint of a smile.
Logan fought not to crush her to him.
“I had them made up for you.”
“Me?” she asked disbelievingly.
“Yeah. It was Heath’s idea. I think it was a great idea.” He smiled.
He looked around nervously then settled his gaze on her beautiful eyes. “Can I buy you a drink?”
“Now? Aren’t you in the middle of a rodeo or something?”
He smiled. “Yeah…. After?”
She paused, he waited.
“I’d like that.”
His smile became wider and she saw the dimples she could only picture in her mind for the past two months.
Chapter 40
Logan spoke with Richie. Then he spoke with his brother and told him he couldn’t stick around for the rest of the rodeo. He then went into the stands and when he was at the end of the row where
Melanie and her sister were sitting, he called her name.
Melanie was watching the action below when she heard Logan call her name. She looked up and saw him.
“You want to stick around and watch the rest of the events or do you want to get out of here?” Logan asked.
“Get out of here.” She answered breathlessly as she rose up from her seat.
He nodded then looked to her sister who was still sitting, watching them.
Melanie turned to her. “Come on, Ally, we’re leaving.”
Ally climbed into the back seat, giving Logan the front passenger seat. Melanie drove her home, then took him to a nearby tapas bar.
Sitting in a booth at a small candlelit table, sipping white sangria and munching on chorizos, shrimp ajillo and Spanish potatoes, they kept the conversation light.
They spoke of Heath and rodeos mostly, and her editing business, both not knowing how to address what needed to be addressed.
The sangria loosened them up so when there was a lull in their polite conversation Logan took advantage. “Melanie.” He reached his hand across the table and looked into her eyes.
She hesitated, afraid, afraid that it was a dream. Afraid to give him her hand and then have it tossed back. She tentatively reached his hand. Looking from his eyes to their almost connection to his eyes then back to their now joined hands. God, it felt so good to feel his warmth, his protective embrace.
Logan squeezed her hand and continued to study her eyes as he felt a warmth course through him.
“You’re a complicated man, Logan Leitner.”
“Not complicated. Simple. I'm a simple man, which is why it takes me a long time before I get it.” He was thinking back to the time he sprung a threesome on her to the stupid shit that came out of his mouth the last time they were together. She’d even had to point out to him how he treated her whenever they’d run into a drunk Linda.