“Mrs. Linwood,” I implored. “There is nothing unprofessional going on in this room. I promise.”
Though, I couldn’t say the same for the things I’d imagined doing to Melody in this room. And out of it—in my apartment, on the street, anywhere, really.
“All right.”
“Can we talk about you now?” I asked. “Aren’t you tired of talking about me?”
“I believe I am.”
“Okay, good.” I agreed. “Me too.”
I grabbed the stool and took a seat, wheeling over so I could look her in the eye. “How are you? Any changes?”
“If by changes, you mean have I gone through them?”
I shrugged and nodded.
“No.”
I smiled in sympathy.
“Am I still bleeding all over everyone and everything like a stuck pig?” she went on. “Yes.”
I couldn’t help it. Her colorful description made me smile even bigger.
Unfortunately, thanks to my good nature, the smack to the back of my head took me by surprise.
Apparently, she no longer found me funny.
“Oh my God!” Melody squeaked, clearly as surprised to be witnessing my assault as I was.
She stepped forward clumsily, unsure how to intervene or if she should, but I waved her off.
“It’s okay. It’s fine.”
I stood up and moved away from Mrs. Linwood as calmly as I could, but really, frustration ran rampant within me. Jesus. I just wanted to do my job without walking around on eggshells all the time. I was a good guy with good intentions, and I didn’t want this to be my purgatory for the rest of my goddamn life.
“I think it’s best if we transfer your care over to Dr. Elders, Mrs. Linwood.”
I didn’t even wait for her to answer before scooting toward the door and asking, “Take care of that, please, Melody?”
“You bet,” she agreed easily.
The door slammed behind me. I headed for my office, but after two minutes inside, everything that was going wrong with my life started to overwhelm me, and there were too many eyes watching through my open door to have my reaction here. Even if I shut it, they’d just move closer to listen. An unexpected location was the secret to a good breakdown.
Out the door and around the corner, I stomped to our supply room and stepped inside, closing and locking the door, and turned immediately to rest my forehead against the cool wood.
“What is it with my life these days?” I shouted to no one as soon as I’d taken a breath. Maybe God. I wasn’t sure who I was yelling at or if it would do me any good, but ever since the stupid show had aired that first night, every woman I encountered either hit me or hit on me and nothing in between.
It was getting old. I bruised easily, for Christ’s sake.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t until the sound of Melody clearing her throat stirred the otherwise stagnant air that I realized I was not, as I had thought, alone in the room.
Good one, God. I get it. My stupid behavior is in no way your fault.
“So you’re in here,” I stated without turning around.
I could hear a smile in her voice as she replied. “Uh-huh.”
“I’m not alone.”
“Nope.”
“Great,” I muttered as I turned around.
Her soft eyes and sweet smile made it worth the initial embarrassment.
“Don’t worry,” she teased. “I have no bricks. No pitchforks. No weapons at all.” She held up her hand full of new gowns to show me. “Though, maybe I should. You know, just to protect myself.”
“So you heard about the show, huh?”
A soft smile curved the corner of her mouth before she dipped her head and stole away her eyes to look at the ground. She was laughing at me, I could tell, but she was nice enough to try to hide the fact that she was doing it. That made her just about the only one in the office or in my family. Basically, no one but Melody was nice enough to cushion the blows even a little bit. “Uh, yes. It seems to be a favorite topic around here.”
I groaned without meaning to and sank my head into my hands.
“Great. Just great.”
“Hey, obviously, it’s a hit. You should be happy.”
“Are you kidding me?” I asked with a laugh. “Have you actually watched the show?”
She nodded sheepishly. “After listening to Marlene talk about it yesterday, I had to watch last night.”
“Well, then you know I look like a seriously creepy dude. Inappropriate and all kinds of shit I wish I could erase from the memories of everyone around me.”
“It’s not that bad.”
I leveled her with a look, and she caved quickly, bursting into a smile that made the ridicule a little more worth it. She’s got a great smile. “Okay, so you look pretty bad. A little creepy, really flirtatious, but more than that, in my opinion, cavalier. Like everything is kind of a joke.”
I winced and leaned into the door in defeat. “Christ, that’s even worse.”
“But I’ve been here for almost two weeks now, and I’ve never seen you act like that. I don’t really get it.”
“Me either,” I admitted. “Some of it is creative editing, that much I know. But some of it, I think, was me just trying to be impressive on camera.” I shrugged. “Unfortunately, it comes off more…”
“Jackass.”
“That’s the word.” I snapped my fingers in self-deprecation. “Way more jackass than inspiring.”
“Look, Will, I’m far from perfect. I was late to the interview and my first day, and I showed you my nipples within fifteen minutes of meeting you. I’m not exactly a judge and jury here.”
“Wow. Late to the interview and your first day? Why is it we hired you?”
She smiled again, and every ugly thing boiling inside of my chest cooled. “Beats me.”
I shook my head. “Not me. I think I get it just fine.”
She blushed, and I took that as my cue to make my exit. “Thanks, Melody. I needed this.”
“This? What this?”
I shook my head, turned the knob on the door, but admitted the truth quietly. “You. I needed you.”
The door shut behind me soundlessly. Having left so fast after uttering the words, I didn’t even really remember stepping through the door.
But it was true. I’d needed her. She was professional and courteous and didn’t look at me like I was the guy on the show. And most of all, she’d comforted something inside of me, settled the churn of my stomach and calmed the chaos in my mind.
Maybe God wasn’t such a smartass after all.
“How far apart are your contractions?” Marlene huffed out into the phone beside me. I rolled my eyes.