Chapter 8: Chapter 8

MELODY

After changing clothes, we drove for twenty minutes before reaching our destination. We walked in together.

“Hello, guys,” I said, giving my best smile. As I took my seat beside my brother Jake, I purposely avoided looking at him. Dan sat beside me, and Matt sat with Layla.

“Took you a long time. We were waiting for you,” Lisa said with a wink. I looked up to meet her eyes. That was a mistake, because I saw him glaring at me.

I shivered under his gaze, and goosebumps spread all over my body.

The body that had turned against me. It was a traitor. I wanted to control myself, but I couldn’t.

My core clenched as a deep throb of desire made itself known between my legs. I crossed my legs under the table to stop the tingling between them.

He smirked like he knew how my body reacted under his gaze.

“Yeah, sorry,” I murmured and looked away.

“Don’t worry. We know Dan was taking care of you,” she said and giggled.

Everyone started laughing when I turned red.

I glared at her. “It’s not like that. I was just not feeling good.”

“Don’t worry. I kept them distracted, telling about your and Matt’s story in the meantime.” Sandy gave me a mischievous look.

“What?” Matt asked, tensing.

“Yeah, she told me about when you both started dating, how you two were. In fact, she showed us pic of her, where she was covered with hickeys all over her body,” Layla gritted out.

Matt looked worried. “Sorry,” I mouthed to him.

“That was a long time ago. We both were drunk and went a little wild, and I don’t think my parents or my brother want to hear about my sexual life.” I glared at Sandy.

“And delete those pictures,” I snapped.

“We don’t mind, sweetheart. We were also young once,” Mom said, looking at Dad like they were sharing their secrets without words.

Even after forty-seven years of being married, they still loved each other.

My family could be crazy sometimes. I was used to it, but it must have been strange for my friends.

“It was funny to see them both wearing full clothes in hot, crazy summer only to hide their bruises and hickeys. Who knew such innocent men like wild sex?” Jacob laughed.

“I know,” Xavier muttered. Maybe he hadn’t realized he’d said it aloud. When all eyes turned to him, he was confused.

I swallowed hard as I stared at him with my cheeks burning and my whole body tingling. I squirmed in my seat as Xavier stared at me.

“How do you know, baby, she likes wild sex?” Lisa asked.

“You never told me about your boyfriend before, Lisa,” I said, distracting her.

“We were never serious before, so I never told you guys.

“We dated on and off for three years and two months before I made it official, so I decided to introduce him to my family,” she said and leaned to kiss him on the lips.

The burn of jealousy crept through my body, making me feel warm, even though I knew I had no right to be jealous.

I looked away. When they pulled back, his eyes were guilty.

Three years they had been dating.

He had cheated on her with me.

I swallowed the regret and anger, sharp and cutting my throat as they went down.

Dan placed his hand on mine to calm me. He knew me very well.

I was seething with anger. I glared at Xavier. How dare he cheat on my sister? For the first time since we’d met today, he looked down, feeling ashamed.

~He should be.~

~

Dan leaned down and whispered, “It’s going to be okay.” He kissed my forehead, and we continued with our meal.

We ate our lunch in silence.

“What’s your plan for the future?” Dad asked Dan.

“Well, we both have applied for an internship in a different city to try our luck.” He looked at me.

“We’ve been called for interviews,” I said.

“What?” Dan’s father roared. “I thought you would take over our company, and if Melody wants, she can also join us.”

“I appreciate it, sir, but I want a job because I deserve it, not because I am Dan’s girlfriend, and I have my interview next week in Seattle,” I told everyone.

“But I thought you applied for a job in New York,” Dad said.

“Yes, Dad. I applied for a job in New York as well, and I got a call for an interview also, but I don’t want to go to New York anymore. Excuse me,” I said.

~Not after I know he’s my sister’s boyfriend.~

~

I got up and headed for the bathroom. I braced my hands on either side of the sink for a moment before turning on the tap and splashing some water over my face.

~Fucking Xavier. He cheated on my sister, and he also made me a cheater.~

~

~If I ever meet him alone, I swear on all that is holy, I’m going to kick him square in the balls. He hadn’t told me he was dating anyone before he slept with me.~

~

My heart skipped a beat as the door opened, and I looked up into the mirror to see Xavier standing behind me.

He terrified me as no other man had. But that was only because I wanted him as I’d never wanted anyone else before.