Wes had this same conversation with his friend and business partner, Jin, only a couple weeks ago when Wes decided to move back to Atlanta. It sounded insane when it was put into words. That was only because it was impossible for an outsider, who hadn’t been through what he and Melody had, to understand their connection.
Cara’s expression turned wary, and he knew her mind was back to wondering what he was doing staying in the house.
“I’m in love with her. I always have been.”
Her mouth fell open at his outburst, and Wes felt his cheeks heat. He sighed, setting down the coffee cup. She already thought he was a weirdo, might as well spell it out so she stopped looking at him like he was going to bury her body in the backyard.
“Melody and I have always been close, but I was living out of state, and she was trying to get her career going… The timing was never right. Now we’re in the same city for the first time in more than a decade, and we are going to see how things go.”
“Hmm, okay.”
Wes watched a progression of emotions flash across her violet eyes.
“So, you’re nottogether, together?”
“Not officially.”Not at all.“I only got to town a few days ago. Then she got the call for the shoot, so we haven’t had a chance to talk about it yet.”
Cara’s nose scrunched. “Does she know how you feel?”
“I think so.”
“Ah.”
“What does that mean?” Wes knew he sounded defensive, but who was she to question it? He should have kept his mouth shut. “I know it sounds crazy, but Melody and I are different than other people.”
Wes bristled when she smiled sympathetically. She thought he was deluded.Fine. He didn’t care what Cara thought. When Melody got back, Wes was confident—well, semi-confident—she would agree it was time to really give them a chance. They’d both grown up in messed up families. If anyone understood his dream of a home and family, it was Melody.
“I’m sure it will all work out for you,” she said, putting her mug in the sink. “I’m going to take a shower. Thanks again for the coffee.”
After she was gone, Wes took his mug to the kitchen table, where he had set up his computer. He sorted through his inbox, filtering through emails. Nothing from Melody, but there were several from potential new clients. His chest swelled with satisfaction. His new company’s reputation was growing.
This was the other piece that had held Melody back from dating him—not that Melody had ever said it out loud–but he knew the type of man she pursued, and what they had been able to give her. He didn’t blame Melody for making money a romantic requirement, but he knew others did.
Wes made the mistake of mentioning it once to Nina, Jin’s wife, and she didn’t even try to hide her disapproval. She and Jin had both grown up in solid, middle-class families. They couldn’t understand what the lack of security meant to kids like Wes and Melody.
Until the last couple of years, he didn’t have enough to offer Melody. She dreamed of a big life, and while he had made a comfortable living, it wasn’t enough to support the lifestyle she craved. That she deserved, he amended. Now everything was different.
Wes answered the emails he could and then sent Jin and Nina messages asking their availability to meet with some of the prospective clients. Wes’s technical skills might be better than his business partners, but the couple was better with the clients. He tended to talk too much about the intricacies of the code and how his patented method and algorithm would protect their intellectual property. Nina had told him more than once that he had a unique gift for putting people to sleep.
Wes was just pulling up the project he was working on for his biggest client, an independent movie studio in Atlanta, when Cara emerged from her room. She hesitated as if she wasn’t sure what the protocol was with a roommate-but-not-a-roommate situation.
“I’m heading to school and then I have a job after.” Her eyes fell to his laptop. “Do you work from home?”
“Mostly. Where are you in school?”
“Atlanta Cosmetology. I’m getting my license.” She chewed the corner of her lip. “I probably won’t be back until late afternoon.”
“Great! Have a good day!” She didn’t move. Was he supposed to say something else? If this was a test, he was totally failing. “Hope you have a good show.” Her brows came together. “Shoot? Sorry, I never know what to call it.”
She shook her head slowly. “I have a makeup application for a local photographer.”
“Oh, I assumed you were a model. Melody said she met you at work…”
A shadow crossed her face, and her eyes narrowed as she snatched her car keys off the hooks by the door. “You shouldn’t make assumptions.”
Evidently, he’d hit a nerve. “I didn’t mean to upset you—”
“You didn’t,” she snapped, but the way she slammed the door said something different.
