CHAPTER FOURTEEN
TAYLOR
Taylor pulled up in his driveway, turned off the car, and sat there. In the dark. Alone. Collecting his thoughts. He felt like he had guilt written all over him when, in fact, he never actually did anything wrong.
Ten years.
Ten whole years and she shows up out of nowhere.
Well, out of coincidence was more like it, but nowhere, nonetheless. And then tonight happened. Tonight they talked as if time never passed. He was able to get out all of the feelings and emotions he had kept in all these years. Things that he'd wanted Mel to know for so long. And now she knew and he should have felt
relieved, like a weight lifted off of his shoulders. But in reality, it only felt worse and more complicated and, frankly, he had no idea what to do with himself from this point.
And now he had to walk in the house to his wife. Where was he going to tell her he'd been? He had no intention of hiding Mel from her whatsoever, but now wasn't the time to start bringing her up into everyday conversation. He needed time to sort through it on his own. Mel was right. Their relationship was what it was ten years ago. That was a long time. He shouldn't have to worry about his marriage. There was nothing to worry about.
He loved Natalie. He did. He may not have loved her the way, say, Ike loved Nikki. But he loved her. They were friends. They got along. They'd been through life together for a long time.
He took a deep breath, collected himself, and headed into the house. When he walked into the living room, Natalie smiled at him. "Where have you been? You've been gone forever."
"I, uh, had some stuff to finish up at the studio. Nothing major."
"Oh," she said. He could hear it in her tone that she wanted to believe him. "Well, I had dinner already. I tried to wait, but I was famished, so. I saved you a plate."
"Oh, thanks. Uh, maybe later. I'm not really hungry. Just tired. Really, really tired."
"I'm sure you are," she said in her typical motherly tone. That tone made him feel like complete garbage
because it was so caring. He hated that she cared.
"Zac called me, looking for you," Natalie continued.
Tay pulled his phone out of his pocket, puzzled. "Well, he didn't call me." He looked at his phone. "Oh wait, yes he did. I guess my phone was on silent. I'll call him. Did he say what he wanted?"
"Nope. Just wants you to call him."
Tay had a suspicion of what Zac wanted and he knew he wasn't ready for it. Too many emotions in one day. He couldn't handle any more. But he called his brother anyway.
Zac didn't waste any time answering. "Hey, meet me at the studio."
"What?" Tay said. "I just got home. It's been a long day."
"Please. Just meet me there."
Tay picked up a hint of desperation in Zac's voice and decided not to argue. "Okay. Okay. Give me twenty minutes."
"Thanks, man. I'll see you there."
Tay hung up and turned to Natalie. "Well, looks like it's back to the studio."
Natalie frowned. "Oh, no, really? You just left there."
"I know. I know. Zac wants to meet there. Maybe he's written something, I don't know. He didn't specify."
"Aww," Natalie said. "You guys work so hard. Rest is valuable, you know."
"I know."
He kissed her forehead, said bye to her, then headed right back out the door.
___________________________________
Taylor walked to the back of the studio to find Zac slumped in a chair, strumming an acoustic guitar. There
was no rhythm. No song. Just plucking random notes, staring off into space.
"Hey," Tay said to him. "What's going on?" He took a seat in a chair across from Zac.
"I screwed up. At least I'm pretty sure I did," Zac answered, not looking at him.
"I, uh, I heard," Tay said.
Zac scoffed at the response. "Of course you did."
"Does Kate know?"
"No."
"Are you going to tell her?"
"I don't know," Zac said, putting the guitar down. "It all--it just happened so fast. So sudden. I mean, it was over before we even realized it was happening."
"That fast, huh?"
"That fast."
Tay wasn't really sure what to say. Or even if he should say anything at all. So he settled for, "So...what do you do now?"
"I don't know," Zac responded. "Dude, I cheated on my wife. I mean--and it didn't even feel like it, not at the time. It was like time never passed. Like ten years never happened, right there, in that moment. In that entire night. It's like--I'm this horrible, terrible person but--at the same time--I'm not. I don't know. I don't know what to feel, what to think. I just don't know."
Tay sighed. "There are certain situations, in life, kind of like ours, where you just have to see, or know, where things go or take care of any unfinished business, to make sure the rest of your life is...where you want it to be. Am I making any sense?"
"OUR situations?" Zac asked.
"I saw Mel today."
Zac's face read utter disappointment. "Shit, Tay."
"We talked. A lot. We made up. So far things are okay."
"SHIT, Tay," Zac repeated. "That's--that's just not a good idea, man."
"Not a good idea? You just had sex with Drew! Who's all out of good ideas here?"
"Yeah, but, Tay. Are you going to compare one...carnal impulse...to years and years of unhealthy pining? Seriously?"
"You're the one that cheated!" Tay said, incredulously. "YOU did. I never even touched Mel!"
"What about Mel?" The sound of Isaac's voice startled both Tay and Zac. Neither had remembered inviting him and neither had had any intention of letting him in on their little secrets.
"Uh, Ike, what are you doing here?" Zac asked.
"Looking for you. Kate said you were here. With Tay. Imagine my surprise, since I wasn't invited to this little impromptu board meeting." Ike pulled up a chair and made himself comfortable between his younger brothers. "So what about Mel?"
Tay hesitated. "I...spoke with Mel today. We made up."
Ike shook his head. "Aw, hell, Tay. You could barely control yourself when she wasn't around."
"Well, Zac cheated on Kate with Drew!" Tay knew it was a completely juvenile move, but he couldn't help it. Zac cheated. Tay had only talked. So why should he be talking all the flak??
Ike's head whipped toward Zac. "What?? You did what?? What the hell were you thinking, Zac?"
"I kinda wasn't."
"I mean, goddamn. What is wrong with the two of you? Seriously? These women show up out of nowhere and you guys lose your minds! It's insane!"
"Ike, just, let's just get over the negativity and criticism right now," Tay said.
"Tay, how could this be ANYTHING else but negative?"
"Ike. Really. Are you telling me that if one of your old flames walked in that door right now, you wouldn't feel the least bit discombobulated?" Tay said.
"Have you seen my wife?? Why would I even THINK about anyone else but her? Honestly?"
"Ike," Tay said.
"Ugggh, fine! Fine! What happened?"
"Well, it all started the night of the New York show. As soon as I saw Mel was there, I just knew that Drew couldn't be far behind. So I slipped the guard my number to give to Mel."
"Zac," Ike said.
"I only wanted to catch up with her! Yanno see how she's doing, shoot the shit, you know. Nothing serious. Nothing serious at all. We started talking on the phone and--it was--everything was the same. I was the old me, she was the old Drew, we were the old us."
"Yeah, but you're not," Ike said.
"I know. But I couldn't stay away. I mean, there's nothing wrong with being just friends, right? Right?"
"To an extent, yes. I mean yes, there's nothing wrong with it. And I expected Tay to lose his shit, but Zac. I'm really surprised at you."
"So am I," Zac said. "That's so unlike me, I know. So then when we came home from tour...I chose to go back to New York and have dinner with her. I mean, hell, we'd only talked, I hadn't seen her yet. We had dinner, dinner was great. Next thing I know, we're having a quickie in a dark corner of the hotel lobby."
Ike rubbed his hands over his face. "So you just let her lead you in like that. You just couldn't think with your brain and say no."
"No. I did not let her. She...she let me...I did it. I did everything. The phone calls, dinner...everything. She hasn't called me once."
"Zac..."
"Ike, I know. But it's done and now I don't know what to do. I don't want my marriage to end, but...I mean...Drew is fun. Like, I can't say I'm in love with her like I used to be, but...there's still a little of that love there. She and I were best friends aside from our relationship. That hasn't gone away. And neither has the physical attraction, apparently, and--god, she looks great. You should see her. She looks like a runway
model."
"You're getting off subject here."
"Well, now, here we are. I don't want to stop talking to her. I don't want to make her my 'mistress' or anything like that. But I'm attracted to her and I have to say, I can't promise that this won't happen again."
"So basically, you're wanting our blessings so you can turn around and screw around on Kate and have your
little fun, is that what you're saying?" Ike said.
"No, that's not what I'm saying. I just...I need some kind of balance here. I shouldn't have to lose Drew again."
"Look," Ike began. "First of all, this conversation never existed, right? Right. So, listen. I'm not condoning your little trysts here, okay? Yours, either," he said to Tay.
"Hey, there are no trysts here," Tay said defensively.
"Not yet. However, you do have a lot of soul searching to do. Both of you do. Whatever and however you decide you need to deal with it, then so be it. I don't like it, I don't approve of it, and I don't support it, but I'll deal with it. I'll keep my mouth shut. But I know both of you guys and I know this won't be pretty. And don't get me wrong. Please. I love Mel and Drew. I always have. Like sisters. They're always welcome in my home
without prejudice. Hell, Nikki talks nonstop about Mel already. But I know the both of you are chasing both of these women. Don't make them victims in all this madness." Ike's eyes bored into Tay's. "Again." Then he turned to Zac again. "And I don't want details."
"So what do I do?" Zac asked.
"I don't know," Ike said. "I can't answer that for you. I mean obviously you know what's going to happen if you tell Kate. Telling her would be the right thing to do. But this being what it is--you just have to deal with it."
Then Ike turned to Tay. "So while I'm playing Dr. Phil here, what is YOUR situation?"
"I...don't really have one," Tay said.
Ike laughed. "Oh, you have one all right. If Mel is involved, there is a situation. You don't hide it well."
"Yeah," Zac joined in. "You are a walking situation when it comes to Mel."
"It's not--I mean--I hugged her, but I never kissed her. And we certainly didn't have sex."
"You may not have done anything physically," Ike said. "But you're an emotional wreck and for you that's
just as bad, if not worse, than Zac sleeping with Drew."
"Well, Ike, I disagree--"
"I don't," Zac said. "I actually concur with Ike on this one. You're a passionate person, but you're passionate about everything. Like, to the max. To no end. If you don't run her off again, you're going to ruin your
marriage. With you, there is no happy medium."
"Tay, you're been chasing Mel since you saw her at the show. You've been a wreck since. Sneaking off to call her, going behind our backs going to her job, trying to score interviews just to see her. Chasing her down outside of your own home, in front of Natalie. Yeah, I heard. Basically, Mel makes you crazy."
"So what are you saying, Ike, you're saying that I should just get closure ten years later then release her back into the water? She's my best friend, Ike. I shouldn't have to hide her from Natalie. That's stupid."
"So you're just gonna reel her back in for what, Tay? For what? You're not gonna divorce Nat. You just gonna continue to lead Mel on with empty promises and no means of an ending? She's had it rough, Tay. Rougher than any of us. She doesn't deserve that."
"But it's not like that. It's not like--I mean you never know what's going to happen--"
"So you're gonna divorce Nat?" Zac asked.
"No," Tay answered. "No. No, Mel and I have changed. We've grown, matured. We are perfectly capable of being friends. Keeping things strictly platonic. Nothing more."
Ike and Zac simultaneously erupted into laughter.
"She may be able to," Ike said after getting his composure. "But you cannot. You can't be just friends with her."
"Ike, yes I can--"
"You are in love with her. You always have been and you always will be. Look, we both know the whole Natalie thing and how all that went down, allegedly, but she's your wife now. That's the path you chose to take." Ike leaned in close to Tay and lowered his voice. "Look, Tay, we all know that things should have
turned out differently. That you should have married Mel. We ALL know this. So you're going to have to just deal with it. Learn to manage your feelings. The feelings won't disappear. But you do have a choice what you do with them."
"Yeah," Zac interjected. "If I had my choice of the two, I'd pick Mel over Natalie. No offense."
"Zac," Ike warned.
"No, I mean I like Mel better than Natalie. Face it, Ike, we all do."
"She's YOUR wife's best friend," Ike said. "Don't you forget it."
"Now, guys, guys. I don't want to turn this into a 'lets all bash Natalie' session. I don't have anything against her at all. Seriously. I mean, I've been married to her for ten years. That has to count for something, right? But fighting my feelings for Mel is hard. It's like, with her, all is right in the world. Like I am where I'm supposed to be."
"Like you're home," Zac said.
"Exactly."
Ike stood up. "You guys are crazy," Ike said. "But I gotta get home to MY wife, whom I left to walk into this godforsaken conversation."
"Oh, what was it that you needed me for?" Zac asked.
Ike laughed and shook his head. "I don't even remember now."
Tay and Zac said their byes to Ike and the two of them stood, preparing to leave.
"So have you called Drew yet?" Tay asked Zac.
Zac sighed. "No. I mean, I intend to. Tay, it was just so awkward right after we finished. It was like, we parted ways right away. I think it freaked her out as much as it did me. I'll call her in the next couple of
days. I just gotta get my head on straight first. Do some thinking, you know."
"I know," Tay agreed.
"Look, uh. I just want you to know what I support you in your exploration with Mel. I'm not saying to run off and do what I did, but. I've always respected Mel. Always loved her. I'm glad she's back in our lives. And I want her to stay there, in a healthy relationship, I mean."
"Thanks, man. I appreciate that. And, um, if you ever need to talk about your Drew problems or whatever, I'm here. You know I know what you're going through. And apparently I need to speak to her myself. I apparently owe her an apology."
"For?"
"Well, Mel says she kinda hates me for that day, so. If I'm making amends, guess I better go big or go home, right?"
Tay and Zac laughed and headed out the door of the studio, each with heavy hearts and minds.
TAYLOR
Taylor pulled up in his driveway, turned off the car, and sat there. In the dark. Alone. Collecting his thoughts. He felt like he had guilt written all over him when, in fact, he never actually did anything wrong.
Ten years.
Ten whole years and she shows up out of nowhere.
Well, out of coincidence was more like it, but nowhere, nonetheless. And then tonight happened. Tonight they talked as if time never passed. He was able to get out all of the feelings and emotions he had kept in all these years. Things that he'd wanted Mel to know for so long. And now she knew and he should have felt
relieved, like a weight lifted off of his shoulders. But in reality, it only felt worse and more complicated and, frankly, he had no idea what to do with himself from this point.
And now he had to walk in the house to his wife. Where was he going to tell her he'd been? He had no intention of hiding Mel from her whatsoever, but now wasn't the time to start bringing her up into everyday conversation. He needed time to sort through it on his own. Mel was right. Their relationship was what it was ten years ago. That was a long time. He shouldn't have to worry about his marriage. There was nothing to worry about.
He loved Natalie. He did. He may not have loved her the way, say, Ike loved Nikki. But he loved her. They were friends. They got along. They'd been through life together for a long time.
He took a deep breath, collected himself, and headed into the house. When he walked into the living room, Natalie smiled at him. "Where have you been? You've been gone forever."
"I, uh, had some stuff to finish up at the studio. Nothing major."
"Oh," she said. He could hear it in her tone that she wanted to believe him. "Well, I had dinner already. I tried to wait, but I was famished, so. I saved you a plate."
"Oh, thanks. Uh, maybe later. I'm not really hungry. Just tired. Really, really tired."
"I'm sure you are," she said in her typical motherly tone. That tone made him feel like complete garbage
because it was so caring. He hated that she cared.
"Zac called me, looking for you," Natalie continued.
Tay pulled his phone out of his pocket, puzzled. "Well, he didn't call me." He looked at his phone. "Oh wait, yes he did. I guess my phone was on silent. I'll call him. Did he say what he wanted?"
"Nope. Just wants you to call him."
Tay had a suspicion of what Zac wanted and he knew he wasn't ready for it. Too many emotions in one day. He couldn't handle any more. But he called his brother anyway.
Zac didn't waste any time answering. "Hey, meet me at the studio."
"What?" Tay said. "I just got home. It's been a long day."
"Please. Just meet me there."
Tay picked up a hint of desperation in Zac's voice and decided not to argue. "Okay. Okay. Give me twenty minutes."
"Thanks, man. I'll see you there."
Tay hung up and turned to Natalie. "Well, looks like it's back to the studio."
Natalie frowned. "Oh, no, really? You just left there."
"I know. I know. Zac wants to meet there. Maybe he's written something, I don't know. He didn't specify."
"Aww," Natalie said. "You guys work so hard. Rest is valuable, you know."
"I know."
He kissed her forehead, said bye to her, then headed right back out the door.
___________________________________
Taylor walked to the back of the studio to find Zac slumped in a chair, strumming an acoustic guitar. There
was no rhythm. No song. Just plucking random notes, staring off into space.
"Hey," Tay said to him. "What's going on?" He took a seat in a chair across from Zac.
"I screwed up. At least I'm pretty sure I did," Zac answered, not looking at him.
"I, uh, I heard," Tay said.
Zac scoffed at the response. "Of course you did."
"Does Kate know?"
"No."
"Are you going to tell her?"
"I don't know," Zac said, putting the guitar down. "It all--it just happened so fast. So sudden. I mean, it was over before we even realized it was happening."
"That fast, huh?"
"That fast."
Tay wasn't really sure what to say. Or even if he should say anything at all. So he settled for, "So...what do you do now?"
"I don't know," Zac responded. "Dude, I cheated on my wife. I mean--and it didn't even feel like it, not at the time. It was like time never passed. Like ten years never happened, right there, in that moment. In that entire night. It's like--I'm this horrible, terrible person but--at the same time--I'm not. I don't know. I don't know what to feel, what to think. I just don't know."
Tay sighed. "There are certain situations, in life, kind of like ours, where you just have to see, or know, where things go or take care of any unfinished business, to make sure the rest of your life is...where you want it to be. Am I making any sense?"
"OUR situations?" Zac asked.
"I saw Mel today."
Zac's face read utter disappointment. "Shit, Tay."
"We talked. A lot. We made up. So far things are okay."
"SHIT, Tay," Zac repeated. "That's--that's just not a good idea, man."
"Not a good idea? You just had sex with Drew! Who's all out of good ideas here?"
"Yeah, but, Tay. Are you going to compare one...carnal impulse...to years and years of unhealthy pining? Seriously?"
"You're the one that cheated!" Tay said, incredulously. "YOU did. I never even touched Mel!"
"What about Mel?" The sound of Isaac's voice startled both Tay and Zac. Neither had remembered inviting him and neither had had any intention of letting him in on their little secrets.
"Uh, Ike, what are you doing here?" Zac asked.
"Looking for you. Kate said you were here. With Tay. Imagine my surprise, since I wasn't invited to this little impromptu board meeting." Ike pulled up a chair and made himself comfortable between his younger brothers. "So what about Mel?"
Tay hesitated. "I...spoke with Mel today. We made up."
Ike shook his head. "Aw, hell, Tay. You could barely control yourself when she wasn't around."
"Well, Zac cheated on Kate with Drew!" Tay knew it was a completely juvenile move, but he couldn't help it. Zac cheated. Tay had only talked. So why should he be talking all the flak??
Ike's head whipped toward Zac. "What?? You did what?? What the hell were you thinking, Zac?"
"I kinda wasn't."
"I mean, goddamn. What is wrong with the two of you? Seriously? These women show up out of nowhere and you guys lose your minds! It's insane!"
"Ike, just, let's just get over the negativity and criticism right now," Tay said.
"Tay, how could this be ANYTHING else but negative?"
"Ike. Really. Are you telling me that if one of your old flames walked in that door right now, you wouldn't feel the least bit discombobulated?" Tay said.
"Have you seen my wife?? Why would I even THINK about anyone else but her? Honestly?"
"Ike," Tay said.
"Ugggh, fine! Fine! What happened?"
"Well, it all started the night of the New York show. As soon as I saw Mel was there, I just knew that Drew couldn't be far behind. So I slipped the guard my number to give to Mel."
"Zac," Ike said.
"I only wanted to catch up with her! Yanno see how she's doing, shoot the shit, you know. Nothing serious. Nothing serious at all. We started talking on the phone and--it was--everything was the same. I was the old me, she was the old Drew, we were the old us."
"Yeah, but you're not," Ike said.
"I know. But I couldn't stay away. I mean, there's nothing wrong with being just friends, right? Right?"
"To an extent, yes. I mean yes, there's nothing wrong with it. And I expected Tay to lose his shit, but Zac. I'm really surprised at you."
"So am I," Zac said. "That's so unlike me, I know. So then when we came home from tour...I chose to go back to New York and have dinner with her. I mean, hell, we'd only talked, I hadn't seen her yet. We had dinner, dinner was great. Next thing I know, we're having a quickie in a dark corner of the hotel lobby."
Ike rubbed his hands over his face. "So you just let her lead you in like that. You just couldn't think with your brain and say no."
"No. I did not let her. She...she let me...I did it. I did everything. The phone calls, dinner...everything. She hasn't called me once."
"Zac..."
"Ike, I know. But it's done and now I don't know what to do. I don't want my marriage to end, but...I mean...Drew is fun. Like, I can't say I'm in love with her like I used to be, but...there's still a little of that love there. She and I were best friends aside from our relationship. That hasn't gone away. And neither has the physical attraction, apparently, and--god, she looks great. You should see her. She looks like a runway
model."
"You're getting off subject here."
"Well, now, here we are. I don't want to stop talking to her. I don't want to make her my 'mistress' or anything like that. But I'm attracted to her and I have to say, I can't promise that this won't happen again."
"So basically, you're wanting our blessings so you can turn around and screw around on Kate and have your
little fun, is that what you're saying?" Ike said.
"No, that's not what I'm saying. I just...I need some kind of balance here. I shouldn't have to lose Drew again."
"Look," Ike began. "First of all, this conversation never existed, right? Right. So, listen. I'm not condoning your little trysts here, okay? Yours, either," he said to Tay.
"Hey, there are no trysts here," Tay said defensively.
"Not yet. However, you do have a lot of soul searching to do. Both of you do. Whatever and however you decide you need to deal with it, then so be it. I don't like it, I don't approve of it, and I don't support it, but I'll deal with it. I'll keep my mouth shut. But I know both of you guys and I know this won't be pretty. And don't get me wrong. Please. I love Mel and Drew. I always have. Like sisters. They're always welcome in my home
without prejudice. Hell, Nikki talks nonstop about Mel already. But I know the both of you are chasing both of these women. Don't make them victims in all this madness." Ike's eyes bored into Tay's. "Again." Then he turned to Zac again. "And I don't want details."
"So what do I do?" Zac asked.
"I don't know," Ike said. "I can't answer that for you. I mean obviously you know what's going to happen if you tell Kate. Telling her would be the right thing to do. But this being what it is--you just have to deal with it."
Then Ike turned to Tay. "So while I'm playing Dr. Phil here, what is YOUR situation?"
"I...don't really have one," Tay said.
Ike laughed. "Oh, you have one all right. If Mel is involved, there is a situation. You don't hide it well."
"Yeah," Zac joined in. "You are a walking situation when it comes to Mel."
"It's not--I mean--I hugged her, but I never kissed her. And we certainly didn't have sex."
"You may not have done anything physically," Ike said. "But you're an emotional wreck and for you that's
just as bad, if not worse, than Zac sleeping with Drew."
"Well, Ike, I disagree--"
"I don't," Zac said. "I actually concur with Ike on this one. You're a passionate person, but you're passionate about everything. Like, to the max. To no end. If you don't run her off again, you're going to ruin your
marriage. With you, there is no happy medium."
"Tay, you're been chasing Mel since you saw her at the show. You've been a wreck since. Sneaking off to call her, going behind our backs going to her job, trying to score interviews just to see her. Chasing her down outside of your own home, in front of Natalie. Yeah, I heard. Basically, Mel makes you crazy."
"So what are you saying, Ike, you're saying that I should just get closure ten years later then release her back into the water? She's my best friend, Ike. I shouldn't have to hide her from Natalie. That's stupid."
"So you're just gonna reel her back in for what, Tay? For what? You're not gonna divorce Nat. You just gonna continue to lead Mel on with empty promises and no means of an ending? She's had it rough, Tay. Rougher than any of us. She doesn't deserve that."
"But it's not like that. It's not like--I mean you never know what's going to happen--"
"So you're gonna divorce Nat?" Zac asked.
"No," Tay answered. "No. No, Mel and I have changed. We've grown, matured. We are perfectly capable of being friends. Keeping things strictly platonic. Nothing more."
Ike and Zac simultaneously erupted into laughter.
"She may be able to," Ike said after getting his composure. "But you cannot. You can't be just friends with her."
"Ike, yes I can--"
"You are in love with her. You always have been and you always will be. Look, we both know the whole Natalie thing and how all that went down, allegedly, but she's your wife now. That's the path you chose to take." Ike leaned in close to Tay and lowered his voice. "Look, Tay, we all know that things should have
turned out differently. That you should have married Mel. We ALL know this. So you're going to have to just deal with it. Learn to manage your feelings. The feelings won't disappear. But you do have a choice what you do with them."
"Yeah," Zac interjected. "If I had my choice of the two, I'd pick Mel over Natalie. No offense."
"Zac," Ike warned.
"No, I mean I like Mel better than Natalie. Face it, Ike, we all do."
"She's YOUR wife's best friend," Ike said. "Don't you forget it."
"Now, guys, guys. I don't want to turn this into a 'lets all bash Natalie' session. I don't have anything against her at all. Seriously. I mean, I've been married to her for ten years. That has to count for something, right? But fighting my feelings for Mel is hard. It's like, with her, all is right in the world. Like I am where I'm supposed to be."
"Like you're home," Zac said.
"Exactly."
Ike stood up. "You guys are crazy," Ike said. "But I gotta get home to MY wife, whom I left to walk into this godforsaken conversation."
"Oh, what was it that you needed me for?" Zac asked.
Ike laughed and shook his head. "I don't even remember now."
Tay and Zac said their byes to Ike and the two of them stood, preparing to leave.
"So have you called Drew yet?" Tay asked Zac.
Zac sighed. "No. I mean, I intend to. Tay, it was just so awkward right after we finished. It was like, we parted ways right away. I think it freaked her out as much as it did me. I'll call her in the next couple of
days. I just gotta get my head on straight first. Do some thinking, you know."
"I know," Tay agreed.
"Look, uh. I just want you to know what I support you in your exploration with Mel. I'm not saying to run off and do what I did, but. I've always respected Mel. Always loved her. I'm glad she's back in our lives. And I want her to stay there, in a healthy relationship, I mean."
"Thanks, man. I appreciate that. And, um, if you ever need to talk about your Drew problems or whatever, I'm here. You know I know what you're going through. And apparently I need to speak to her myself. I apparently owe her an apology."
"For?"
"Well, Mel says she kinda hates me for that day, so. If I'm making amends, guess I better go big or go home, right?"
Tay and Zac laughed and headed out the door of the studio, each with heavy hearts and minds.