CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
MEL
Here was Saturday again.
Mel was beginning to hate Saturdays.
Taylor had already called her a couple days prior. He was so excited. "It's been so long since we all got
together," he'd said. "It'll be just like old times!"
"Uh, Tay, do you remember what our group's 'old times' were?" she had said.
He had just laughed and passed her comment off. 'That poor, clueless, jaded man,' Mel had thought to
herself.
And now Saturday night was here. Mel and Drew were in Drew's room putting the finishing touches on
themselves. Mel didn't really care how she looked, but Drew had insisted that she dress up. "Mel, this is Lavo. You can't walk in looking like a bum."
As they now examined their appearances in the mirror side by side, Mel had to admit that they looked pretty
fabulous. Beside her Drew towered over her despite the five inches Mel had under her feet. Drew had opted for minimalism, as always, in a short, red, strapless cocktail dress that was just fitted enough to softly hug her
curves. Her blonde hair was balled up into a trendy, messy pile on top of her head and on her feet she wore black, patent leather platform Jimmy Choo stilettos. She looked as if she's stepped right out of Vogue
magazine.
Mel, on the other hand, wasn't quite so striking. She stood about six inches shorter than Drew and had
opted to let her dark brown hair hang in soft, loose curls down her back. Her dress was about as short as Drew's, but sparkled entirely of silver sequins. The dress was one-shouldered with the one sleeve extending
all the way down to her wrist. On her feet she had chosen silver, gladiator-style stilettos that buckled just above her ankles.
As Mel fiddled with the clasp of a bracelet she attempted to put on her bare arm, the doorbell rang.
Drew's eyes lit up. "That must be the guys!" And with that, she was out of the room in a flash.
Mel shook her head. Drew was much too excited for this night.
A couple of minutes later Drew burst back into the room to find Mel still fiddling with the bracelet. Swiftly, Drew clasped it for her and said, "Let's go, we're already running late!"
Mel followed Drew into the living room, stopped dead in her tracks, then retreated to the hallway and
stopped when she was just around the corner. "Um, excuse us, she must have forgotten something," she heard Drew say sheepishly to the two gorgeous sex gods standing in their living room. She met Mel around the corner. "What is your problem?" she whispered.
"Are those our dates?"
"Yes!" Drew hissed.
"Which one is mine?"
"The taller one."
Mel's eyes widened at Drew. "Are you trying to get me laid?"
Drew shrugged. "Probably wouldn't hurt."
"Well it's working!" Mel hissed back.
Drew smiled at her and the pair walked back into the living room. Upon seeing these two men, Mel felt
herself becoming weak in the knees. Besides the fact that the man Drew was setting her up with was likely the sexiest man ever to grace the universe, Mel hadn't been on a date since she'd dated her husband seven years ago. Putting the official number of years on it dizzied her for a moment. She couldn't remember the last time she'd been this nervous.
She also couldn't escape the cruel irony of spending her first date in seven years in the presence of her ex
and his wife.
Cruel, cruel irony.
"Mel, this is Kevin," Drew interrupted her thoughts as she introduced her to her date. Both men were huge. Kevin was solidly and largely built with sparkling blue eyes and short blonde hair that he wore in messy spikes. He was dressed in black chinos and a blue button-down shirt that not only made his already sparkling
eyes sparkle even bluer, but also made the subtle tan he sported more apparent in his complexion.
Grinning, Drew continued. "And this is Kevin's friend, Jason. Jason, this is my best friend, Mel."
Mel couldn't speak. For a moment, she could only stare and fight the sandpaper that was forming in her
throat. Jason was a force to be reckoned with, hormonally. Mel found that she was quickly losing this battle within herself. Jason stood tall. Very tall. At least six feet and four inches of apparent caramel-colored Hawaiian goodness. Maybe more. His green eyes sparkled under his tan skin and his bright smile made Mel want to melt. His brown hair fell naturally in waves to his shoulders and he wore a subtle goatee on his face. He had dressed very simply in a white t-shirt and dark blue jeans. His rich, smooth voice interrupted her as she was taking in the massive biceps that seemed to ripple behind his white short sleeves. Maybe ripple was a strong word, but to Mel it seemed to fit. "Pleasure," he simply said, reaching out a large, Hawaiian hand to her.
"Sweet Christ," Mel said under her breath.
"Pardon?" he had said to her.
Finally, Mel snapped out of it. She looked up, way up, and smiled at him sheepishly. "Uh, pleasure's all mine," she said.
And she meant it. Boy, had she meant it.
The cab was small. Well, by the current circumstances, it was small. The four of them were squeezed in the backseat, Mel being very aware that she sat pressed up against Jason's hard, muscular body and she fit there like a glove, feeling his body heat and taking in the intoxicating clean fragrance that came from him. She started to feel things within herself she hadn't felt in awhile and probably shouldn't have. Nervously, she found herself concentrating awfully hard on Drew as she had her face in her phone, when Jason's rich voice and hot breath quietly invaded her ear. "So I understand we're going out with your ex tonight? Probably the strangest date I've ever been on, to be honest."
Mel turned to look at him. She wasn't aware he knew the situation. "Uh, well, it's not really like that anymore. And he's bringing his wife anyway, so..."
Jason smiled at her. "It's okay," he said, Mel detecting a hint of seduction in his voice. "I just want to have a good time."
With that, it was over. Mel finally gave in and let her body win her over, finally deciding to be honest with herself. "So do I," she said to him, looking him square in the eye.
__________________________________________
And I waited for you
And I waited for you
Just a picture and a feeling and a face
How could I forget your touch, your warm embrace
And the shoes you wore with long, black satin lace
As you walked into my mind
As I walked into this old forgotten hall
Just one look and I began to fall
Wish I could frame you and this feeling on the wall
To stare at till there is no time
And I waited for you
Just hoping that you'd come back to me
And I waited for you
Run, run, runaway run
Maybe someday I will find someone to
Run, run, runaway
Maybe some day, maybe some day
From a distance, watched the flowers brush your cheek
As you read the words I wrote I couldn't speak
And now I lay here broken heart and blistered feet
As you're spinning round my mind
And I waited for you
Just dreaming that you'd come back to me
And I waited for you
As you weep, you can know that it's all right
As you sleep I'll just follow your door light
We can talk just as long as you hold on tight
Just one breath is a million sighs
I can tell every breath that you're breathing
I can feel every thought that you're thinking
We can talk, it's a thousand years gone by
You and I
ISAAC
"Well this is a nice little space here," Isaac Hanson observed as they began to get settled in the area of the club that had been reserved for their party. Lavo was a nice club, he had never been in it before. Then again, he had never really been in any club voluntarily unless they attended an event or party or any kind of work
or networking-related event. Ike generally liked to keep things more low-key.
The area wasn't really extravagant and not terribly private. It consisted of four white, low-backed sofa benches, two long ones across from each other and two shorter ones on either side that formed sort of their own little nook around a small black coffee-type table. It was just casual and comfortable enough.
The three of them and their wives had been the first to arrive. The club wasn't terribly crowded yet so they were thankful that they could hear themselves speak for the time being. Natalie, Kate, and Nikki opted to visit the restroom together as soon as they got there, leaving Isaac, Taylor, and Zac there alone to observe the atmosphere. As Ike watched Nikki walk away, he couldn't help but feel proud. She was tall and gorgeous with her long, silky hair and her white, long-sleeved, backless cocktail dress. His heart melted as he scanned his eyes down her long legs as she walked in her black platform stilettos. He was the luckiest man in the world. And even more thankful that he never had to find himself in the situation his brothers currently found themselves in.
Ike spotted them first. Mel and Drew had arrived with their dates. He had barely recognized them. If it hadn't been for Drew's blonde hair and never-ending legs walking next to a much shorter and darker-haired Mel, he might not have. They seemed to know everyone as they stopped to speak to several people on their way in. He had to admit, the two women looked stunning. A far, far cry from the teenagers he remembered them as. They had grown from young girls to women, sophisticated and mature. Admittedly, he was proud of the way they had turned out.
But he couldn't help himself but to laugh in disbelief. His laugh was directed at his brothers. He knew that this was going to be quite an eventful evening.
Taylor and Zac looked over at him as their brother seemingly burst out in random laughter. "Ike, what is
so funny?"
Ike laughed and shook his head. "Wow! You two are so screwed."
Tay and Zac both looked in the direction Ike was looking in and both were speechless for a moment.
"Who the hell is that?" Tay finally said.
"That," Ike said. "Is Mel and Drew."
Tay looked over at Ike, perturbed. "No, I mean, who's the guy?" Tay seemed taken aback as he spied the tall Hawaiian that appeared to swallow Mel whole as he rested his arm around her shoulders.
Still smiling, Ike responded, "Apparently that is Mel's boyfriend. And he is twice the size you are." As if he felt the need to emphasize, Ike held up two fingers. "Twice."
"She never mentioned a boyfriend."
"Well, it really wasn't any of your business."
Tay gave Ike another annoyed look and wiped his sweaty hands on his pants as the two couples approached them.
Mel and Drew hugged each of the guys and introduced them to Jason and Kevin. As they were about to be
seated, Nikki, Natalie, and Kate had returned from the restroom. Ike watched as Natalie and Kate made a beeline for Drew's date, Kevin. "Oh my god," Kate was saying. "We LOVED you in Twilight!"
"Omigosh, yes!" Natalie agreed. "Emmett is my favorite character!"
Visibly embarrassed, the poor guy started to turn red. "Um, I'm sorry, but I'm actually not that guy..."
Natalie looked flushed, but Kate showed no shame. "But you look exactly like him!"
Kevin smiled, "I know. I get that a lot, actually."
"Uh, Kate, Natalie," Ike said. "This is Kevin. He's here with Drew. And Drew, this is Natalie, Tay's wife, and Kate, Zac's wife."
Drew and Natalie muttered "Nice to meet you" and Kate hesitantly shook Drew's hand. "Drew..." Kate
turned around to look at her husband. "As in TRL Drew?"
Everyone fell silent and looked at Zac expectantly. He said to Kate, "I can't believe you remember that."
"Of course I do, that moment was every fan's worst nightmare." She turned back to Drew and smiled,
tight-lipped. "And now here you are in the flesh. Infamous Drew..."
"Uh, good to meet you, too," Drew said, hastily. She turned to Kevin. "I need a drink."
As Kevin flagged down a waitress, Nikki wrapped Mel in a hug. "It's so good to see you!" Nikki said.
Mel smiled, "You, too! You look fabulous!" Mel got Drew's attention. "Drew, this is who I wanted you to meet. This is Nikki. Nikki, this is my best friend, Drew."
"Drew!" Nikki said, hugging her as well. "So nice to finally meet you, I've heard so much about you!"
Drew smiled. "Good things, I hope."
"Of course!" Nikki said.
As Nikki and Drew began to gush over each other's handbags, Ike turned his attention to the scene that had the potential to break out in front of him. He watched as Mel and Natalie stiffly exchanged cordial greetings and as Mel introduced Jason to Taylor as Jason towered over the four of them. Taylor showed absolutely no signs of intimidation which made Ike proud of his brother. He was especially interested when he noticed that Natalie had a hard time keeping her eyes off of Jason and that she blushed when he spoke to her. He couldn't blame her. If Ike was female, he probably would have been the same way.
At this sudden thought, Ike glanced over at his own wife. Nikki was blissfully unaware of her surroundings as hers and Drew's conversation had shifted from handbags to shoes. He smiled to himself.
As the waitress had finally arrived to take drink orders, Isaac took a look around. He was seated on the left end of one of the smaller sofa benches that sat at the head of the party. Nikki shared the bench with him, followed by Drew, Kevin, Mel, and Jason on the sofa bench to their right. To the bench on their left sat Taylor then Natalie and across from him, sat Kate and Zac. He observed everyone ordering drinks and talking all across the tables to one another, still sensing some mild nervous tension. He had hoped everyone would loosen up with drinks. Otherwise, this was nice. It was a rare occasion that he and Nikki were given the opportunity to go out alone with friends, much less in an atmosphere as swanky as this one. He decided that tonight, he was just going to sit back and enjoy himself.
___________________________________________
DREW
Drew wasn't quite sure what to do with herself. She eagerly ordered herself a Cosmopolitan in hopes that it might kill some of the nerves she was feeling having to be face to face with Kate. Not only being face to face with Kate, but with Zac as well. She had hoped that bringing a hot date with her would ease some of the tension, but she had been wrong. So, so wrong.
Mel, on the other hand...Mel was in rare form, once again. When Kevin had suggested he bring along his
friend Jason to be Mel's date, Drew was thrilled because that saved her from agonizing over choosing someone. Kevin was hot, so she knew all of his friends had to be, too. And boy, he didn't disappoint. Drew had to admit, she was a little disappointed that she hadn't ended up with Jason but she had no idea that Mel was going to react the way she did. She hadn't seen Mel act the way she was acting over a man since...well, since Taylor. Drew saw Mel's relationship with Jason going absolutely nowhere and this was perfectly fine with her. She was just glad to see Mel acting like a somewhat normal human being, whether it was her hormones talking or not. And based on the way she was observing Mel with Jason now, Mel's hormones had
completely taken her over. Drew smiled to herself for her small victory.
As if reading her mind, Nikki leaned over in Drew's ear, "Are you watching Natalie?"
"No, why?" This was unexpected. The truth was, she had been playing a flirty eye game with Zac since she'd arrived and hadn't really paid attention to anyone else. She found herself glancing over at Natalie as Nikki
spoke.
"She cannot keep her eyes off of Mel's date. She's trying to be slick about it but it's obvious to anyone who's watching her." Nikki giggled a bit. "It's kind of ironic, isn't it?"
Finally, drinks had arrived and Drew wasted no time getting rid of about half of hers. As she set her glass down on the table, she felt her hand bag vibrate on her thigh. Puzzled, she pulled her phone from her bag.
"Don't look up. You are so hot tonight." It was Zac. Drew didn't know if she thought this was absurd or a little naughty. After a moment, she looked up and glanced in Zac's direction. He gave her a small half smile
as she noticed his phone in his hand.
She decided to pick naughty. This slightly turned her on. She finished the rest of her drink and proceeded to text him back. "You, too. You probably shouldn't be texting right now."
"Damn, Drew!" Mel's voice interrupted the technological world she was losing herself in. "You didn't waste any time on that drink, did you?"
Blankly, Drew looked at her own empty glass then looked at everyone else's nearly full glasses. "Um, I guess I was just thirsty," Drew said. She couldn't think of anything else to say. She was kind of surprised at herself.
Her phone vibrated again.
"Meet me at the bar."
"No," she texted back. "Later."
"I need to get you alone now."
"Later," she texted.
"Don't you need another drink?"
Shit! Zac did have a point. Maybe she needed to get this out of her system so she could move on with the rest of her night. Besides, she kind of felt bad for Kevin. She had all but ignored him so far.
Drew stood up, handbag in hand. "Um, excuse me," she said. "I need to visit the restroom."
"Need me to go with you?" Mel offered.
"No," Drew said quickly. "I'll only be a minute."
As she rounded the sofa bench to head toward the restroom, she took one quick glance at Zac and locked
eyes with him.
_____________________________________________
MEL
Mel sat on the sofa bench next to Jason and was extremely uncomfortable with the seating arrangement. How
she had ended up sitting directly across from Taylor, she had no idea. He couldn't keep his eyes off of her, and she him. Every time they made eye contact, the emotional impact hit her like a ton of bricks. But at the exact same time, her need to crawl all over Jason and ravish him on the spot left her extremely confused.
And extremely uncomfortable. With Drew gone to the restroom and Natalie and Kate having their own conversation, Mel sat in silence.
Jason, with his arm resting on the sofa bench behind Mel, said quietly in her ear, "Man, you can cut the
tension in here with a knife." As he finished his sentence, he ran the backs of his fingers lightly down her bare arm.
Mel felt a shiver run down her spine and she stiffened as goose bumps formed on her arm.
"What's the matter?" his deep, rich voice caressed her ear. Lightly, he swept some of her hair back off of her shoulder "Do I make you uncomfortable?"
Finally, Mel turned and looked him in the eye. She smiled at him. "No. Quite the opposite, actually."
Jason flashed a knowing grin at her.
Suddenly, Taylor's voice brought them back to reality. "So, Jason," he said. "What do you do?"
"Um, actually, I'm a stunt man," Jason told him.
Before she could even think of her reaction, Mel grinned and looked at Jason, amused. "Really? What kind of stunts to you do?"
He flashed another flirty grin at Mel and winked at her. "All of them."
With that, she turned and smiled triumphantly at Taylor.
Unable to control his annoyed expression, Tay said to Mel, "How would you not know that?"
Jason answered for her. "Oh, she wouldn't know. We've only just recently met. We haven't had the chance to really talk yet." He smiled down at Mel.
Mel couldn't read Taylor's expression. It was sort of a mix of confusion and amusement. Maybe a bit of jealousy? She wasn't sure.
She had noticed, however, that Natalie and Kate had stopped talking and had started listening once Jason had
started talking. Out of nowhere, Zac butted in. "So you're a stunt man? That's so awesome! What kind of stunts do you do?"
Zac and Jason had begun talking stunts when Kate and Natalie excused themselves to go to the restroom. Mel had wanted to take some of that time to say something, anything, to Taylor, but she just couldn't get any words out. Anything she felt like she could to say to him, she didn't feel like she could say in front of everyone else. She was afraid that a simple, "You look nice," might cause some kind of World War Three.
As if reading her mind, Tay spoke for her. "You look beautiful tonight," he said to her.
Mel just looked at him. She wasn't sure how to react. She knew that if Jason had said that to her, which he hadn't yet, she would have melted all over the floor. But with Tay saying it, it seemed to tug at her heartstrings. Taylor wasn't near as attractive as Jason was, attractive as Taylor was, but she couldn't help
that every time she looked in his eyes or heard his voice, her heart seemed to palpitate, just as it had the very first time they had reunited as teenagers all those years ago.
Finally, Mel simply said, "Thank you."
"But you probably knew that already," he said to her.
Mel smiled shyly and shook her head. It was honestly the first time she'd heard it all night.
Tay narrowed his eyes at her. "Seriously?" he mouthed to her.
She simply shrugged.
Tay shook his head in apparent disgust. Leave it to him to suddenly make her feel horrible about the
situation she was in. A situation that she had absolutely no control over. She felt a familiar resentment and anger rising inside her that she opted to keep down by quickly emptying her glass.
Suddenly, Zac stood up, looking at his phone. "I, uh, I gotta take this. I'll be right back," he said, walking away.
_________________________________________________
DREW
Drew was just about to wash her hands as Kate and Natalie entered the restroom, giggling. They abruptly stopped when they saw Drew in there. Drew smiled at them through the mirror. "So, how are you guys liking the club?" Drew asked, desperately grasping for an ice-breaker.
Natalie and Kate glanced at each other. "It's nice," Kate answered.
"Precarious position we find ourselves in tonight, huh?" Natalie said as she set up shop at the sink next to Drew. She turned on the water and began to wash her hands along side her.
Drew quickly felt herself going on the defense. "As in?" she prompted.
Natalie turned off the water and turned to face Drew. "Well, you know. You and Mel here with Kate and I. I mean, given your histories and all. Especially after Zac's little declaration of love for you over national television. That's just not something you get over easily, is it?"
"What's your point?" Drew asked. She found herself having a hard time looking at Kate and this
conversation was making her rather nervous. She almost felt as if she had "I slept with Zac" in flashing neon lights across her forehead. Did she know? Did both of them know?
"She's saying to stay the hell away from our husbands," Kate suddenly piped up.
Drew laughed out loud. "Are you serious? I mean, really, really serious? Do you have any idea how long ago that was? Are you feeling threatened over something that literally happened a lifetime ago? Do you have any idea how ridiculous you both sound?"
When neither Natalie or Kate had anything to say, Drew continued. "Perhaps you two should have a talk
with your husbands before you go opening your mouths like that again. And by the way, Natalie, didn't you already have that talk with yours?"
With that, Drew let herself by them and exited the restroom.
As Drew walked back into the club, feeling victorious, she noticed Zac standing at the other end of the bar. He motioned to her and she met him. Miraculously, they couldn't be seen at that spot from their section. It was almost completely private. Unless someone happened to walk up on them, that is.
"Seriously, Zac?" Drew said. "Texting?"
"Should I have called you sexy in the middle of present company?"
Drew rolled her eyes. "Speaking of present company. I was ambushed in the bathroom just now."
"By who?"
"Your wife," she said, exasperated. "And her little minion. Actually, the way it went down it was more like the other way around...anyway, I was freaking out. I thought they knew!"
"Oh man. Wow," Zac said, running a hand nervously through his hair. "I'm sorry about that."
"Yeah, me, too."
Zac took a step closer to her. She could feel his breath on her. "I could take you right now, did you know that?"
Drew looked around. "Right now?"
"Not like it hasn't happened before."
"What happened to just friends?"
"I promised I would TRY," he said. "I didn't say the trying would be successful. Why must you be so damn hot every time I see you?"
"Well..." Drew didn't have an answer over the blushing she felt on her cheeks. "Maybe next time I'll show up in sweats and a ponytail and we won't be having this problem."
"I would still want you. You can't not be sexy. Ever."
Drew smiled. "What about that drink? I think you promised me one."
"Did I?"
"I have proof," she said, waving her phone at him.
She felt his hands rest on her hips. "If I buy you a drink, what's in it for me?"
She grinned at him. "A little drink can make me very friendly."
Zac smiled and called the bartender over and handed him a bill. "Get her whatever she wants."
And with that, he walked away from the bar.
____________________________________________
ISAAC
With everyone seated and drinking again, things finally began loosening up and conversation began running
rampant. "Hey, do you guys remember that summer we all went to the beach?" Isaac asked.
Mel and Drew looked at each other then back at Ike. "Which time?" asked Mel.
"The first time. Where everyone fought with each other. Constantly. Man, I thought it would never end!"
"Oh yeah, whatever happened to Blaine?" Drew asked. "God, he was such a horn dog."
"He was a respectful horn dog," Zac corrected her.
"Tay got bit by that crab," Mel laughed.
Surprisingly, even Natalie looked amused. Maybe it was the alcohol. Ike wasn't sure. "Honey," Natalie said to Taylor, giggling. "How did you manage to get bitten by a crab?"
Tay blushed. "I was holding it and it bit me."
"No!" Drew said. "Tell the truth! He was teasing Mel with it and it backfired on him!"
"Tay stayed backfired on back then," Ike laughed.
"Tell me about it," said Taylor. "That was the trip that mine and Mel's relationship finally came out of the closet. Talk about a world war!"
Natalie became visibly bothered again and there was awkward murmur amongst them all. Her eyes lit up again when a song she liked came on. "Oh my god, I love this song," Natalie said to Kate as she sipped on her drink.
"Do you want to dance?" Jason asked her.
Mel jerked her head around at Jason and Tay's eyes widened. "Uh, I don't know..." Tay started saying.
Natalie looked shocked at the request. She appeared like a deer in headlights. "Um," she started. It was obvious she wanted to say yes. She looked at Tay, then back at Jason. And then at Mel. "Um, yes," she decided. "Yes, I would."
As Jason led Natalie out onto the dance floor, Tay and Mel watched after them, jaws dropped. They looked
around at everyone else to find that they had an audience. "Well, uh, that was unexpected," Mel said. She was kind of hurt. He was her date and he hadn't even asked her to dance yet. Not that she really wanted to, but the sentiment would have been nice.
Leave it to good ole Drew to vocalize what everyone else was thinking. "Um, what the hell was that? Kevin," she said, turning to her date. "What the fuck is your friend doing? Kevin?"
Kevin shook his attention from somewhere else in the club and he looked back at Drew. "Uh, I don't really
know. I mean, I wouldn't worry about it or anything. He's a good guy."
Everyone exchanged glances at each other, then Ike burst out laughing.
"Ike, why are you continuously laughing at my expense tonight?" Tay asked.
"I'm sorry, I can't help it. Its just...it's really funny, actually. I mean, considering..."
"Zac, let's go out there," Kate suddenly suggested.
Now it was Zac's turn to be surprised. "Do what?"
"Let's go dance with them."
"Kate. You know better. I don't dance. Seriously."
"Zac...I don't think it's a good idea to leave my drunk best friend out on the dance floor with a stranger. Let's GO."
Sighing, Zac begrudgingly took his wife's hand and let her lead him to the dance floor.
Ike laughed louder.
As he calmed down, he realized that what he expected to happen in this moment, in fact, was happening.
Taylor had switched locations and took a seat next to Mel and appeared to be having a private conversation with her, all the while keeping an eye out on the dance floor. Ike couldn't see Natalie or Jason from where he was sitting, but he wasn't worried. He knew nothing about Jason whatsoever, but he guessed that Natalie wasn't his type. Whatever his reasoning may have been for inviting her to dance, though, was beyond him. He decided he still wasn't sure if it was a good idea that his brother be allowed to spend any time alone with Mel, but it was ultimately out of Ike's control. He figured if Tay was going to make the bed, he might as well make himself comfortable in it.
In the meantime, Ike and Nikki decided to chat up Drew and Kevin. "So how did you two meet?" Ike asked the two of them.
"We know each other through work," Drew answered.
"Oh, so you're an actor, too?" Nikki asked Kevin.
"No, I'm a model," Kevin said.
"Oh," said Nikki, a little surprised. "I thought Drew was an actress?"
"I do a little print work on the side," Drew answered. "Kevin and I have known each other for awhile."
Ike was noticing that it was becoming increasingly difficult for Kevin to keep his focus on their conversation. As a matter of fact, Kevin had been relatively quiet all night. What in the world was his problem?
_____________________________________________
MEL
When the two couples returned to their seats, Taylor returned to his. As Natalie sat down, she was
fanning herself as she reached for her drink. "Wow, you sure can dance. Thank you for that," she said to Jason.
Jason smiled. "Thank you, you're not so bad yourself."
As Tay looked between his wife and the Hawaiian Adonis with a look of question, Mel questioned her date
herself. "So did you have fun?"
Jason grinned and put his arm around her, pulling her closer. "Don't worry," he said to her quietly, his hot breath caressing her ear once again and bringing back the shiver she had gotten earlier. "She was looking extremely uptight and uncomfortable. She needed loosening up, I did her a favor. Besides, the poor girl has two left feet." He turned her chin toward him so he could see her. "You're the one who's rhythm I'm interested in."
Unable to control herself, Mel found herself giggling. She knew it was partly alcohol, partly the fact that she just learned that Natalie couldn't dance, and mostly because she knew her hot date still had the hots for her.
Jason laughed at Mel's laughter. "Why is that funny?" he asked.
"Did you save any of those moves for me?" Mel found herself asking him, seductively.
Jason softly kissed her hand and wrapped his large hand around hers. "You have no idea."
___________________________________________
DREW
As Drew was noticing the sudden turn of events taking place next to her, she immediately turned her attention to Taylor, who was trying his hardest to hide his displeasure. She had known Tay long enough to know the jealousy in his eyes when she saw it and right now it was raging. She applauded him, though, for keeping his composure. If this had been eleven or twelve years earlier, an entire scene probably would have broken out with someone, if not the entire party, being thrown out of the establishment.
But that was a long time ago and they were adults now. Things had changed.
As Drew glanced over at Kevin, she felt her handbag vibrate again. She looked over at Zac, who had phone
in hand, and she looked at her own.
"Your guy over there doesn't seem to be too interesting." Zac had texted.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Mel and her dude over here pretty much need to get a room. Kinda expected that from you."
"Mel is in rare form tonight. And what is it to you what I have going on with Kevin?"
"Are you gonna take him home tonight?"
Drew couldn't help but look up from her phone and over at Zac. Thankfully Kate seemed to be in deep
conversation with Natalie and Taylor so she was pretty much ignoring Zac. He smiled and raised his eyebrows at Drew.
"What if I do?" she texted.
"I don't think you will."
"What makes you so sure?"
"You haven't even laid a finger on him tonight."
Drew looked up from her phone and over at Kevin. Out of the blue, she placed a random kiss on his cheek.
Kevin looked surprised. "Uh, what was that for?"
"For being such a great sport and coming here with me tonight."
"Oh, uh, you're welcome," he responded, still bewildered.
Drew's phone vibrated.
"Ha ha," Zac texted.
"It's more action than you're getting," Drew texted back.
"I don't think so."
"Well, more than you're getting from me."
"I definitely don't think so."
"I think you're full of yourself."
"I think you're full of me."
"Not yet."
"You will be."
Drew looked up from her phone and felt herself blushing. "Promises, promises," she texted back.
"Could you get any sexier?" Zac texted.
"Could you? You need to be careful with your wife."
"So did you bring the muscle to make me jealous?"
"No. Is it working?"
"Maybe. But not really. I'm pretty secure in this."
"In what?"
"In you."
With that, Drew rolled her eyes and put her phone away. She looked over at Zac who raised his arms in
defeat. "What?" he mouthed to her. She simply shook her head at him.
______________________________________________
ISAAC
Isaac was an observer. He was actually pretty good at observation, it was something he prided himself in. Sometimes, though, he wished he wasn't, and this was one of those times.
It was painfully obvious to anyone who was paying attention, which at that point was nobody, that Zac and
Drew had a hot and heavy conversation going on via text message. However, it wasn't the texting that bothered Ike so much as Drew's date, Kevin, during the process.
Through the night, Ike had kept an eye on Kevin. The Kellan Lutz look-alike was quiet and detached. At first he thought maybe he was shy and then wondered if maybe he was on drugs. But finally, he came to the conclusion that Kevin simply had a wandering eye. Even when Drew had kissed him, he seemed spaced out
and unfocused. As Drew texted Zac, Ike watched Kevin check out everyone that had walked past. He never did figure out exactly who he was looking at but at this point it really didn't matter. Kevin was a horn dog with a wandering eye and Ike found it highly disrespectful to Drew. Granted, Drew hadn't been the best hostess herself, but Kevin could have made the effort.
Except that he didn't.
Ike made a mental note to say something to Kevin as soon as he had the chance. Ike wasn't one to stir up
trouble, but he wasn't about to sit back and watch his friend be disrespected, either. Kevin may not have been interested in Drew, but he could have been more considerate. A real man should always respect his date, whether they were an item or not.
Ike got his chance sooner than he thought, when Nikki and Drew dragged Natalie and Kate and Mel onto the dance floor. Zac and Tay sat and talked with Jason while Ike decided to spend some quality time with Kevin.
Ike moved and sat next to Kevin where Drew had once been sitting. "Hey, man," Ike said. "How's your
night going so far?"
"Oh, uh, not bad," Kevin answered. "How's yours?"
"Good, good," Ike responded. "Listen, uh, you seem like a good guy, Kevin. Really, you do."
"Thanks," Kevin said, appreciatively.
"Yeah, yeah, no problem. Uh, anyway, Kevin, I don't mean to pry or anything and it's really none of my
business, but I couldn't help but notice that you have a bit of a wandering eye..."
Kevin just looked at Ike, speechless.
"I mean, like I said, whatever you and Drew have going on is none of my business. But to be honest, I
think it's kind of rude and disrespectful for you to be ignoring her and checking out other women in front of her like you have been. I mean, especially since she looks the way she does tonight. You get what I'm
saying?"
Kevin gasped and then he started smiling. "What?" he asked. "What, you think I--man!"
"Like I said," Ike said. "I don't want to start trouble, I just wanted to bring it to your attention. You know, give you an opportunity to salvage the night."
Kevin laughed. "Okay. Okay. Bro, first of all, you need to be having that conversation with these two guys over here," Kevin said, pointing to Taylor and Zac. "Those guys have been losing their minds over Mel and Drew all damn night, in front of their wives, okay? And second of all, Drew is fine with it. It's totally not a problem."
Ike looked incredulous. "Fine with it?" he said. "How could she possibly be fine with it?"
Kevin leaned in a little closer. "You know, because I'm gay."
Ike wasn't sure he heard correctly. Had the music suddenly gotten louder? "Excuse me, do what?"
"I'm gay," Kevin repeated.
Ike wasn't believing his ears. "You're ga--does Drew know?"
Kevin smirked at him. "Of course she knows. I came with her tonight to keep her company, but mostly
because it was convenient. I'm meeting someone here later. She knows all about it."
Ike was speechless. Suddenly he felt embarrassed. And more speechless. "Uh, okay then," Ike said. "I apologize for intruding then."
Kevin held out a hand and Ike shook it. "No worries," Kevin said. "I'm sure she would appreciate your concern."
Shocked and embarrassed, Ike returned to his seat just in time for four of the five women to return to their
seats. Mel had gone missing.
__________________________________________________
MEL
As Drew, Nikki, Natalie and Kate exited the dance floor from the Usher song they had just finished dancing to, Mel hung behind at the bar. She was in desperate need of water. As she finished the cup that she had quickly downed, she felt a pair of arms slide around her waist. She knew immediately by the size of them that they belonged to Jason. She turned around and faced him, looking into his piercing green eyes.
"Did you save any energy for a dance with me?" he asked her.
Mel smiled at him seductively. "Oh, I have more than enough energy left for you."
"Good," he said. "You're gonna need it."
He led her back out onto the dance floor and in one swift movement, had her wrapped in his arms. The
music was fast, as all the songs seemed to be, but they chose to sway slower, not necessarily caring about dancing, but spending the time feeling each other's bodies pressed against the other.
"Good god, you are sexy as hell. I've been waiting all night to get you alone," he said to her.
"The feeling is mutual," she said to him.
"Really," he said. "Because I was afraid I was losing you to that Taylor guy tonight."
Mel couldn't help but to laugh out loud. Jason smiled at her. "There's that laugh again. I must be hilarious."
Calming herself, Mel shook her head. "No, no, I'm sorry. It's not that, it's just--well I wasn't aware I was sending out any mixed signals or anything."
Jason pulled her tighter to him. "Oh, there's nothing wrong with your signals. I'm picking up on them quite well, actually. It's his I'm questioning."
Mel ran her hand up his rippled chest, then down his arm. She looked longingly at his luscious lips and his gorgeous eyes. "Considering the situation, do his signals really matter?"
He wrapped her tighter and brushed her hair back away from her ear. In it, he said to her, "I think it's pretty apparent from the first moment we saw each other what was going to happen tonight."
As his voice made love to her ear, a shiver ran all the way through Mel's body which she invited this time, and she closed her eyes and breathed in his intoxicating scent. She barely noticed her nails beginning to dig into his arms.
She turned her face toward him. His long hair brushed her cheek. "I think you might be right."
She pulled from him so she could look him in the eye and the moment their eyes met, he took her in his
mouth, aggressively. She couldn't describe the feeling when he kissed her as any more than exhilarating. It was exhilarating and new...and he was so sexy. She hadn't been kissed like that in--well, she wasn't quite sure when. Unable to control herself, she felt her hand reach around and entangle itself in his shoulder-length hair. As she kissed him back as aggressively as he kissed her, she realized that she didn't quite know herself tonight. This was completely out of character for Mel to have wild one-night stands and to be seducing a man just as much as he seduced her. She had never been a seductress. Her last two relationships were passionate, love-filled relationships that had both lasted long and had both ended traumatically. The truth was, she had never actually sowed her wild oats.
Not that she ever intended to sow any wild oats. That just wasn't her. But there was something about Jason...she didn't know what it was. She was just so blissfully carefree around him. She felt no emotional attachment toward him whatsoever. Everything she felt for him was one hundred percent completely physical--which was honestly something she'd never felt toward a man before. She didn't know how to not become attached. She didn't know how to just be casual. Tonight she was definitely getting a crash course
in the subject.
She didn't want to admit it to herself, but she knew what the underlying, real reason she clung so much to
Jason was. It was of course, as always, about Taylor. He was married. His wife was here tonight. She wasn't necessarily trying to set out to make him jealous, but had she not had some kind of distraction she would have been miserable all night. She couldn't deny the feelings she had for Tay. They had always been there and they would never go away. Seeing him tonight and especially seeing him with his wife hadn't been easy on her emotions or her nerves. Not in the least. She needed this wild and crazy tryst, just this one time. She needed Jason. She needed him just for tonight.
Mel had just gotten rid of the small pang of guilt rising in her when Jason pulled away and groaned
flirtatiously. "We have to stop this if we want to finish out this night," he said to her. "If we keep going we're going to end up doing something I'm going to regret and that's not how I want to have you."
Mel raised her eyebrows at him in mock surprise. "Have me?"
He pulled her close by her hands and looked down at her. "It's no secret that I want you," he flirted.
Mel smiled up at him. "Oh, you'll have me." She pulled him down and breathed into his ear. "All of me."
He stood back up and smiled at the ceiling then back down at her. "Oh man, get me off this floor now
before this happens right here."
Mel giggled. "I actually need to step out the door for a breath of fresh air. I'll meet you back over there."
Jason smiled. "Don't keep me waiting," he said before letting go of her hand and heading back to their
section.
_____________________________________________________
TAYLOR
Taylor felt physically sick as he watched the sordid scene unfold on the dance floor. He hadn't meant to
be spying, but he couldn't help it. Mel looked absolutely breath-taking, and her date--god, how could he compete with that? He glanced over at his wife who, surprisingly, giggled in conversation with Drew, Kevin, and Nikki, and remembered that "competing" was pretty much out of the question. He really had no leg to stand on and he knew it.
It pained him. The entire night pained him. He hadn't wanted to be jealous, but he was. He knew he had no right to be. But he'd never known Mel as anything but his. She had always belonged to him. Always. Even when they were toddlers, she was his best friend. His, always.
And now she wasn't, and coming face to face with that hadn't been easy. Was this the reality? Was this his payback for his bad decisions ten years ago? Was he destined to be emotionally tormented for the rest of his life over the one he allowed to get away? What could he do?
And now the Hawaiian Adonis kissed her. His stomach flip flopped all over itself and he wanted to vomit at the sight. Sure it hadn't been easy on Mel to sit there and see him with Natalie, either. Though he wasn't entirely sure that was an accurate assumption, however he did know that she did harbor some feelings for
him. It was just apparent that she hadn't allowed them to fully come to surface yet. Maybe she would come around. Maybe this guy was temporary. Maybe it was a phase.
He was married, who was he kidding?
Mel could do whatever she wanted. Whatever damn thing she saw fit and there was absolutely nothing he could say or do about it.
He had looked forward to this night. He looked forward to seeing Mel and for her to start anew with Natalie and for everything to go all peachy and roses, but that wasn't the case. It hadn't happened that way at all. Instead it just made Taylor even more aware of the fact that he was sure, in fact, that he still loved Mel. That was it. He still loved her.
He was a fucking mess.
As Mel and Jason separated, he watched Mel go toward the club entrance and Jason coming back toward them.
Before Jason made it back to their section, Tay found an opportunity to slip away and find Mel. He had to see her alone tonight. He didn't know when he would see her again after this.
He found her outside the door of the club. He appreciated the fresh, summer breeze he was met with as he
stepped into the late night air.
Mel and Tay stared at each other for a moment before he spoke. "Mel, what are you doing?"
"Um, getting some air..." she responded.
"No, I mean, really. In there. With the Haw--with that guy, with Jason," he said, almost revealing the personal nickname he'd been calling Jason all night long.
"I'm not following," she said.
He stepped closer to her. "I don't know. I mean--I just--I guess it's just weird for me. Seeing you with another guy and all."
"Well, I WAS married..."
"I never saw you with him."
"How do you think I feel? You're here with your wife, Tay. Your WIFE."
"I know..." his voice trailed off.
"I, uh--you look really good tonight," Mel admitted quietly, obviously trying to change the subject, as
he stood before her dressed simply in jeans, a blue button-down shirt and a black leather jacket.
"So do you," he said. "You're stunning." He was telling the truth. He couldn't stop looking at her all night, he couldn't believe how beautiful she was. He could understand why Jason couldn't keep his hands off of her. The thought instantly disgusted him.
"Tay--"
"Look, I know we said just friends. And I've tried to respect that, I really have, but tonight, after seeing you with--I don't know, Mel, I don't know if I can handle it. I can't handle seeing you with him, and I can't handle...myself. This. Everything. I need to know how you feel about it. About me. About us."
"Tay, there is no us."
"Mel--"
She sighed. "I...I look at you and I'm home. Okay? I look at you and I feel like I'm in some fucked up, surreal dream world where I could wake up any second and we could be right back in 2000. But I'm not gonna wake up, Tay. I'm not gonna wake up and be back in our screwed up teenage relationship. And you have
to admit, it was completely screwed up."
"I loved you so much--"
"And I loved you, too. And the feelings are still there, Tay, they are, but they're just...different, you know? Everything is so different. It's not just us anymore. It's not just you and me."
"It's always been just us," he said to her. "Inside, it has always been just you and me."
"But it's not," she said. "I mean, why stay married for so long if that's the way you feel about it?"
"I never thought I would see you again."
"So you stay married to this poor girl for convenience?"
"Where else was I gonna go?"
Mel sighed. "Tay, I'm not arguing this with you."
"I'm not arguing, I swear. I just want--I need to know how you feel. How you honestly feel."
He stared into her eyes, searching for a clue. Anything to let him know how she might have been feeling. Anything at all. Finally she said, "Not now. Not tonight. I can't talk about this tonight."
Tay sighed, exasperated. He was so exhausted. His emotions exhausted him, his feelings exhausted him. All the uncertainty and confusion. It all exhausted him. "Mel, we have to talk about this. I--we--need to talk about this. I can't walk away from you tonight without talking about all of this. About us."
"Tay," Mel responded. "How many times can we beat this into the ground? How many times can we go
round and round having the same conversation, saying all the same words, with no apparent outcome? Seriously?"
"I think I'm still in love with you," he blurted out. It was out of his mouth before he could stop and think twice. He immediately wished he hadn't said it.
Mel stared at him, stunned. He couldn't believe what he had just said. He felt himself go pale. Everyone was right--he WAS a ticking time bomb, and there wasn't much time left in it. He stood, his body stiffened, scared out of his mind at what could possibly come out of her mouth next. Had he ruined any and all possible chances at reconciliation and friendship? Had he ruined his last possible shot at getting her back?
That was when she slapped him across his face. It happened so fast, he didn't even have time to react. Quickly, the shock started to take over him.
Hurt and startled, Tay held his hand to his stinging face. "What was that for?"
Tears were forming in her eyes and he could practically see her blood boiling underneath her skin.
"Because--" she started, searching for the words. Finally, she gave up. "Because I don't know what else to say!"
With that, she stormed back inside the club, leaving Tay behind, dumbfounded and alone.
___________________________________________
MEL
Making her way back to their section in the club, Mel tried frantically to wipe away the couple of tears that
had escaped down her eyes after she had turned her back on Taylor. They could not see her crying. She stopped in the bathroom to check her face to find relief in the fact that her makeup had miraculously not budged. In the mirror, she shook the stiffness out of her body and took a deep breath. Once she had herself composed, she stepped out of the bathroom.
As she walked up, Jason stood up with Drew right behind him. "Oh my god, Mel, are you okay?" Drew asked.
Startled, Mel began to replay her trip to the restroom back in her head. Surely she'd made sure she'd dried herself up and touched up her face... "Yeah, of course I'm okay. Why wouldn't I be?" Mel lied, trying to put on a convincing smile.
"Mel, come on. I know better," Drew said.
Jason lifted Mel's chin until he was looking down at her. Searching her eyes and face, he said, "What's the matter? What happened?"
Mel shook her head. "Nothing happened. I just went out for air--"
She was cut off when Jason's gaze went from her to over her head. She turned around and saw Tay
approaching. Suddenly, Jason took a step toward him. "Hey, man. What the hell did you do to her?"
Mel glanced over at Drew, who drew herself to Mel's side instantly.
Taylor looked from Mel to Jason, narrowing his eyes. "I didn't do anything to her. More like what she did to me..."
Suddenly Natalie looked concerned. "Tay, what are you talking about?" She suddenly cut eyes at Mel. "What kind of trouble are you trying to cause now?"
Drew took a step toward Natalie but stopped when Jason's bass caught her off guard. "Back off, sweetheart, she's here with me," he said to Natalie.
To everyone's surprise, Taylor abruptly took a step toward Jason. "What in the hell gives you the right to talk to my wife that way?"
Seeing Tay suddenly jump to his wife's defense stung Mel. She couldn't help herself but to feel that way and she wasn't sure why. He did the right thing. He stepped up to his wife's defense. They were married, that's what husbands are supposed to do.
So why did it hurt her so much?
Jason was amused by Tay's display of chivalry. He smiled a mocking smile as he spoke. "Oh so now you decide to act like a husband? For the first time tonight you do something positive for her instead of letting her sit alone in the corner while you drool and lose your shit over MY girl? Un-fucking-believable."
Mel and Drew looked at each other, eyes wide. Mel had hoped that they would say what they had to say and cool off but instead it seemed things were accelerating. Drew glanced at Jason's right hand then back at Mel. Following Drew's eyes, Mel noticed that Jason was now slowly flexing his knuckles. This could NOT be good.
Surprisingly, Taylor wasn't backing down, either. He was giving it right back. "YOUR girl? Who the fuck do you think you are, guy? You have no idea what you're talking about. Not even close. What, you think you can just waltz in here off the sands of whatever third-world island it is you come from and think you can run things around here? You're gonna stand here and criticize me and my marriage when YOU are the one in here objectifying her? It's sickening, it really is."
And in a split second something triggered in Jason's eyes, just as a wild hunter's eyes change as they get their prey in their sights. Mel noticed it right away. No longer were the bright, glittering green eyes she was familiar with through the night. Now they were dark and full of rage.
"Objectify?!" Jason's voice roared. Instinctively, Drew wrapped her hands around his forearm, as if she could keep his maniacal rage from erupting all over Taylor. "You better check yourself next time you accuse someone of not knowing what they're talking about. I don't know what your idea of objectifying is, but if it
includes fighting over a girl you can't have in front of your WIFE, then you illustrate the word quite well."
"Look, I think it would be in your best interest if you just butted yourself out of things you have no idea about. Really," Tay said, obviously trying to reason with the raging mammoth.
"Is that a threat?" Jason began to step toward Taylor and that's when Mel decided it was time for her to step in. Drew still had her now death grip on Jason's arm.
Mel positioned herself in front of Jason and looked up at him, placing a hand gently on his chest. "Jason, that's enough."
He didn't see her and he didn't hear her. He and Tay continued their stand-off.
"Jason!" Mel said more firmly at him, reaching up and pulling his face down to look him in the eye. As she searched his eyes for the man she was familiar with earlier, she continued, "Jason, it's time to go."
As quickly as it started, Jason rapidly blinked his eyes a couple times and his green eyes glittered once more. "Okay," he simply said. "Okay, let's go."
As Mel said her bye's to everyone, Drew said to her quietly, "Are you gonna be okay?"
Mel smiled. "Of course I will. It's gonna take a bit to recover from this madness, but it'll be okay."
"Uh, no, with him," she said, nodding toward Jason. "He seems a little crazy."
Mel laughed. "Oh, him? God, I'm not scared of him. I can't afford to be scared of him, look at him!" Then she lowered her voice more. "Besides, he better not try any funny stuff. I'm the one carrying the gun."
Drew giggled and hugged Mel. "Okay, see you at home. Call if you need me."
Mel hugged Ike, Nikki, and Zac. Kate murmured a quick bye and Natalie was having nothing to do with it. As Jason took Mel by the hand, Tay called, "Mel--"
Putting himself between Taylor and Mel as they began to leave, Jason looked stone-faced at Tay. "Say bye,
Mel," he said as he led her away.
Over her shoulder, Mel shrugged at Tay. "I'll, uh, talk to you later."
Crazy as the night was, Mel couldn't get out of that club fast enough.
MEL
Here was Saturday again.
Mel was beginning to hate Saturdays.
Taylor had already called her a couple days prior. He was so excited. "It's been so long since we all got
together," he'd said. "It'll be just like old times!"
"Uh, Tay, do you remember what our group's 'old times' were?" she had said.
He had just laughed and passed her comment off. 'That poor, clueless, jaded man,' Mel had thought to
herself.
And now Saturday night was here. Mel and Drew were in Drew's room putting the finishing touches on
themselves. Mel didn't really care how she looked, but Drew had insisted that she dress up. "Mel, this is Lavo. You can't walk in looking like a bum."
As they now examined their appearances in the mirror side by side, Mel had to admit that they looked pretty
fabulous. Beside her Drew towered over her despite the five inches Mel had under her feet. Drew had opted for minimalism, as always, in a short, red, strapless cocktail dress that was just fitted enough to softly hug her
curves. Her blonde hair was balled up into a trendy, messy pile on top of her head and on her feet she wore black, patent leather platform Jimmy Choo stilettos. She looked as if she's stepped right out of Vogue
magazine.
Mel, on the other hand, wasn't quite so striking. She stood about six inches shorter than Drew and had
opted to let her dark brown hair hang in soft, loose curls down her back. Her dress was about as short as Drew's, but sparkled entirely of silver sequins. The dress was one-shouldered with the one sleeve extending
all the way down to her wrist. On her feet she had chosen silver, gladiator-style stilettos that buckled just above her ankles.
As Mel fiddled with the clasp of a bracelet she attempted to put on her bare arm, the doorbell rang.
Drew's eyes lit up. "That must be the guys!" And with that, she was out of the room in a flash.
Mel shook her head. Drew was much too excited for this night.
A couple of minutes later Drew burst back into the room to find Mel still fiddling with the bracelet. Swiftly, Drew clasped it for her and said, "Let's go, we're already running late!"
Mel followed Drew into the living room, stopped dead in her tracks, then retreated to the hallway and
stopped when she was just around the corner. "Um, excuse us, she must have forgotten something," she heard Drew say sheepishly to the two gorgeous sex gods standing in their living room. She met Mel around the corner. "What is your problem?" she whispered.
"Are those our dates?"
"Yes!" Drew hissed.
"Which one is mine?"
"The taller one."
Mel's eyes widened at Drew. "Are you trying to get me laid?"
Drew shrugged. "Probably wouldn't hurt."
"Well it's working!" Mel hissed back.
Drew smiled at her and the pair walked back into the living room. Upon seeing these two men, Mel felt
herself becoming weak in the knees. Besides the fact that the man Drew was setting her up with was likely the sexiest man ever to grace the universe, Mel hadn't been on a date since she'd dated her husband seven years ago. Putting the official number of years on it dizzied her for a moment. She couldn't remember the last time she'd been this nervous.
She also couldn't escape the cruel irony of spending her first date in seven years in the presence of her ex
and his wife.
Cruel, cruel irony.
"Mel, this is Kevin," Drew interrupted her thoughts as she introduced her to her date. Both men were huge. Kevin was solidly and largely built with sparkling blue eyes and short blonde hair that he wore in messy spikes. He was dressed in black chinos and a blue button-down shirt that not only made his already sparkling
eyes sparkle even bluer, but also made the subtle tan he sported more apparent in his complexion.
Grinning, Drew continued. "And this is Kevin's friend, Jason. Jason, this is my best friend, Mel."
Mel couldn't speak. For a moment, she could only stare and fight the sandpaper that was forming in her
throat. Jason was a force to be reckoned with, hormonally. Mel found that she was quickly losing this battle within herself. Jason stood tall. Very tall. At least six feet and four inches of apparent caramel-colored Hawaiian goodness. Maybe more. His green eyes sparkled under his tan skin and his bright smile made Mel want to melt. His brown hair fell naturally in waves to his shoulders and he wore a subtle goatee on his face. He had dressed very simply in a white t-shirt and dark blue jeans. His rich, smooth voice interrupted her as she was taking in the massive biceps that seemed to ripple behind his white short sleeves. Maybe ripple was a strong word, but to Mel it seemed to fit. "Pleasure," he simply said, reaching out a large, Hawaiian hand to her.
"Sweet Christ," Mel said under her breath.
"Pardon?" he had said to her.
Finally, Mel snapped out of it. She looked up, way up, and smiled at him sheepishly. "Uh, pleasure's all mine," she said.
And she meant it. Boy, had she meant it.
The cab was small. Well, by the current circumstances, it was small. The four of them were squeezed in the backseat, Mel being very aware that she sat pressed up against Jason's hard, muscular body and she fit there like a glove, feeling his body heat and taking in the intoxicating clean fragrance that came from him. She started to feel things within herself she hadn't felt in awhile and probably shouldn't have. Nervously, she found herself concentrating awfully hard on Drew as she had her face in her phone, when Jason's rich voice and hot breath quietly invaded her ear. "So I understand we're going out with your ex tonight? Probably the strangest date I've ever been on, to be honest."
Mel turned to look at him. She wasn't aware he knew the situation. "Uh, well, it's not really like that anymore. And he's bringing his wife anyway, so..."
Jason smiled at her. "It's okay," he said, Mel detecting a hint of seduction in his voice. "I just want to have a good time."
With that, it was over. Mel finally gave in and let her body win her over, finally deciding to be honest with herself. "So do I," she said to him, looking him square in the eye.
__________________________________________
And I waited for you
And I waited for you
Just a picture and a feeling and a face
How could I forget your touch, your warm embrace
And the shoes you wore with long, black satin lace
As you walked into my mind
As I walked into this old forgotten hall
Just one look and I began to fall
Wish I could frame you and this feeling on the wall
To stare at till there is no time
And I waited for you
Just hoping that you'd come back to me
And I waited for you
Run, run, runaway run
Maybe someday I will find someone to
Run, run, runaway
Maybe some day, maybe some day
From a distance, watched the flowers brush your cheek
As you read the words I wrote I couldn't speak
And now I lay here broken heart and blistered feet
As you're spinning round my mind
And I waited for you
Just dreaming that you'd come back to me
And I waited for you
As you weep, you can know that it's all right
As you sleep I'll just follow your door light
We can talk just as long as you hold on tight
Just one breath is a million sighs
I can tell every breath that you're breathing
I can feel every thought that you're thinking
We can talk, it's a thousand years gone by
You and I
ISAAC
"Well this is a nice little space here," Isaac Hanson observed as they began to get settled in the area of the club that had been reserved for their party. Lavo was a nice club, he had never been in it before. Then again, he had never really been in any club voluntarily unless they attended an event or party or any kind of work
or networking-related event. Ike generally liked to keep things more low-key.
The area wasn't really extravagant and not terribly private. It consisted of four white, low-backed sofa benches, two long ones across from each other and two shorter ones on either side that formed sort of their own little nook around a small black coffee-type table. It was just casual and comfortable enough.
The three of them and their wives had been the first to arrive. The club wasn't terribly crowded yet so they were thankful that they could hear themselves speak for the time being. Natalie, Kate, and Nikki opted to visit the restroom together as soon as they got there, leaving Isaac, Taylor, and Zac there alone to observe the atmosphere. As Ike watched Nikki walk away, he couldn't help but feel proud. She was tall and gorgeous with her long, silky hair and her white, long-sleeved, backless cocktail dress. His heart melted as he scanned his eyes down her long legs as she walked in her black platform stilettos. He was the luckiest man in the world. And even more thankful that he never had to find himself in the situation his brothers currently found themselves in.
Ike spotted them first. Mel and Drew had arrived with their dates. He had barely recognized them. If it hadn't been for Drew's blonde hair and never-ending legs walking next to a much shorter and darker-haired Mel, he might not have. They seemed to know everyone as they stopped to speak to several people on their way in. He had to admit, the two women looked stunning. A far, far cry from the teenagers he remembered them as. They had grown from young girls to women, sophisticated and mature. Admittedly, he was proud of the way they had turned out.
But he couldn't help himself but to laugh in disbelief. His laugh was directed at his brothers. He knew that this was going to be quite an eventful evening.
Taylor and Zac looked over at him as their brother seemingly burst out in random laughter. "Ike, what is
so funny?"
Ike laughed and shook his head. "Wow! You two are so screwed."
Tay and Zac both looked in the direction Ike was looking in and both were speechless for a moment.
"Who the hell is that?" Tay finally said.
"That," Ike said. "Is Mel and Drew."
Tay looked over at Ike, perturbed. "No, I mean, who's the guy?" Tay seemed taken aback as he spied the tall Hawaiian that appeared to swallow Mel whole as he rested his arm around her shoulders.
Still smiling, Ike responded, "Apparently that is Mel's boyfriend. And he is twice the size you are." As if he felt the need to emphasize, Ike held up two fingers. "Twice."
"She never mentioned a boyfriend."
"Well, it really wasn't any of your business."
Tay gave Ike another annoyed look and wiped his sweaty hands on his pants as the two couples approached them.
Mel and Drew hugged each of the guys and introduced them to Jason and Kevin. As they were about to be
seated, Nikki, Natalie, and Kate had returned from the restroom. Ike watched as Natalie and Kate made a beeline for Drew's date, Kevin. "Oh my god," Kate was saying. "We LOVED you in Twilight!"
"Omigosh, yes!" Natalie agreed. "Emmett is my favorite character!"
Visibly embarrassed, the poor guy started to turn red. "Um, I'm sorry, but I'm actually not that guy..."
Natalie looked flushed, but Kate showed no shame. "But you look exactly like him!"
Kevin smiled, "I know. I get that a lot, actually."
"Uh, Kate, Natalie," Ike said. "This is Kevin. He's here with Drew. And Drew, this is Natalie, Tay's wife, and Kate, Zac's wife."
Drew and Natalie muttered "Nice to meet you" and Kate hesitantly shook Drew's hand. "Drew..." Kate
turned around to look at her husband. "As in TRL Drew?"
Everyone fell silent and looked at Zac expectantly. He said to Kate, "I can't believe you remember that."
"Of course I do, that moment was every fan's worst nightmare." She turned back to Drew and smiled,
tight-lipped. "And now here you are in the flesh. Infamous Drew..."
"Uh, good to meet you, too," Drew said, hastily. She turned to Kevin. "I need a drink."
As Kevin flagged down a waitress, Nikki wrapped Mel in a hug. "It's so good to see you!" Nikki said.
Mel smiled, "You, too! You look fabulous!" Mel got Drew's attention. "Drew, this is who I wanted you to meet. This is Nikki. Nikki, this is my best friend, Drew."
"Drew!" Nikki said, hugging her as well. "So nice to finally meet you, I've heard so much about you!"
Drew smiled. "Good things, I hope."
"Of course!" Nikki said.
As Nikki and Drew began to gush over each other's handbags, Ike turned his attention to the scene that had the potential to break out in front of him. He watched as Mel and Natalie stiffly exchanged cordial greetings and as Mel introduced Jason to Taylor as Jason towered over the four of them. Taylor showed absolutely no signs of intimidation which made Ike proud of his brother. He was especially interested when he noticed that Natalie had a hard time keeping her eyes off of Jason and that she blushed when he spoke to her. He couldn't blame her. If Ike was female, he probably would have been the same way.
At this sudden thought, Ike glanced over at his own wife. Nikki was blissfully unaware of her surroundings as hers and Drew's conversation had shifted from handbags to shoes. He smiled to himself.
As the waitress had finally arrived to take drink orders, Isaac took a look around. He was seated on the left end of one of the smaller sofa benches that sat at the head of the party. Nikki shared the bench with him, followed by Drew, Kevin, Mel, and Jason on the sofa bench to their right. To the bench on their left sat Taylor then Natalie and across from him, sat Kate and Zac. He observed everyone ordering drinks and talking all across the tables to one another, still sensing some mild nervous tension. He had hoped everyone would loosen up with drinks. Otherwise, this was nice. It was a rare occasion that he and Nikki were given the opportunity to go out alone with friends, much less in an atmosphere as swanky as this one. He decided that tonight, he was just going to sit back and enjoy himself.
___________________________________________
DREW
Drew wasn't quite sure what to do with herself. She eagerly ordered herself a Cosmopolitan in hopes that it might kill some of the nerves she was feeling having to be face to face with Kate. Not only being face to face with Kate, but with Zac as well. She had hoped that bringing a hot date with her would ease some of the tension, but she had been wrong. So, so wrong.
Mel, on the other hand...Mel was in rare form, once again. When Kevin had suggested he bring along his
friend Jason to be Mel's date, Drew was thrilled because that saved her from agonizing over choosing someone. Kevin was hot, so she knew all of his friends had to be, too. And boy, he didn't disappoint. Drew had to admit, she was a little disappointed that she hadn't ended up with Jason but she had no idea that Mel was going to react the way she did. She hadn't seen Mel act the way she was acting over a man since...well, since Taylor. Drew saw Mel's relationship with Jason going absolutely nowhere and this was perfectly fine with her. She was just glad to see Mel acting like a somewhat normal human being, whether it was her hormones talking or not. And based on the way she was observing Mel with Jason now, Mel's hormones had
completely taken her over. Drew smiled to herself for her small victory.
As if reading her mind, Nikki leaned over in Drew's ear, "Are you watching Natalie?"
"No, why?" This was unexpected. The truth was, she had been playing a flirty eye game with Zac since she'd arrived and hadn't really paid attention to anyone else. She found herself glancing over at Natalie as Nikki
spoke.
"She cannot keep her eyes off of Mel's date. She's trying to be slick about it but it's obvious to anyone who's watching her." Nikki giggled a bit. "It's kind of ironic, isn't it?"
Finally, drinks had arrived and Drew wasted no time getting rid of about half of hers. As she set her glass down on the table, she felt her hand bag vibrate on her thigh. Puzzled, she pulled her phone from her bag.
"Don't look up. You are so hot tonight." It was Zac. Drew didn't know if she thought this was absurd or a little naughty. After a moment, she looked up and glanced in Zac's direction. He gave her a small half smile
as she noticed his phone in his hand.
She decided to pick naughty. This slightly turned her on. She finished the rest of her drink and proceeded to text him back. "You, too. You probably shouldn't be texting right now."
"Damn, Drew!" Mel's voice interrupted the technological world she was losing herself in. "You didn't waste any time on that drink, did you?"
Blankly, Drew looked at her own empty glass then looked at everyone else's nearly full glasses. "Um, I guess I was just thirsty," Drew said. She couldn't think of anything else to say. She was kind of surprised at herself.
Her phone vibrated again.
"Meet me at the bar."
"No," she texted back. "Later."
"I need to get you alone now."
"Later," she texted.
"Don't you need another drink?"
Shit! Zac did have a point. Maybe she needed to get this out of her system so she could move on with the rest of her night. Besides, she kind of felt bad for Kevin. She had all but ignored him so far.
Drew stood up, handbag in hand. "Um, excuse me," she said. "I need to visit the restroom."
"Need me to go with you?" Mel offered.
"No," Drew said quickly. "I'll only be a minute."
As she rounded the sofa bench to head toward the restroom, she took one quick glance at Zac and locked
eyes with him.
_____________________________________________
MEL
Mel sat on the sofa bench next to Jason and was extremely uncomfortable with the seating arrangement. How
she had ended up sitting directly across from Taylor, she had no idea. He couldn't keep his eyes off of her, and she him. Every time they made eye contact, the emotional impact hit her like a ton of bricks. But at the exact same time, her need to crawl all over Jason and ravish him on the spot left her extremely confused.
And extremely uncomfortable. With Drew gone to the restroom and Natalie and Kate having their own conversation, Mel sat in silence.
Jason, with his arm resting on the sofa bench behind Mel, said quietly in her ear, "Man, you can cut the
tension in here with a knife." As he finished his sentence, he ran the backs of his fingers lightly down her bare arm.
Mel felt a shiver run down her spine and she stiffened as goose bumps formed on her arm.
"What's the matter?" his deep, rich voice caressed her ear. Lightly, he swept some of her hair back off of her shoulder "Do I make you uncomfortable?"
Finally, Mel turned and looked him in the eye. She smiled at him. "No. Quite the opposite, actually."
Jason flashed a knowing grin at her.
Suddenly, Taylor's voice brought them back to reality. "So, Jason," he said. "What do you do?"
"Um, actually, I'm a stunt man," Jason told him.
Before she could even think of her reaction, Mel grinned and looked at Jason, amused. "Really? What kind of stunts to you do?"
He flashed another flirty grin at Mel and winked at her. "All of them."
With that, she turned and smiled triumphantly at Taylor.
Unable to control his annoyed expression, Tay said to Mel, "How would you not know that?"
Jason answered for her. "Oh, she wouldn't know. We've only just recently met. We haven't had the chance to really talk yet." He smiled down at Mel.
Mel couldn't read Taylor's expression. It was sort of a mix of confusion and amusement. Maybe a bit of jealousy? She wasn't sure.
She had noticed, however, that Natalie and Kate had stopped talking and had started listening once Jason had
started talking. Out of nowhere, Zac butted in. "So you're a stunt man? That's so awesome! What kind of stunts do you do?"
Zac and Jason had begun talking stunts when Kate and Natalie excused themselves to go to the restroom. Mel had wanted to take some of that time to say something, anything, to Taylor, but she just couldn't get any words out. Anything she felt like she could to say to him, she didn't feel like she could say in front of everyone else. She was afraid that a simple, "You look nice," might cause some kind of World War Three.
As if reading her mind, Tay spoke for her. "You look beautiful tonight," he said to her.
Mel just looked at him. She wasn't sure how to react. She knew that if Jason had said that to her, which he hadn't yet, she would have melted all over the floor. But with Tay saying it, it seemed to tug at her heartstrings. Taylor wasn't near as attractive as Jason was, attractive as Taylor was, but she couldn't help
that every time she looked in his eyes or heard his voice, her heart seemed to palpitate, just as it had the very first time they had reunited as teenagers all those years ago.
Finally, Mel simply said, "Thank you."
"But you probably knew that already," he said to her.
Mel smiled shyly and shook her head. It was honestly the first time she'd heard it all night.
Tay narrowed his eyes at her. "Seriously?" he mouthed to her.
She simply shrugged.
Tay shook his head in apparent disgust. Leave it to him to suddenly make her feel horrible about the
situation she was in. A situation that she had absolutely no control over. She felt a familiar resentment and anger rising inside her that she opted to keep down by quickly emptying her glass.
Suddenly, Zac stood up, looking at his phone. "I, uh, I gotta take this. I'll be right back," he said, walking away.
_________________________________________________
DREW
Drew was just about to wash her hands as Kate and Natalie entered the restroom, giggling. They abruptly stopped when they saw Drew in there. Drew smiled at them through the mirror. "So, how are you guys liking the club?" Drew asked, desperately grasping for an ice-breaker.
Natalie and Kate glanced at each other. "It's nice," Kate answered.
"Precarious position we find ourselves in tonight, huh?" Natalie said as she set up shop at the sink next to Drew. She turned on the water and began to wash her hands along side her.
Drew quickly felt herself going on the defense. "As in?" she prompted.
Natalie turned off the water and turned to face Drew. "Well, you know. You and Mel here with Kate and I. I mean, given your histories and all. Especially after Zac's little declaration of love for you over national television. That's just not something you get over easily, is it?"
"What's your point?" Drew asked. She found herself having a hard time looking at Kate and this
conversation was making her rather nervous. She almost felt as if she had "I slept with Zac" in flashing neon lights across her forehead. Did she know? Did both of them know?
"She's saying to stay the hell away from our husbands," Kate suddenly piped up.
Drew laughed out loud. "Are you serious? I mean, really, really serious? Do you have any idea how long ago that was? Are you feeling threatened over something that literally happened a lifetime ago? Do you have any idea how ridiculous you both sound?"
When neither Natalie or Kate had anything to say, Drew continued. "Perhaps you two should have a talk
with your husbands before you go opening your mouths like that again. And by the way, Natalie, didn't you already have that talk with yours?"
With that, Drew let herself by them and exited the restroom.
As Drew walked back into the club, feeling victorious, she noticed Zac standing at the other end of the bar. He motioned to her and she met him. Miraculously, they couldn't be seen at that spot from their section. It was almost completely private. Unless someone happened to walk up on them, that is.
"Seriously, Zac?" Drew said. "Texting?"
"Should I have called you sexy in the middle of present company?"
Drew rolled her eyes. "Speaking of present company. I was ambushed in the bathroom just now."
"By who?"
"Your wife," she said, exasperated. "And her little minion. Actually, the way it went down it was more like the other way around...anyway, I was freaking out. I thought they knew!"
"Oh man. Wow," Zac said, running a hand nervously through his hair. "I'm sorry about that."
"Yeah, me, too."
Zac took a step closer to her. She could feel his breath on her. "I could take you right now, did you know that?"
Drew looked around. "Right now?"
"Not like it hasn't happened before."
"What happened to just friends?"
"I promised I would TRY," he said. "I didn't say the trying would be successful. Why must you be so damn hot every time I see you?"
"Well..." Drew didn't have an answer over the blushing she felt on her cheeks. "Maybe next time I'll show up in sweats and a ponytail and we won't be having this problem."
"I would still want you. You can't not be sexy. Ever."
Drew smiled. "What about that drink? I think you promised me one."
"Did I?"
"I have proof," she said, waving her phone at him.
She felt his hands rest on her hips. "If I buy you a drink, what's in it for me?"
She grinned at him. "A little drink can make me very friendly."
Zac smiled and called the bartender over and handed him a bill. "Get her whatever she wants."
And with that, he walked away from the bar.
____________________________________________
ISAAC
With everyone seated and drinking again, things finally began loosening up and conversation began running
rampant. "Hey, do you guys remember that summer we all went to the beach?" Isaac asked.
Mel and Drew looked at each other then back at Ike. "Which time?" asked Mel.
"The first time. Where everyone fought with each other. Constantly. Man, I thought it would never end!"
"Oh yeah, whatever happened to Blaine?" Drew asked. "God, he was such a horn dog."
"He was a respectful horn dog," Zac corrected her.
"Tay got bit by that crab," Mel laughed.
Surprisingly, even Natalie looked amused. Maybe it was the alcohol. Ike wasn't sure. "Honey," Natalie said to Taylor, giggling. "How did you manage to get bitten by a crab?"
Tay blushed. "I was holding it and it bit me."
"No!" Drew said. "Tell the truth! He was teasing Mel with it and it backfired on him!"
"Tay stayed backfired on back then," Ike laughed.
"Tell me about it," said Taylor. "That was the trip that mine and Mel's relationship finally came out of the closet. Talk about a world war!"
Natalie became visibly bothered again and there was awkward murmur amongst them all. Her eyes lit up again when a song she liked came on. "Oh my god, I love this song," Natalie said to Kate as she sipped on her drink.
"Do you want to dance?" Jason asked her.
Mel jerked her head around at Jason and Tay's eyes widened. "Uh, I don't know..." Tay started saying.
Natalie looked shocked at the request. She appeared like a deer in headlights. "Um," she started. It was obvious she wanted to say yes. She looked at Tay, then back at Jason. And then at Mel. "Um, yes," she decided. "Yes, I would."
As Jason led Natalie out onto the dance floor, Tay and Mel watched after them, jaws dropped. They looked
around at everyone else to find that they had an audience. "Well, uh, that was unexpected," Mel said. She was kind of hurt. He was her date and he hadn't even asked her to dance yet. Not that she really wanted to, but the sentiment would have been nice.
Leave it to good ole Drew to vocalize what everyone else was thinking. "Um, what the hell was that? Kevin," she said, turning to her date. "What the fuck is your friend doing? Kevin?"
Kevin shook his attention from somewhere else in the club and he looked back at Drew. "Uh, I don't really
know. I mean, I wouldn't worry about it or anything. He's a good guy."
Everyone exchanged glances at each other, then Ike burst out laughing.
"Ike, why are you continuously laughing at my expense tonight?" Tay asked.
"I'm sorry, I can't help it. Its just...it's really funny, actually. I mean, considering..."
"Zac, let's go out there," Kate suddenly suggested.
Now it was Zac's turn to be surprised. "Do what?"
"Let's go dance with them."
"Kate. You know better. I don't dance. Seriously."
"Zac...I don't think it's a good idea to leave my drunk best friend out on the dance floor with a stranger. Let's GO."
Sighing, Zac begrudgingly took his wife's hand and let her lead him to the dance floor.
Ike laughed louder.
As he calmed down, he realized that what he expected to happen in this moment, in fact, was happening.
Taylor had switched locations and took a seat next to Mel and appeared to be having a private conversation with her, all the while keeping an eye out on the dance floor. Ike couldn't see Natalie or Jason from where he was sitting, but he wasn't worried. He knew nothing about Jason whatsoever, but he guessed that Natalie wasn't his type. Whatever his reasoning may have been for inviting her to dance, though, was beyond him. He decided he still wasn't sure if it was a good idea that his brother be allowed to spend any time alone with Mel, but it was ultimately out of Ike's control. He figured if Tay was going to make the bed, he might as well make himself comfortable in it.
In the meantime, Ike and Nikki decided to chat up Drew and Kevin. "So how did you two meet?" Ike asked the two of them.
"We know each other through work," Drew answered.
"Oh, so you're an actor, too?" Nikki asked Kevin.
"No, I'm a model," Kevin said.
"Oh," said Nikki, a little surprised. "I thought Drew was an actress?"
"I do a little print work on the side," Drew answered. "Kevin and I have known each other for awhile."
Ike was noticing that it was becoming increasingly difficult for Kevin to keep his focus on their conversation. As a matter of fact, Kevin had been relatively quiet all night. What in the world was his problem?
_____________________________________________
MEL
When the two couples returned to their seats, Taylor returned to his. As Natalie sat down, she was
fanning herself as she reached for her drink. "Wow, you sure can dance. Thank you for that," she said to Jason.
Jason smiled. "Thank you, you're not so bad yourself."
As Tay looked between his wife and the Hawaiian Adonis with a look of question, Mel questioned her date
herself. "So did you have fun?"
Jason grinned and put his arm around her, pulling her closer. "Don't worry," he said to her quietly, his hot breath caressing her ear once again and bringing back the shiver she had gotten earlier. "She was looking extremely uptight and uncomfortable. She needed loosening up, I did her a favor. Besides, the poor girl has two left feet." He turned her chin toward him so he could see her. "You're the one who's rhythm I'm interested in."
Unable to control herself, Mel found herself giggling. She knew it was partly alcohol, partly the fact that she just learned that Natalie couldn't dance, and mostly because she knew her hot date still had the hots for her.
Jason laughed at Mel's laughter. "Why is that funny?" he asked.
"Did you save any of those moves for me?" Mel found herself asking him, seductively.
Jason softly kissed her hand and wrapped his large hand around hers. "You have no idea."
___________________________________________
DREW
As Drew was noticing the sudden turn of events taking place next to her, she immediately turned her attention to Taylor, who was trying his hardest to hide his displeasure. She had known Tay long enough to know the jealousy in his eyes when she saw it and right now it was raging. She applauded him, though, for keeping his composure. If this had been eleven or twelve years earlier, an entire scene probably would have broken out with someone, if not the entire party, being thrown out of the establishment.
But that was a long time ago and they were adults now. Things had changed.
As Drew glanced over at Kevin, she felt her handbag vibrate again. She looked over at Zac, who had phone
in hand, and she looked at her own.
"Your guy over there doesn't seem to be too interesting." Zac had texted.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Mel and her dude over here pretty much need to get a room. Kinda expected that from you."
"Mel is in rare form tonight. And what is it to you what I have going on with Kevin?"
"Are you gonna take him home tonight?"
Drew couldn't help but look up from her phone and over at Zac. Thankfully Kate seemed to be in deep
conversation with Natalie and Taylor so she was pretty much ignoring Zac. He smiled and raised his eyebrows at Drew.
"What if I do?" she texted.
"I don't think you will."
"What makes you so sure?"
"You haven't even laid a finger on him tonight."
Drew looked up from her phone and over at Kevin. Out of the blue, she placed a random kiss on his cheek.
Kevin looked surprised. "Uh, what was that for?"
"For being such a great sport and coming here with me tonight."
"Oh, uh, you're welcome," he responded, still bewildered.
Drew's phone vibrated.
"Ha ha," Zac texted.
"It's more action than you're getting," Drew texted back.
"I don't think so."
"Well, more than you're getting from me."
"I definitely don't think so."
"I think you're full of yourself."
"I think you're full of me."
"Not yet."
"You will be."
Drew looked up from her phone and felt herself blushing. "Promises, promises," she texted back.
"Could you get any sexier?" Zac texted.
"Could you? You need to be careful with your wife."
"So did you bring the muscle to make me jealous?"
"No. Is it working?"
"Maybe. But not really. I'm pretty secure in this."
"In what?"
"In you."
With that, Drew rolled her eyes and put her phone away. She looked over at Zac who raised his arms in
defeat. "What?" he mouthed to her. She simply shook her head at him.
______________________________________________
ISAAC
Isaac was an observer. He was actually pretty good at observation, it was something he prided himself in. Sometimes, though, he wished he wasn't, and this was one of those times.
It was painfully obvious to anyone who was paying attention, which at that point was nobody, that Zac and
Drew had a hot and heavy conversation going on via text message. However, it wasn't the texting that bothered Ike so much as Drew's date, Kevin, during the process.
Through the night, Ike had kept an eye on Kevin. The Kellan Lutz look-alike was quiet and detached. At first he thought maybe he was shy and then wondered if maybe he was on drugs. But finally, he came to the conclusion that Kevin simply had a wandering eye. Even when Drew had kissed him, he seemed spaced out
and unfocused. As Drew texted Zac, Ike watched Kevin check out everyone that had walked past. He never did figure out exactly who he was looking at but at this point it really didn't matter. Kevin was a horn dog with a wandering eye and Ike found it highly disrespectful to Drew. Granted, Drew hadn't been the best hostess herself, but Kevin could have made the effort.
Except that he didn't.
Ike made a mental note to say something to Kevin as soon as he had the chance. Ike wasn't one to stir up
trouble, but he wasn't about to sit back and watch his friend be disrespected, either. Kevin may not have been interested in Drew, but he could have been more considerate. A real man should always respect his date, whether they were an item or not.
Ike got his chance sooner than he thought, when Nikki and Drew dragged Natalie and Kate and Mel onto the dance floor. Zac and Tay sat and talked with Jason while Ike decided to spend some quality time with Kevin.
Ike moved and sat next to Kevin where Drew had once been sitting. "Hey, man," Ike said. "How's your
night going so far?"
"Oh, uh, not bad," Kevin answered. "How's yours?"
"Good, good," Ike responded. "Listen, uh, you seem like a good guy, Kevin. Really, you do."
"Thanks," Kevin said, appreciatively.
"Yeah, yeah, no problem. Uh, anyway, Kevin, I don't mean to pry or anything and it's really none of my
business, but I couldn't help but notice that you have a bit of a wandering eye..."
Kevin just looked at Ike, speechless.
"I mean, like I said, whatever you and Drew have going on is none of my business. But to be honest, I
think it's kind of rude and disrespectful for you to be ignoring her and checking out other women in front of her like you have been. I mean, especially since she looks the way she does tonight. You get what I'm
saying?"
Kevin gasped and then he started smiling. "What?" he asked. "What, you think I--man!"
"Like I said," Ike said. "I don't want to start trouble, I just wanted to bring it to your attention. You know, give you an opportunity to salvage the night."
Kevin laughed. "Okay. Okay. Bro, first of all, you need to be having that conversation with these two guys over here," Kevin said, pointing to Taylor and Zac. "Those guys have been losing their minds over Mel and Drew all damn night, in front of their wives, okay? And second of all, Drew is fine with it. It's totally not a problem."
Ike looked incredulous. "Fine with it?" he said. "How could she possibly be fine with it?"
Kevin leaned in a little closer. "You know, because I'm gay."
Ike wasn't sure he heard correctly. Had the music suddenly gotten louder? "Excuse me, do what?"
"I'm gay," Kevin repeated.
Ike wasn't believing his ears. "You're ga--does Drew know?"
Kevin smirked at him. "Of course she knows. I came with her tonight to keep her company, but mostly
because it was convenient. I'm meeting someone here later. She knows all about it."
Ike was speechless. Suddenly he felt embarrassed. And more speechless. "Uh, okay then," Ike said. "I apologize for intruding then."
Kevin held out a hand and Ike shook it. "No worries," Kevin said. "I'm sure she would appreciate your concern."
Shocked and embarrassed, Ike returned to his seat just in time for four of the five women to return to their
seats. Mel had gone missing.
__________________________________________________
MEL
As Drew, Nikki, Natalie and Kate exited the dance floor from the Usher song they had just finished dancing to, Mel hung behind at the bar. She was in desperate need of water. As she finished the cup that she had quickly downed, she felt a pair of arms slide around her waist. She knew immediately by the size of them that they belonged to Jason. She turned around and faced him, looking into his piercing green eyes.
"Did you save any energy for a dance with me?" he asked her.
Mel smiled at him seductively. "Oh, I have more than enough energy left for you."
"Good," he said. "You're gonna need it."
He led her back out onto the dance floor and in one swift movement, had her wrapped in his arms. The
music was fast, as all the songs seemed to be, but they chose to sway slower, not necessarily caring about dancing, but spending the time feeling each other's bodies pressed against the other.
"Good god, you are sexy as hell. I've been waiting all night to get you alone," he said to her.
"The feeling is mutual," she said to him.
"Really," he said. "Because I was afraid I was losing you to that Taylor guy tonight."
Mel couldn't help but to laugh out loud. Jason smiled at her. "There's that laugh again. I must be hilarious."
Calming herself, Mel shook her head. "No, no, I'm sorry. It's not that, it's just--well I wasn't aware I was sending out any mixed signals or anything."
Jason pulled her tighter to him. "Oh, there's nothing wrong with your signals. I'm picking up on them quite well, actually. It's his I'm questioning."
Mel ran her hand up his rippled chest, then down his arm. She looked longingly at his luscious lips and his gorgeous eyes. "Considering the situation, do his signals really matter?"
He wrapped her tighter and brushed her hair back away from her ear. In it, he said to her, "I think it's pretty apparent from the first moment we saw each other what was going to happen tonight."
As his voice made love to her ear, a shiver ran all the way through Mel's body which she invited this time, and she closed her eyes and breathed in his intoxicating scent. She barely noticed her nails beginning to dig into his arms.
She turned her face toward him. His long hair brushed her cheek. "I think you might be right."
She pulled from him so she could look him in the eye and the moment their eyes met, he took her in his
mouth, aggressively. She couldn't describe the feeling when he kissed her as any more than exhilarating. It was exhilarating and new...and he was so sexy. She hadn't been kissed like that in--well, she wasn't quite sure when. Unable to control herself, she felt her hand reach around and entangle itself in his shoulder-length hair. As she kissed him back as aggressively as he kissed her, she realized that she didn't quite know herself tonight. This was completely out of character for Mel to have wild one-night stands and to be seducing a man just as much as he seduced her. She had never been a seductress. Her last two relationships were passionate, love-filled relationships that had both lasted long and had both ended traumatically. The truth was, she had never actually sowed her wild oats.
Not that she ever intended to sow any wild oats. That just wasn't her. But there was something about Jason...she didn't know what it was. She was just so blissfully carefree around him. She felt no emotional attachment toward him whatsoever. Everything she felt for him was one hundred percent completely physical--which was honestly something she'd never felt toward a man before. She didn't know how to not become attached. She didn't know how to just be casual. Tonight she was definitely getting a crash course
in the subject.
She didn't want to admit it to herself, but she knew what the underlying, real reason she clung so much to
Jason was. It was of course, as always, about Taylor. He was married. His wife was here tonight. She wasn't necessarily trying to set out to make him jealous, but had she not had some kind of distraction she would have been miserable all night. She couldn't deny the feelings she had for Tay. They had always been there and they would never go away. Seeing him tonight and especially seeing him with his wife hadn't been easy on her emotions or her nerves. Not in the least. She needed this wild and crazy tryst, just this one time. She needed Jason. She needed him just for tonight.
Mel had just gotten rid of the small pang of guilt rising in her when Jason pulled away and groaned
flirtatiously. "We have to stop this if we want to finish out this night," he said to her. "If we keep going we're going to end up doing something I'm going to regret and that's not how I want to have you."
Mel raised her eyebrows at him in mock surprise. "Have me?"
He pulled her close by her hands and looked down at her. "It's no secret that I want you," he flirted.
Mel smiled up at him. "Oh, you'll have me." She pulled him down and breathed into his ear. "All of me."
He stood back up and smiled at the ceiling then back down at her. "Oh man, get me off this floor now
before this happens right here."
Mel giggled. "I actually need to step out the door for a breath of fresh air. I'll meet you back over there."
Jason smiled. "Don't keep me waiting," he said before letting go of her hand and heading back to their
section.
_____________________________________________________
TAYLOR
Taylor felt physically sick as he watched the sordid scene unfold on the dance floor. He hadn't meant to
be spying, but he couldn't help it. Mel looked absolutely breath-taking, and her date--god, how could he compete with that? He glanced over at his wife who, surprisingly, giggled in conversation with Drew, Kevin, and Nikki, and remembered that "competing" was pretty much out of the question. He really had no leg to stand on and he knew it.
It pained him. The entire night pained him. He hadn't wanted to be jealous, but he was. He knew he had no right to be. But he'd never known Mel as anything but his. She had always belonged to him. Always. Even when they were toddlers, she was his best friend. His, always.
And now she wasn't, and coming face to face with that hadn't been easy. Was this the reality? Was this his payback for his bad decisions ten years ago? Was he destined to be emotionally tormented for the rest of his life over the one he allowed to get away? What could he do?
And now the Hawaiian Adonis kissed her. His stomach flip flopped all over itself and he wanted to vomit at the sight. Sure it hadn't been easy on Mel to sit there and see him with Natalie, either. Though he wasn't entirely sure that was an accurate assumption, however he did know that she did harbor some feelings for
him. It was just apparent that she hadn't allowed them to fully come to surface yet. Maybe she would come around. Maybe this guy was temporary. Maybe it was a phase.
He was married, who was he kidding?
Mel could do whatever she wanted. Whatever damn thing she saw fit and there was absolutely nothing he could say or do about it.
He had looked forward to this night. He looked forward to seeing Mel and for her to start anew with Natalie and for everything to go all peachy and roses, but that wasn't the case. It hadn't happened that way at all. Instead it just made Taylor even more aware of the fact that he was sure, in fact, that he still loved Mel. That was it. He still loved her.
He was a fucking mess.
As Mel and Jason separated, he watched Mel go toward the club entrance and Jason coming back toward them.
Before Jason made it back to their section, Tay found an opportunity to slip away and find Mel. He had to see her alone tonight. He didn't know when he would see her again after this.
He found her outside the door of the club. He appreciated the fresh, summer breeze he was met with as he
stepped into the late night air.
Mel and Tay stared at each other for a moment before he spoke. "Mel, what are you doing?"
"Um, getting some air..." she responded.
"No, I mean, really. In there. With the Haw--with that guy, with Jason," he said, almost revealing the personal nickname he'd been calling Jason all night long.
"I'm not following," she said.
He stepped closer to her. "I don't know. I mean--I just--I guess it's just weird for me. Seeing you with another guy and all."
"Well, I WAS married..."
"I never saw you with him."
"How do you think I feel? You're here with your wife, Tay. Your WIFE."
"I know..." his voice trailed off.
"I, uh--you look really good tonight," Mel admitted quietly, obviously trying to change the subject, as
he stood before her dressed simply in jeans, a blue button-down shirt and a black leather jacket.
"So do you," he said. "You're stunning." He was telling the truth. He couldn't stop looking at her all night, he couldn't believe how beautiful she was. He could understand why Jason couldn't keep his hands off of her. The thought instantly disgusted him.
"Tay--"
"Look, I know we said just friends. And I've tried to respect that, I really have, but tonight, after seeing you with--I don't know, Mel, I don't know if I can handle it. I can't handle seeing you with him, and I can't handle...myself. This. Everything. I need to know how you feel about it. About me. About us."
"Tay, there is no us."
"Mel--"
She sighed. "I...I look at you and I'm home. Okay? I look at you and I feel like I'm in some fucked up, surreal dream world where I could wake up any second and we could be right back in 2000. But I'm not gonna wake up, Tay. I'm not gonna wake up and be back in our screwed up teenage relationship. And you have
to admit, it was completely screwed up."
"I loved you so much--"
"And I loved you, too. And the feelings are still there, Tay, they are, but they're just...different, you know? Everything is so different. It's not just us anymore. It's not just you and me."
"It's always been just us," he said to her. "Inside, it has always been just you and me."
"But it's not," she said. "I mean, why stay married for so long if that's the way you feel about it?"
"I never thought I would see you again."
"So you stay married to this poor girl for convenience?"
"Where else was I gonna go?"
Mel sighed. "Tay, I'm not arguing this with you."
"I'm not arguing, I swear. I just want--I need to know how you feel. How you honestly feel."
He stared into her eyes, searching for a clue. Anything to let him know how she might have been feeling. Anything at all. Finally she said, "Not now. Not tonight. I can't talk about this tonight."
Tay sighed, exasperated. He was so exhausted. His emotions exhausted him, his feelings exhausted him. All the uncertainty and confusion. It all exhausted him. "Mel, we have to talk about this. I--we--need to talk about this. I can't walk away from you tonight without talking about all of this. About us."
"Tay," Mel responded. "How many times can we beat this into the ground? How many times can we go
round and round having the same conversation, saying all the same words, with no apparent outcome? Seriously?"
"I think I'm still in love with you," he blurted out. It was out of his mouth before he could stop and think twice. He immediately wished he hadn't said it.
Mel stared at him, stunned. He couldn't believe what he had just said. He felt himself go pale. Everyone was right--he WAS a ticking time bomb, and there wasn't much time left in it. He stood, his body stiffened, scared out of his mind at what could possibly come out of her mouth next. Had he ruined any and all possible chances at reconciliation and friendship? Had he ruined his last possible shot at getting her back?
That was when she slapped him across his face. It happened so fast, he didn't even have time to react. Quickly, the shock started to take over him.
Hurt and startled, Tay held his hand to his stinging face. "What was that for?"
Tears were forming in her eyes and he could practically see her blood boiling underneath her skin.
"Because--" she started, searching for the words. Finally, she gave up. "Because I don't know what else to say!"
With that, she stormed back inside the club, leaving Tay behind, dumbfounded and alone.
___________________________________________
MEL
Making her way back to their section in the club, Mel tried frantically to wipe away the couple of tears that
had escaped down her eyes after she had turned her back on Taylor. They could not see her crying. She stopped in the bathroom to check her face to find relief in the fact that her makeup had miraculously not budged. In the mirror, she shook the stiffness out of her body and took a deep breath. Once she had herself composed, she stepped out of the bathroom.
As she walked up, Jason stood up with Drew right behind him. "Oh my god, Mel, are you okay?" Drew asked.
Startled, Mel began to replay her trip to the restroom back in her head. Surely she'd made sure she'd dried herself up and touched up her face... "Yeah, of course I'm okay. Why wouldn't I be?" Mel lied, trying to put on a convincing smile.
"Mel, come on. I know better," Drew said.
Jason lifted Mel's chin until he was looking down at her. Searching her eyes and face, he said, "What's the matter? What happened?"
Mel shook her head. "Nothing happened. I just went out for air--"
She was cut off when Jason's gaze went from her to over her head. She turned around and saw Tay
approaching. Suddenly, Jason took a step toward him. "Hey, man. What the hell did you do to her?"
Mel glanced over at Drew, who drew herself to Mel's side instantly.
Taylor looked from Mel to Jason, narrowing his eyes. "I didn't do anything to her. More like what she did to me..."
Suddenly Natalie looked concerned. "Tay, what are you talking about?" She suddenly cut eyes at Mel. "What kind of trouble are you trying to cause now?"
Drew took a step toward Natalie but stopped when Jason's bass caught her off guard. "Back off, sweetheart, she's here with me," he said to Natalie.
To everyone's surprise, Taylor abruptly took a step toward Jason. "What in the hell gives you the right to talk to my wife that way?"
Seeing Tay suddenly jump to his wife's defense stung Mel. She couldn't help herself but to feel that way and she wasn't sure why. He did the right thing. He stepped up to his wife's defense. They were married, that's what husbands are supposed to do.
So why did it hurt her so much?
Jason was amused by Tay's display of chivalry. He smiled a mocking smile as he spoke. "Oh so now you decide to act like a husband? For the first time tonight you do something positive for her instead of letting her sit alone in the corner while you drool and lose your shit over MY girl? Un-fucking-believable."
Mel and Drew looked at each other, eyes wide. Mel had hoped that they would say what they had to say and cool off but instead it seemed things were accelerating. Drew glanced at Jason's right hand then back at Mel. Following Drew's eyes, Mel noticed that Jason was now slowly flexing his knuckles. This could NOT be good.
Surprisingly, Taylor wasn't backing down, either. He was giving it right back. "YOUR girl? Who the fuck do you think you are, guy? You have no idea what you're talking about. Not even close. What, you think you can just waltz in here off the sands of whatever third-world island it is you come from and think you can run things around here? You're gonna stand here and criticize me and my marriage when YOU are the one in here objectifying her? It's sickening, it really is."
And in a split second something triggered in Jason's eyes, just as a wild hunter's eyes change as they get their prey in their sights. Mel noticed it right away. No longer were the bright, glittering green eyes she was familiar with through the night. Now they were dark and full of rage.
"Objectify?!" Jason's voice roared. Instinctively, Drew wrapped her hands around his forearm, as if she could keep his maniacal rage from erupting all over Taylor. "You better check yourself next time you accuse someone of not knowing what they're talking about. I don't know what your idea of objectifying is, but if it
includes fighting over a girl you can't have in front of your WIFE, then you illustrate the word quite well."
"Look, I think it would be in your best interest if you just butted yourself out of things you have no idea about. Really," Tay said, obviously trying to reason with the raging mammoth.
"Is that a threat?" Jason began to step toward Taylor and that's when Mel decided it was time for her to step in. Drew still had her now death grip on Jason's arm.
Mel positioned herself in front of Jason and looked up at him, placing a hand gently on his chest. "Jason, that's enough."
He didn't see her and he didn't hear her. He and Tay continued their stand-off.
"Jason!" Mel said more firmly at him, reaching up and pulling his face down to look him in the eye. As she searched his eyes for the man she was familiar with earlier, she continued, "Jason, it's time to go."
As quickly as it started, Jason rapidly blinked his eyes a couple times and his green eyes glittered once more. "Okay," he simply said. "Okay, let's go."
As Mel said her bye's to everyone, Drew said to her quietly, "Are you gonna be okay?"
Mel smiled. "Of course I will. It's gonna take a bit to recover from this madness, but it'll be okay."
"Uh, no, with him," she said, nodding toward Jason. "He seems a little crazy."
Mel laughed. "Oh, him? God, I'm not scared of him. I can't afford to be scared of him, look at him!" Then she lowered her voice more. "Besides, he better not try any funny stuff. I'm the one carrying the gun."
Drew giggled and hugged Mel. "Okay, see you at home. Call if you need me."
Mel hugged Ike, Nikki, and Zac. Kate murmured a quick bye and Natalie was having nothing to do with it. As Jason took Mel by the hand, Tay called, "Mel--"
Putting himself between Taylor and Mel as they began to leave, Jason looked stone-faced at Tay. "Say bye,
Mel," he said as he led her away.
Over her shoulder, Mel shrugged at Tay. "I'll, uh, talk to you later."
Crazy as the night was, Mel couldn't get out of that club fast enough.