*This chapter is dedicated to my fellow Islanders*
*And to Charlotte, aka Olivia, who always enjoys a "classic scene" *
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
MEL
The following Saturday Zac was in Mel's driveway, blaring his horn. Feeling rushed, Mel ran and got in on the passenger side, breathless. "You know, a real gentleman would actually come to the door. This must run in the family."
Zac looked over at her and smiled. "Hey. There are gentlemen and then there's me."
"You got that right," Mel muttered.
As they pulled out of the driveway Mel straightened up in her seat, a thought popping into her head. "You know what? I don't think I've been in a car with you since you got your permit."
Zac didn't respond till he sped to the end of the street. "Maybe now's not such a great time to tell you I have a suspended license for habitual reckless driving."
Calling his bluff, she glared at him. "You are such an ass."
Zac laughed before he changed the subject. "So why didn't you ask Tay to come along?"
"Well," Mel said. "You and I never get to hang out like we used to. And I really wasn't in the mood to watch Tay blow his own face off."
"Yeah, that's true. Tay and guns don't mix very well. Remember the bb gun incident?"
Mel laughed heartily. " 'The Incident of '98,' we called it. Ike was all 'Tay, you're not supposed to hold it up to your face!' "
Zac laughed with her. "And then Tay goes, 'Well how else am I supposed to see?' Then POW!"
Mel and Zac cracked up.
"God, Mom was so pissed when he developed that black eye. And she grounded ME because she thought I hit
him."
"You were a violent bunch," Mel said.
Suddenly Zac's tone turned serious. "Look, I know about Tay--you know, about what's going on."
Mel looked over at him, eyes wide. He glanced back at her panic-stricken face. "Don't worry, I'm not gonna tell Kate. I don't really want in the middle of it anyway. I'm just--between you and me--I'm glad it's finally happening."
Surprised, Mel smiled. "Well, uh, thank you. So am I."
"It just seems right, you know? You and Tay, finding each other again..."
Mel looked over at him as they drove down the dirt road leading to the range. "This is about Drew, isn't
it?"
"Have you heard from her?" he asked anxiously.
"Not this week," Mel said, shaking her head. "I mean, she's busy, time differences and all. I miss her, too. She doesn't even know about Tay and I yet."
"Seriously?"
"Nope."
Mel's phone rang as they got out of Zac's car. "Hey, we need to talk," Taylor said on the other end.
Mel's heart sank. "Probably not the wisest choice of words when I'm about to have a gun in my hand."
"I'm sorry, I know you're busy. Call me when you get home, okay? I'll come over."
Mel ended the call and looked at Zac. "Tay says we need to talk. Oh goody."
Zac smiled and draped his arm around her neck. "Come on. Looks like we both need to air out some
aggressions."
The two of them walked toward the building.
__________________________________________________
ZAC
Zac couldn't help but be a little in awe of Mel as they walked around the cases, choosing their weapons. Zac always felt like guns and things of that nature were a man thing. Yet there Mel was, schooling Zac on the difference between this semi automatic and this one and between this rifle and the other. He thought he'd never see the day. He remembered Mel as such a girly teenager, squealing at bugs or freaking out every time one of his younger siblings scraped a knee. Ten years later, she's asking Zac to accompany her to the gun range. He shook his head at nobody in particular.
When they got their equipment, Zac found a small mirror to adjust his ear muffs around his shoulder-length
layers. When he turned around, he caught Mel watching him in disgust. "Really, Zac?" she said. "This is what we've turned into? I'm into the guns and you're fixing your hair?"
"Hey," he said, defensively. "It takes work to look this good. And the shampoo is expensive. Gotta treat the hair right." He pretended to smooth his hair back for emphasis.
Mel rolled her eyes. "Are we gonna trade beauty secrets or are we gonna shoot shit?"
Zac smiled at her macho enthusiasm. "We're gonna shoot shit."
They each had their own lane and Zac was glad for it. He felt like a kid in a candy store. Being at the gun range was like bowling, except with bullets. They started with the paper with the human figures on them. He chose the zombie terrorist. Mel chose the basic human target. "Where's your imagination?" Zac taunted. "That one doesn't even have a face."
Mel smiled deviously at him. She asked that her paper be pushed back farther. Farther. Farther still. And then she fired off nine flawless rounds. Pulling the paper back, he found a gaping hole in the center of the faceless man's forehead. She had never missed a beat. She looked at him and raised her eyebrows. "You don't get trained by the NYPD just to stand around and play reindeer games. Your turn."
Smirking at her to cover for the real intimidation he felt, he also asked for his paper to be pushed back as
far as Mel's was. Not to be outdone, he fired nine of his own shots. Confident, as they pulled the paper back toward him, he found that all nine shots had not made it into his zombie terrorist's head. They split
relatively evenly between the head and the chest. In response to Mel's "I told you so" look, Zac simply shrugged his shoulders. "At least he's dead."
"So," Mel said loudly over the noise of the range. "What's your deal with Drew?"
Zac's eyes got wide and he leaned back to check the people in the other lanes at the other end of the range. "Jeez, did you say that loud enough?" he said.
"Oh please. Nobody's listening and nobody cares. Spill it."
Zac looked at the gun in his hand and looked at Mel. "Mel this is stupid, I don't wanna talk about this here."
"Just talk!" Mel commanded over the gunshots of the other shooters.
Zac sighed. "I hate that she's gone. I feel like it's ten years ago all over again when she told me the first time she was going to New York. She was my first love, you know."
"I know."
"And I guess I'm a little jealous of you and Tay because it's, like, you're getting your fairy tale. But why won't it work for me?"
"How do you know it already isn't?"
"Huh?"
"What if Drew's not your fairy tale?"
The comment stunned Zac. Ever since they had reunited he never imagined Drew not being in the picture. He knew he couldn't keep up with both her and his wife forever. He knew eventually he would have to choose. But he feared that moment was growing closer faster than he was ready for and there was no way he could control it. He was nowhere near knowing what he wanted.
"What if I can't decide?"
"Drew cares about you. To be honest, I don't know if I'd say the L word is involved there--at least I don't know if it is romantically. But she does care. And I'd advise you not to take advantage for too much longer. She might be all for your little escapades and, hell, she may instigate some of them. I don't know and I don't care. But what I do know is that she is in Ireland right now learning a WHOLE lot about herself she probably never knew and she may come back a different person with a different attitude. Or she may be the same
old Drew. So the question is, do you want to stay with your stable wife, or do you wanna roll the dice on Drew? Clock's a'tickin.' "
Zac's eyes didn't leave Mel as he stood in thought. He couldn't deny it, the thought of rolling the dice on Drew excited him. Maybe excitement was what he was missing in his life. There was no excitement in his and Kate's marriage. It was routine and tired. He couldn't remember the last time they'd spiced anything up besides dinner. Maybe he SHOULD make more of an effort with Kate.
But Kate wouldn't be Drew.
"Hey, you wanna shoot something bigger?" Zac asked Mel.
Mel grinned. "I thought you'd never ask."
Zac and Mel graduated from glocks to rifles and continued in their friendly competition. Zac's mind
remained heavily on Drew, but the feel of the rifle and the sound of the shots did wonders for the pressure he'd been feeling.
________________________________________________
This thing is built like a war machine
Burning up red hot like kerosene
This wrecking ball is about to drop
Once we start rolling we'll never stop
You'd better run and hide
Cause we're about to play with fire
We're not turning around this time, let's get Fired Up
We're not turning around this time, let's get Fired Up
Game, set, match
Don't pause, don't bluff, just play to win
This timber box is set to blow
Light the fuse, watch them fall like dominoes
You'd better run and hide
Cause we're about to play with fire
We're not turning around this time, let's get Fired Up
We like turning it upside down, let's get Fired Up
Come with us if you want to live
Bring what you've got, what you've got to give
We're stirring dynamite
We're gonna burn the mother down tonight
Let's get Fired Up
MEL
When Zac and Mel pulled up in Mel's driveway, Taylor was already there. "Oh Christ," Mel said under her
breath.
"Wow. Must be important."
"You know, Zac. I know he's your brother but he's just so--back and forth. I just don't understand it. Just earlier in the week he told me--well you know what he told me. And now, suddenly, 'we need to talk.' It's
exhausting. Zac, promise me. If you can't decide between Kate and Drew and you end up alone, just marry me. Okay? I can put up with you. I know what to expect. We can shoot guns and play paintball...it would be the most fun marriage there ever was. I would ALMOST give you a Star Wars wedding."
"Don't you dare say anything you don't mean."
"I'll carry a light saber instead of a bouquet."
Zac threw his head back and laughed. "You're something else. Anyway, I'm sure it's nothing. You know how he is. Mountain out of a molehill and shit."
"Pray for me," she said as she got out of Zac's car.
Not only was Taylor's car in the driveway, but he wasn't in it. He was already inside her house. Naturally.
When she walked in, he was sitting at the marble top in the kitchen, drinking a glass of...something. She honestly didn't recognize it. It didn't matter. She greeted him and walked past him to proudly display her first paper man with the head wound on her refrigerator.
She watched him rub the back of his neck. "You know, most people just put kids' drawings or grocery lists on their refrigerators."
"I'm not most people," Mel responded.
"Look, uh, you know I love you, right?"
Mel felt her eyes automatically darken. All day she had had the sinking feeling that this little conversation was not going to go swimmingly. "Well when it starts out like that..."
"Uh, Natalie and I are going out of town. For our anniversary. And I wanted you to hear it from me."
Mel was silent. She could literally feel her blood begin to boil. " 'You know I love you, right? But my wife and I are going on an anniversary trip.' " She repeated slowly and deliberately.
"Yeah..."
Mel crossed her arms in front of her chest and nodded. "You're a goddamn piece of work, you know that?"
"Mel--"
"You lied to me, didn't you? You aren't 'working' on anything. There's no legal stuff. There's nothing. You straight up LIED TO ME!!"
"I didn't fucking lie to you, Mel! Why in the fuck do you always think the worst of me? You always have!"
"Do you know why, Tay? Because you come at me with bullshit like THIS! 'Oh I love you so much I'm going to leave my wife, but let me take her out for one last hurrah before I drop the bomb!' Goddammit, Tay, what the fuck is wrong with you?!"
It didn't take long for the screaming to start. With them it never did. "YOU TOLD ME YOU WERE GOING TO BE PATIENT WITH ME! YOU PROMISED!"
"I PROMISED YOU I'D BE PATIENT WHILE YOU GOT THINGS IN ORDER! FOR US! I DIDN'T PROMISE I WOULD BE PATIENT WHILE YOU TOOK HER OFF TO GALAVANT AND LEAD HER ON!"
"IT'S A DELICATE PROCESS! ABOUT TIMING AND FINANCES AND--"
"FUCK YOUR FUCKING PROCESS! IF YOU REALLY WANTED IT YOU COULD HAVE HAD IT DONE IN FUCKING 48 HOURS! YOU'RE NOT READY! YOU DON'T LOVE ME LIKE YOU SAY YOU DO! YOU'RE NOT IN LOVE WITH ME, TAY! YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH WHO WE USED TO BE!"
Taylor took a step back as if her words had physically stung him. "How could you say that?" He asked her in his normal voice.
"Am I wrong?" Mel asked, returning to her own normal voice.
Tay shifted his weight from side to side. "Yes. You're wrong. Of course you're wrong. I love you more and more every day. Even now you're more beautiful than I've ever seen you and it makes it hard for me to
breathe."
Mel shook her head. "Please," she said skeptically. "You're a songwriter. You can pull shit like that out of your ass all day without meaning it. You think it's easy to believe that shit when you come at me with bullshit like--come on, Tay. I wasn't fucking born yesterday!"
Taylor massaged the bridge of his nose. "I should have known this was going to be this difficult."
This sent Mel into an old familiar rage that she had spent years working so hard to suppress. "THIS DIFFICULT? THIS IS DIFFICULT FOR YOU? WALK IN MY SHOES FOR A DAY, TAY, AND THEN TELL ME WHAT DIFFICULT IS! YOU KNOW WHAT? AS A MATTER OF FACT, DON'T! JUST GO OFF WITH NATALIE AND HAVE YOUR HAPPY LITTLE ANNIVERSARY TRIP AND FORGET ALL ABOUT YOUR PROMISES TO ME! JUST DON'T EVEN FUCKING COME BACK! I'M FUCKING DONE WITH THIS! FUCK YOU AND FUCK HER AND FUCK THIS ENTIRE GODDAMN SITUATION!!!"
Mel turned to stomp off toward the stairs but she wasn't alone. Tay followed close behind. "Mel, come on! Just let me talk to you about this!"
"What in the FUCK more could we POSSIBLY need to discuss?? See, that's your problem, Tay. Always want to fucking talk things to death. Well I'M DONE!"
She started up the stairs and Tay was still following her. She stopped and turned around. "Do not follow me. I swear to god, do not follow me. As a matter of fact, get the fuck out of my house."
"I'm not leaving."
"Get the fuck out! AND DON'T EVER FUCKING COME BACK!"
She ran up the stairs, leaving Taylor standing alone at the bottom.
"GODDAMMIT, MEL, I AM NOT LEAVING UNTIL YOU COME BACK DOWN HERE!" He screamed back up at her.
"I DON'T GIVE A FUCK, TAY!" She screamed back. Then she went to her balcony and leaned against it and screamed down at him, "GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY HOUSE!! AND LEAVE YOUR GODDAMN KEY BY THE DOOR!!"
"I TOLD YOU, I AM NOT FUCKING LEAVING UNTIL YOU GET THE FUCK BACK DOWN HERE!!"
"THEN FUCK YOU!" She screamed.
"FUCK YOU, TOO!!"
At Taylor's last words, Mel went into her bedroom and slammed the door as hard as possible and locked it
behind her. She threw herself on the bed and she bawled. She cried and she cried. Fuck that rat bastard. Fuck him all to hell. He couldn't make a decision of if it was handed to him on his own ass. Or whatever the fuck that meant. She didn't care.
How dare he? Was that fair? Was that fair of him to tell her he loved her and once and for all they were going to make it right and then to turn around and take his wife on vacation? She was his wife--but he was intending to leave her. Where was the logic here? She didn't understand it. She knew she hadn't given Tay any opportunity to explain, but really, what could he say? There was no possible way he could have justified any of it. Not justify it and she be okay with it. She just didn't understand why he didn't leave her already. If he was that sure then what was the hold up?
Mel dialed Drew, desperately hoping she would pick up. She didn't pay attention to the time difference--hell she didn't know what time it was in her own time zone. But her prayers were answered when Drew answered on the first ring. Mel bawled uncontrollably at the sound of Drew's voice. It was bad enough that she missed her best friend, but add all this to the mix? It was almost too much to bear.
"Mel, what's the matter? What did he do to you?"
Mel almost wanted to laugh. It was pretty sad that anytime Mel was this upset, Drew's first instinct was to blame Tay and she was almost always right. "He lied to me," Mel sobbed. "He fucking lied!"
"Honey, what happened? I haven't heard from you in so long..."
As incoherent as Mel knew she was, and knew she couldn't control it, she knew Drew would understand her.
"He said--he said--last week he said he was leaving Natalie and it was just me and him and it was finally going to happen and then--and then--he's taking her out of town for their anniversary! He fucking lied!"
Drew was silent on the other end. "Um, well, Mel--how do you know this wasn't already a pre-planned
trip?"
Mel sniffled. "What the fuck do you mean?"
"You know--maybe it was booked long before you and him--you know?"
"Drew? Are you defending him?"
"No! No, Mel, I'm just saying--"
"Do you think I'm over-reacting?"
"Well--Mel, you know he wouldn't lie..."
"Wouldn't he?"
"Well," Drew snickered a little bit. "He's not always the brightest crayon in the box and he doesn't always think before he does things, but--has he ever lied about his feelings for you? Ever?"
Mel bawled all over again. "Oh, Drew! What was I thinking trying to be with him again? This is too hard! Why didn't I just--why--oh my god! Drew, you can't tell Jason. Please don't tell Jason!"
"Um..." Drew squeaked out. "It might be a little late for that..."
Suddenly, Mel heard Jason's voice. "Hang up. I'm going to my trailer and then I'm going to call you."
Mel did as he said and within a minute, he was calling her phone. She stared at the screen hesitantly as it rang before answering. "Jason..."
"Hey, sweetheart, I'm here. Tell me what's going on."
The mere sound of his voice sent Mel into another violent wave of sobs. "Jason," Mel sobbed. "I miss you."
"I miss you, too. Talk to me, okay?"
Mel spilled her guts to him. She talked about Taylor and she held nothing back. She didn't know why she chose to share all these things with him and she couldn't explain how it felt to get it all out to him like that but there was just something about him and his voice--like instant comfort. There was warmth and peace--and safety. He made her feel safe.
"Mel, you're going to be okay," the familiar richness of his voice reassured her. "Everything is going to be okay. This could just be a part of the journey that he needs to take. Okay?"
Mel nodded even though she knew he couldn't see her. Something in that statement right there. Something--
"You know, I'm the last one that wants to defend the guy," Jason chuckled. "Especially after hearing you like this. It killing me to hear you this way right now. Honestly, I want to rip his pretty fucking head off."
"Join the club," Mel sniffled.
"But give him the benefit of the doubt," Jason continued. "He was honest with you about it, wasn't he?"
"Yes," Mel said in a tiny voice.
"That right there should speak volumes. I don't think he's giving up on you. I don't think he's choosing. I think this is part of the path he has to take to get to you. You know?"
"How do you do it?"
"Do what?"
"How do you know exactly what I need to hear and how to say it?"
Mel could hear the smile in his voice. "Maybe it's a gift. Maybe I can read you like a book. Who knows?"
Mel smiled, infinitely feeling better. She knew he was right. She knew she was especially hard on Tay and that she had jumped without letting him speak first. She knew she'd been wrong. She felt like such an asshole.
"Tell me about your movie," Mel said. "Tell me everything that's been going on."
She wasn't sure when, but she knew she fell asleep to the sound of Jason's calm, soothing voice.
The next morning, Mel woke up from a refreshing sleep. Sometimes there was nothing like a good cry to
facilitate a great night's sleep. Today, though, she had to eat crow and apologize to Taylor. She had already called him twice and texted him once and had gotten no answer. She had said things she didn't mean last night. Surely he didn't take them to heart. He had to know her better than that.
Sweaty palms and heart racing at the fact that he wasn't answering or returning her calls, Mel made her way
down the stairs and stopped dead in her tracks.
There, in a sound sleep, was Tay, camped out on her sofa. He had never left last night.
___________________________________________
*And to Charlotte, aka Olivia, who always enjoys a "classic scene" *
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
MEL
The following Saturday Zac was in Mel's driveway, blaring his horn. Feeling rushed, Mel ran and got in on the passenger side, breathless. "You know, a real gentleman would actually come to the door. This must run in the family."
Zac looked over at her and smiled. "Hey. There are gentlemen and then there's me."
"You got that right," Mel muttered.
As they pulled out of the driveway Mel straightened up in her seat, a thought popping into her head. "You know what? I don't think I've been in a car with you since you got your permit."
Zac didn't respond till he sped to the end of the street. "Maybe now's not such a great time to tell you I have a suspended license for habitual reckless driving."
Calling his bluff, she glared at him. "You are such an ass."
Zac laughed before he changed the subject. "So why didn't you ask Tay to come along?"
"Well," Mel said. "You and I never get to hang out like we used to. And I really wasn't in the mood to watch Tay blow his own face off."
"Yeah, that's true. Tay and guns don't mix very well. Remember the bb gun incident?"
Mel laughed heartily. " 'The Incident of '98,' we called it. Ike was all 'Tay, you're not supposed to hold it up to your face!' "
Zac laughed with her. "And then Tay goes, 'Well how else am I supposed to see?' Then POW!"
Mel and Zac cracked up.
"God, Mom was so pissed when he developed that black eye. And she grounded ME because she thought I hit
him."
"You were a violent bunch," Mel said.
Suddenly Zac's tone turned serious. "Look, I know about Tay--you know, about what's going on."
Mel looked over at him, eyes wide. He glanced back at her panic-stricken face. "Don't worry, I'm not gonna tell Kate. I don't really want in the middle of it anyway. I'm just--between you and me--I'm glad it's finally happening."
Surprised, Mel smiled. "Well, uh, thank you. So am I."
"It just seems right, you know? You and Tay, finding each other again..."
Mel looked over at him as they drove down the dirt road leading to the range. "This is about Drew, isn't
it?"
"Have you heard from her?" he asked anxiously.
"Not this week," Mel said, shaking her head. "I mean, she's busy, time differences and all. I miss her, too. She doesn't even know about Tay and I yet."
"Seriously?"
"Nope."
Mel's phone rang as they got out of Zac's car. "Hey, we need to talk," Taylor said on the other end.
Mel's heart sank. "Probably not the wisest choice of words when I'm about to have a gun in my hand."
"I'm sorry, I know you're busy. Call me when you get home, okay? I'll come over."
Mel ended the call and looked at Zac. "Tay says we need to talk. Oh goody."
Zac smiled and draped his arm around her neck. "Come on. Looks like we both need to air out some
aggressions."
The two of them walked toward the building.
__________________________________________________
ZAC
Zac couldn't help but be a little in awe of Mel as they walked around the cases, choosing their weapons. Zac always felt like guns and things of that nature were a man thing. Yet there Mel was, schooling Zac on the difference between this semi automatic and this one and between this rifle and the other. He thought he'd never see the day. He remembered Mel as such a girly teenager, squealing at bugs or freaking out every time one of his younger siblings scraped a knee. Ten years later, she's asking Zac to accompany her to the gun range. He shook his head at nobody in particular.
When they got their equipment, Zac found a small mirror to adjust his ear muffs around his shoulder-length
layers. When he turned around, he caught Mel watching him in disgust. "Really, Zac?" she said. "This is what we've turned into? I'm into the guns and you're fixing your hair?"
"Hey," he said, defensively. "It takes work to look this good. And the shampoo is expensive. Gotta treat the hair right." He pretended to smooth his hair back for emphasis.
Mel rolled her eyes. "Are we gonna trade beauty secrets or are we gonna shoot shit?"
Zac smiled at her macho enthusiasm. "We're gonna shoot shit."
They each had their own lane and Zac was glad for it. He felt like a kid in a candy store. Being at the gun range was like bowling, except with bullets. They started with the paper with the human figures on them. He chose the zombie terrorist. Mel chose the basic human target. "Where's your imagination?" Zac taunted. "That one doesn't even have a face."
Mel smiled deviously at him. She asked that her paper be pushed back farther. Farther. Farther still. And then she fired off nine flawless rounds. Pulling the paper back, he found a gaping hole in the center of the faceless man's forehead. She had never missed a beat. She looked at him and raised her eyebrows. "You don't get trained by the NYPD just to stand around and play reindeer games. Your turn."
Smirking at her to cover for the real intimidation he felt, he also asked for his paper to be pushed back as
far as Mel's was. Not to be outdone, he fired nine of his own shots. Confident, as they pulled the paper back toward him, he found that all nine shots had not made it into his zombie terrorist's head. They split
relatively evenly between the head and the chest. In response to Mel's "I told you so" look, Zac simply shrugged his shoulders. "At least he's dead."
"So," Mel said loudly over the noise of the range. "What's your deal with Drew?"
Zac's eyes got wide and he leaned back to check the people in the other lanes at the other end of the range. "Jeez, did you say that loud enough?" he said.
"Oh please. Nobody's listening and nobody cares. Spill it."
Zac looked at the gun in his hand and looked at Mel. "Mel this is stupid, I don't wanna talk about this here."
"Just talk!" Mel commanded over the gunshots of the other shooters.
Zac sighed. "I hate that she's gone. I feel like it's ten years ago all over again when she told me the first time she was going to New York. She was my first love, you know."
"I know."
"And I guess I'm a little jealous of you and Tay because it's, like, you're getting your fairy tale. But why won't it work for me?"
"How do you know it already isn't?"
"Huh?"
"What if Drew's not your fairy tale?"
The comment stunned Zac. Ever since they had reunited he never imagined Drew not being in the picture. He knew he couldn't keep up with both her and his wife forever. He knew eventually he would have to choose. But he feared that moment was growing closer faster than he was ready for and there was no way he could control it. He was nowhere near knowing what he wanted.
"What if I can't decide?"
"Drew cares about you. To be honest, I don't know if I'd say the L word is involved there--at least I don't know if it is romantically. But she does care. And I'd advise you not to take advantage for too much longer. She might be all for your little escapades and, hell, she may instigate some of them. I don't know and I don't care. But what I do know is that she is in Ireland right now learning a WHOLE lot about herself she probably never knew and she may come back a different person with a different attitude. Or she may be the same
old Drew. So the question is, do you want to stay with your stable wife, or do you wanna roll the dice on Drew? Clock's a'tickin.' "
Zac's eyes didn't leave Mel as he stood in thought. He couldn't deny it, the thought of rolling the dice on Drew excited him. Maybe excitement was what he was missing in his life. There was no excitement in his and Kate's marriage. It was routine and tired. He couldn't remember the last time they'd spiced anything up besides dinner. Maybe he SHOULD make more of an effort with Kate.
But Kate wouldn't be Drew.
"Hey, you wanna shoot something bigger?" Zac asked Mel.
Mel grinned. "I thought you'd never ask."
Zac and Mel graduated from glocks to rifles and continued in their friendly competition. Zac's mind
remained heavily on Drew, but the feel of the rifle and the sound of the shots did wonders for the pressure he'd been feeling.
________________________________________________
This thing is built like a war machine
Burning up red hot like kerosene
This wrecking ball is about to drop
Once we start rolling we'll never stop
You'd better run and hide
Cause we're about to play with fire
We're not turning around this time, let's get Fired Up
We're not turning around this time, let's get Fired Up
Game, set, match
Don't pause, don't bluff, just play to win
This timber box is set to blow
Light the fuse, watch them fall like dominoes
You'd better run and hide
Cause we're about to play with fire
We're not turning around this time, let's get Fired Up
We like turning it upside down, let's get Fired Up
Come with us if you want to live
Bring what you've got, what you've got to give
We're stirring dynamite
We're gonna burn the mother down tonight
Let's get Fired Up
MEL
When Zac and Mel pulled up in Mel's driveway, Taylor was already there. "Oh Christ," Mel said under her
breath.
"Wow. Must be important."
"You know, Zac. I know he's your brother but he's just so--back and forth. I just don't understand it. Just earlier in the week he told me--well you know what he told me. And now, suddenly, 'we need to talk.' It's
exhausting. Zac, promise me. If you can't decide between Kate and Drew and you end up alone, just marry me. Okay? I can put up with you. I know what to expect. We can shoot guns and play paintball...it would be the most fun marriage there ever was. I would ALMOST give you a Star Wars wedding."
"Don't you dare say anything you don't mean."
"I'll carry a light saber instead of a bouquet."
Zac threw his head back and laughed. "You're something else. Anyway, I'm sure it's nothing. You know how he is. Mountain out of a molehill and shit."
"Pray for me," she said as she got out of Zac's car.
Not only was Taylor's car in the driveway, but he wasn't in it. He was already inside her house. Naturally.
When she walked in, he was sitting at the marble top in the kitchen, drinking a glass of...something. She honestly didn't recognize it. It didn't matter. She greeted him and walked past him to proudly display her first paper man with the head wound on her refrigerator.
She watched him rub the back of his neck. "You know, most people just put kids' drawings or grocery lists on their refrigerators."
"I'm not most people," Mel responded.
"Look, uh, you know I love you, right?"
Mel felt her eyes automatically darken. All day she had had the sinking feeling that this little conversation was not going to go swimmingly. "Well when it starts out like that..."
"Uh, Natalie and I are going out of town. For our anniversary. And I wanted you to hear it from me."
Mel was silent. She could literally feel her blood begin to boil. " 'You know I love you, right? But my wife and I are going on an anniversary trip.' " She repeated slowly and deliberately.
"Yeah..."
Mel crossed her arms in front of her chest and nodded. "You're a goddamn piece of work, you know that?"
"Mel--"
"You lied to me, didn't you? You aren't 'working' on anything. There's no legal stuff. There's nothing. You straight up LIED TO ME!!"
"I didn't fucking lie to you, Mel! Why in the fuck do you always think the worst of me? You always have!"
"Do you know why, Tay? Because you come at me with bullshit like THIS! 'Oh I love you so much I'm going to leave my wife, but let me take her out for one last hurrah before I drop the bomb!' Goddammit, Tay, what the fuck is wrong with you?!"
It didn't take long for the screaming to start. With them it never did. "YOU TOLD ME YOU WERE GOING TO BE PATIENT WITH ME! YOU PROMISED!"
"I PROMISED YOU I'D BE PATIENT WHILE YOU GOT THINGS IN ORDER! FOR US! I DIDN'T PROMISE I WOULD BE PATIENT WHILE YOU TOOK HER OFF TO GALAVANT AND LEAD HER ON!"
"IT'S A DELICATE PROCESS! ABOUT TIMING AND FINANCES AND--"
"FUCK YOUR FUCKING PROCESS! IF YOU REALLY WANTED IT YOU COULD HAVE HAD IT DONE IN FUCKING 48 HOURS! YOU'RE NOT READY! YOU DON'T LOVE ME LIKE YOU SAY YOU DO! YOU'RE NOT IN LOVE WITH ME, TAY! YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH WHO WE USED TO BE!"
Taylor took a step back as if her words had physically stung him. "How could you say that?" He asked her in his normal voice.
"Am I wrong?" Mel asked, returning to her own normal voice.
Tay shifted his weight from side to side. "Yes. You're wrong. Of course you're wrong. I love you more and more every day. Even now you're more beautiful than I've ever seen you and it makes it hard for me to
breathe."
Mel shook her head. "Please," she said skeptically. "You're a songwriter. You can pull shit like that out of your ass all day without meaning it. You think it's easy to believe that shit when you come at me with bullshit like--come on, Tay. I wasn't fucking born yesterday!"
Taylor massaged the bridge of his nose. "I should have known this was going to be this difficult."
This sent Mel into an old familiar rage that she had spent years working so hard to suppress. "THIS DIFFICULT? THIS IS DIFFICULT FOR YOU? WALK IN MY SHOES FOR A DAY, TAY, AND THEN TELL ME WHAT DIFFICULT IS! YOU KNOW WHAT? AS A MATTER OF FACT, DON'T! JUST GO OFF WITH NATALIE AND HAVE YOUR HAPPY LITTLE ANNIVERSARY TRIP AND FORGET ALL ABOUT YOUR PROMISES TO ME! JUST DON'T EVEN FUCKING COME BACK! I'M FUCKING DONE WITH THIS! FUCK YOU AND FUCK HER AND FUCK THIS ENTIRE GODDAMN SITUATION!!!"
Mel turned to stomp off toward the stairs but she wasn't alone. Tay followed close behind. "Mel, come on! Just let me talk to you about this!"
"What in the FUCK more could we POSSIBLY need to discuss?? See, that's your problem, Tay. Always want to fucking talk things to death. Well I'M DONE!"
She started up the stairs and Tay was still following her. She stopped and turned around. "Do not follow me. I swear to god, do not follow me. As a matter of fact, get the fuck out of my house."
"I'm not leaving."
"Get the fuck out! AND DON'T EVER FUCKING COME BACK!"
She ran up the stairs, leaving Taylor standing alone at the bottom.
"GODDAMMIT, MEL, I AM NOT LEAVING UNTIL YOU COME BACK DOWN HERE!" He screamed back up at her.
"I DON'T GIVE A FUCK, TAY!" She screamed back. Then she went to her balcony and leaned against it and screamed down at him, "GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY HOUSE!! AND LEAVE YOUR GODDAMN KEY BY THE DOOR!!"
"I TOLD YOU, I AM NOT FUCKING LEAVING UNTIL YOU GET THE FUCK BACK DOWN HERE!!"
"THEN FUCK YOU!" She screamed.
"FUCK YOU, TOO!!"
At Taylor's last words, Mel went into her bedroom and slammed the door as hard as possible and locked it
behind her. She threw herself on the bed and she bawled. She cried and she cried. Fuck that rat bastard. Fuck him all to hell. He couldn't make a decision of if it was handed to him on his own ass. Or whatever the fuck that meant. She didn't care.
How dare he? Was that fair? Was that fair of him to tell her he loved her and once and for all they were going to make it right and then to turn around and take his wife on vacation? She was his wife--but he was intending to leave her. Where was the logic here? She didn't understand it. She knew she hadn't given Tay any opportunity to explain, but really, what could he say? There was no possible way he could have justified any of it. Not justify it and she be okay with it. She just didn't understand why he didn't leave her already. If he was that sure then what was the hold up?
Mel dialed Drew, desperately hoping she would pick up. She didn't pay attention to the time difference--hell she didn't know what time it was in her own time zone. But her prayers were answered when Drew answered on the first ring. Mel bawled uncontrollably at the sound of Drew's voice. It was bad enough that she missed her best friend, but add all this to the mix? It was almost too much to bear.
"Mel, what's the matter? What did he do to you?"
Mel almost wanted to laugh. It was pretty sad that anytime Mel was this upset, Drew's first instinct was to blame Tay and she was almost always right. "He lied to me," Mel sobbed. "He fucking lied!"
"Honey, what happened? I haven't heard from you in so long..."
As incoherent as Mel knew she was, and knew she couldn't control it, she knew Drew would understand her.
"He said--he said--last week he said he was leaving Natalie and it was just me and him and it was finally going to happen and then--and then--he's taking her out of town for their anniversary! He fucking lied!"
Drew was silent on the other end. "Um, well, Mel--how do you know this wasn't already a pre-planned
trip?"
Mel sniffled. "What the fuck do you mean?"
"You know--maybe it was booked long before you and him--you know?"
"Drew? Are you defending him?"
"No! No, Mel, I'm just saying--"
"Do you think I'm over-reacting?"
"Well--Mel, you know he wouldn't lie..."
"Wouldn't he?"
"Well," Drew snickered a little bit. "He's not always the brightest crayon in the box and he doesn't always think before he does things, but--has he ever lied about his feelings for you? Ever?"
Mel bawled all over again. "Oh, Drew! What was I thinking trying to be with him again? This is too hard! Why didn't I just--why--oh my god! Drew, you can't tell Jason. Please don't tell Jason!"
"Um..." Drew squeaked out. "It might be a little late for that..."
Suddenly, Mel heard Jason's voice. "Hang up. I'm going to my trailer and then I'm going to call you."
Mel did as he said and within a minute, he was calling her phone. She stared at the screen hesitantly as it rang before answering. "Jason..."
"Hey, sweetheart, I'm here. Tell me what's going on."
The mere sound of his voice sent Mel into another violent wave of sobs. "Jason," Mel sobbed. "I miss you."
"I miss you, too. Talk to me, okay?"
Mel spilled her guts to him. She talked about Taylor and she held nothing back. She didn't know why she chose to share all these things with him and she couldn't explain how it felt to get it all out to him like that but there was just something about him and his voice--like instant comfort. There was warmth and peace--and safety. He made her feel safe.
"Mel, you're going to be okay," the familiar richness of his voice reassured her. "Everything is going to be okay. This could just be a part of the journey that he needs to take. Okay?"
Mel nodded even though she knew he couldn't see her. Something in that statement right there. Something--
"You know, I'm the last one that wants to defend the guy," Jason chuckled. "Especially after hearing you like this. It killing me to hear you this way right now. Honestly, I want to rip his pretty fucking head off."
"Join the club," Mel sniffled.
"But give him the benefit of the doubt," Jason continued. "He was honest with you about it, wasn't he?"
"Yes," Mel said in a tiny voice.
"That right there should speak volumes. I don't think he's giving up on you. I don't think he's choosing. I think this is part of the path he has to take to get to you. You know?"
"How do you do it?"
"Do what?"
"How do you know exactly what I need to hear and how to say it?"
Mel could hear the smile in his voice. "Maybe it's a gift. Maybe I can read you like a book. Who knows?"
Mel smiled, infinitely feeling better. She knew he was right. She knew she was especially hard on Tay and that she had jumped without letting him speak first. She knew she'd been wrong. She felt like such an asshole.
"Tell me about your movie," Mel said. "Tell me everything that's been going on."
She wasn't sure when, but she knew she fell asleep to the sound of Jason's calm, soothing voice.
The next morning, Mel woke up from a refreshing sleep. Sometimes there was nothing like a good cry to
facilitate a great night's sleep. Today, though, she had to eat crow and apologize to Taylor. She had already called him twice and texted him once and had gotten no answer. She had said things she didn't mean last night. Surely he didn't take them to heart. He had to know her better than that.
Sweaty palms and heart racing at the fact that he wasn't answering or returning her calls, Mel made her way
down the stairs and stopped dead in her tracks.
There, in a sound sleep, was Tay, camped out on her sofa. He had never left last night.
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