Melt With Me: A With Me In Seattle Universe Novel

by Melissa Brown

  “Why now? I mean, I was single for years.”

  “Easy. We always want what we can’t have. She sees how you are with Maren—we all do. You’re gaga over that girl. It’s sickening.”

  “Gee, thanks.” I rolled my eyes.

  “My point is, she feels threatened, dude. She’s trying to mark her territory.”

  “She was…but now she’s pissed and doesn’t want to speak to me.”

  “Exactly! She’s giving you an out…take it.”

  I pulled into the parking lot of my apartment complex and parked the car, not responding to Dev as I processed our conversation and the one I had with Cara. I glanced at the clock on the dashboard. I had thirty minutes before Maren would arrive, as we were planning to cook dinner together and watch a movie.

  “Peter.”

  “Yeah?”

  “I’m serious. Look, I know you’re a good guy, but you don’t owe her a damn thing. Yeah, she did something nice, but we both know why she did it.”

  “Yeah, I know, I just…I don’t know. I just feel like a jerk.”

  “Well, you are…and technically, I’m not really speaking to you either,” he huffed, although I knew his resolve was wearing down. We’d been friends for so long, and it was hard for either of us to stay mad at the other.

  “Thank you for the advice.”

  “Don’t thank me; just take it. Listen to me, I know what I’m talking about when it comes to women. They all have agendas, man. Every single one.”

  “Don’t you think that sounds just a little bit jaded?”

  “Whatever. I’m a realist now, no more fairy tales and unicorns. Love sucks and then we die.”

  “Dev, c’mon.”

  “No, man, it’s the truth. All we have is today. I’m gonna spend it with who I want, and I’m gonna do whatever the fuck I want. Because I can.”

  “Well, all right.” I didn’t really know what to say. I knew he was hurting. I knew he wanted to be with Trupti more than anything. I knew he was lying to himself and was trying to drown out his heartbreak with meaningless hookups and random women. And I also knew it wasn’t working.

  We said our goodbyes, and I headed into my apartment, grabbing my mail and greeting my cat, Big Tuna, at the door. Always my trusty sidekick, he rubbed the side of his face against my shin, already purring. “What’s up, Tuna? You miss me?”

  I picked him up, giving him a kiss on the top of his head and petting him as I walked to the kitchen. He nestled himself just under my neck, his purring persistent and eager. I grabbed a can of his favorite food and as soon as the can gave a familiar clang against the granite countertops, his little head perked up and he jumped to the floor, pacing the floor next to his bowl.

  After feeding him, I had just enough time to wash up, change my clothes and get the onions and garlic started in the pan. Maren was teaching me how to make marinara sauce from scratch. She would be there in just a few minutes and I wanted to clear my head of Cara and Dev and just focus on how incredible my day at Ekisaito had been. Maren would be happy for me; she’d be excited and supportive.

  She always was.

  “Taste this,” Maren said, raising a wooden spoon to just below her mouth and blowing on it ever so softly before offering it to me. I sampled the homemade marinara, savoring the rich tomatoes, garlic, and basil.

  “Wow,” I said, my eyes rolling to the back of my head. “Amazing.”

  “It’s the garlic,” she said with a wink. “You prepared it perfectly—made the rest of the job easy.”

  I pulled her close to me, nuzzling her neck and planting soft kisses on her skin. “I doubt that. You’re just a magician.” She tilted her head back, giving me better access to her neck. I took advantage and placed kisses up to her chin, kissing the rim of her jaw.

  “You smell like cranberries today…and pine.”

  “’Tis the season,” she said with a laugh.

  “You’re almost there,” I said, trying to sound reassuring. I knew she was exhausted from her busy season.

  “I know, and having the extra help has been a godsend. I can actually have a life at Christmastime. It’s amazing.”

  I ran my fingers through her silky hair, pushing it away from her face. “And I get to see you more.”

  “Exactly,” she said with a soft smile. “Tell me more about your day. You only gave me the basics earlier.”

  “I met my team, which was awesome. I think I won them over by the end of the day.”

  “I don’t doubt it. You’re a pretty charismatic guy.”

  I raised both eyebrows and kissed her hand. “They were testing me, but I think I passed.”

  “Because you’re so smart.”

  I wanted to tell Maren about Darby, but didn’t want to mess up our night together. And her compliments were making it even harder to follow through.

  Suck it up, Peter. Just tell her and move on.

  “First seminar with my team is in San Francisco.”

  “Very cool. How long will you be there?”

  “Four days. Maybe you could fly in for the weekend? It’s over Valentine’s Day. We could wander around the city, eat deliciously overpriced food, visit Alcatraz?”

  “Sounds wonderful.”

  “What’s your first project all about?”

  “I don’t want to get too technical, but we’re revamping an old game from the ’90s, which is very exciting. Ekisaito wants to cash in on all the reboots. Right now, we’re just working on the general style and graphics. No actual game design yet, but I’m hoping I’ll get chosen for that team when the time comes.”

  “Sounds very high pressure.”

  “It is, but man, I felt great at the end of the day. It’s like the whole day was an adrenaline rush.”

  “Wow.”

  “Is that weird?”

  “Absolutely not. I felt that way on my first Black Friday—it was exhilarating. Like you said, a total rush.”

  “We’re really lucky,” I said. “How many people can say that about their jobs? So many people just work to make ends meet, but we get—”

  “To live our dreams,” Maren finished my thought.

  “You read my mind,” I said, placing a kiss on her forehead.

  “You’re right. We’re lucky,” Maren said, rubbing my back gently as we stood near the stove, her stirring the sauce, me gazing down at her beautiful face knowing I was lucky for many reasons. I had my dream job, my dream girl, a healthy family with a father who survived a car crash and a heart attack. I had friends who had my back and one friend who got me an interview.

  Damn it. Just do it, Peter.

  “There is one thing I should tell you.”

  Maren froze for just a moment before turning the burner down too low. “What is it?”

  “I met someone today, on my team. Her name is Darby.”

  “Leaving me already?” Maren joked, but the crinkles in her forehead told me there was slight truth to her question. She was nervous, and I hated that I made her feel that way.

  “Of course not,” I said, shaking my head and raising her hand back up to my lips. I closed my eyes, placed another kiss on the back of her hand. I looked up at her relaxing face, a soft but hesitant smile formed on her lips, and so I continued, “She knew me, apparently, because Cara gave her my resume.”

  “Cara?” Maren’s smile disappeared.

  “Yeah,”

  “Did you ask her to do that?”

  “No, she just did it.”

  “How’d she get your resume?” she pressed.

  “I, uh… I don’t know, actually.” I shrugged, having not thought of that detail yet myself. “Good question.”

  Maren pulled her hand away slowly.

  “Don’t do that,” I said, reaching again for her hand. “Don’t pull away.”

  “I don’t trust her, Peter.” She threw her hands up in the air before placing them on her hips. “She wants you. And I hate that she’s making me jealous. I’m so not a jealous person.”


  “I have zero interest in Cara.”

  “But you’ve slept with her.”

  “Yes.”

  “Many times?”

  A lump formed at the back of my throat. I wasn’t going to lie to her.

  “Yes.”

  “But you don’t have feelings for her? I don’t get that.”

  I looked up at the ceiling, searching for the right words that would convey exactly how I was feeling and how I’d felt in the past.

  “I don’t know what to say,” I said with a shrug. “She’s my friend. I care about her.”

  “But not enough to date her?”

  “Right.”

  “Didn’t you feel bad stringing her along?”

  “I wasn’t stringing her along. I thought she and I felt the same way.”

  “And what way is that?”

  “Why are you doing this? She’s my friend, we’ve had sex, but that’s it. Don’t sabotage a really nice night together. We don’t get that many.”

  “What does that mean? I work too much?”

  “Maren, stop it! You’re spinning.”’

  “What?”

  “You’re making something out of nothing. Cara is just a friend, nothing more!”

  “Tell that to her…and your friends.” She stirred the sauce, avoiding eye contact.

  “My friends know how I feel.”

  “Right, but it’s obvious to everyone but you that she wants more.”

  “No, I see that now.”

  “Thank God for that.”

  “What the hell? Can my girlfriend come back, please? I have no idea who you are right now. On Saturday night we talked about all of this and you were fine. You said she didn’t scare you, that you just wanted to understand—that’s why I wanted to tell you everything. I don’t want secrets between us.”

  Maren stopped stirring the sauce and dropped her arms to her sides. She took a deep breath and shook her head.

  “You’re right. I’m so sorry. I’m just… I’m really stressed. No offense, but we picked the worst time to start a relationship,” she said with an edgy laugh. “Between balancing everything at the shop, feeling guilty about not seeing you enough, and this whole thing with Cara, I feel like I’m going nuts. The other night, I meant what I said. I was fine with it; I was.”

  “Then what’s changed, I don’t get it.”

  “As the night went on and she threw a fit, she really started to get under my skin. And now, every time I hear her name or think about her, I picture you two having sex, and it’s awful. I hate it, Peter.”

  “Shit, I’m sorry.”

  “And now you think I’m batshit crazy.”

  “Never.”

  “Did you ever have feelings for her? Be honest. Nothing about you seems like the casual sex type. I mean, you had to feel something.”

  “Fine, I did in the beginning, I guess. It was easy and fun and yes, we had lots of sex.”

  She groaned.

  “C’mon, Maren, neither of us was a virgin when we met. You dated your ex for years.”

  “You don’t have to picture him, though.” She reminded me. “You’ve never met.”

  “Thank God,” I grumbled. “I hope to keep it that way.”

  She narrowed her eyes at me, her hands back on her hips as she stepped away. “See! You’re just as bad as I am.”

  I laughed. “Maybe I am. But what I had with Cara could not and will not ever compare to you and me. I swear.” I walked to her, placing my hands around her waist and pulling her close. “You have to trust me.”

  “I never said I didn’t trust you. I don’t trust her… She’s shady. And she’s hell bent on getting me out of the way so she can have you all to herself.” She gritted her teeth.

  “You’re hot when you’re jealous.”

  “Oh, stop it.” She nudged me away before tucking her long hair behind her ears.

  “No, I mean it. Normally you’re so laid back, so positive…but I like this fiery side too. It’s sexy.”

  “Are you suggesting I be one of those crazy, jealous, possessive women?”

  “I mean, you kind of are, aren’t you?” I teased, ducking as she playfully slapped me on the shoulder. “I’m kidding! C’mon, every guy wants his girlfriend to be just a little possessive. Not a lot, but a little. It shows you care.”

  She laughed, shaking her head. “But there’s a fine line between cute possessive and crazy possessive.”

  “Exactly. And I’m sure you could never cross that line.”

  Her shoulders relaxed and she exhaled. “I’m sorry I ruined our dinner.”

  “You didn’t ruin anything. Fighting is good; it’s healthy.”

  “Really?” She raised one eyebrow, looking suspicious.

  “Yes,” I insisted, “it’s when you stop fighting that the real trouble starts. Hate isn’t the opposite of love; it’s indifference.”

  “I don’t think I could ever be indifferent when it comes to you, Peter.”

  I smiled wide. “Same. And when it comes to Cara, you have nothing to worry about.”

  “Okay.” And I could tell she really meant it.

  “But ,” I continued, “she is my friend, and I’m not going to cut her out of my life just because I’ve fallen in love.”

  “Fallen in what?” Maren asked, her eyebrows raised up high and mouth dropped open.

  I opened my mouth to speak and adrenaline rushed into my stomach. I blinked repeatedly, realizing what I’d just done. I’d said it. I’d said the word love. I’d felt it for weeks but hadn’t yet said the word. I wasn’t planning to say it for a while… I was playing it safe, holding back. But my stupid mouth got the best of me. I’d just told Maren how I felt, and there was no going back.

  “Oh God,” I said under my breath before forcing myself to look her in the eye. I was terrified she didn’t feel the same. “Too soon?”

  Maren’s eyes welled with tears, and she shook her head. “No. Right on time.”

  I let out a sigh of relief, pressing my forehead to hers. “Thank God.”

  “I love you too, Peter.”

  “I love you…so much.”

  “And I’m never going to tell you who you can’t be friends with.”

  “No, don’t circle back to this. I don’t want to think about Cara right now.”

  “I just have to get this out,” she said, shaking her head, her eyes shut tight, “please let me.”

  “Okay.”

  She opened her eyes, pulling back just enough for our eyes to lock. “I won’t tell you to stop being her friend. But don’t expect me to be thrilled about it either, because I’m not.”

  “I get it.”

  “And I have no intention of hiding it, because when it comes to you, Peter McTavish, I am anything but indifferent.”

  I paused, a wide grin on my face as I digested her words and the emotion behind them. I placed my hand under her chin and lifted it up ever so slightly before placing a soft kiss on her lips. “I love you too.”

  Chapter 15

  MAREN

  “Maren,” Lyra called from the sales floor. I peeked my head out of my candle workshop.

  “Yeah?”

  “Phone call. Valerie McTavish. She says it’s important.”

  Oh no.

  A feeling of dread crept into my gut as I tossed my mask onto the counter and jogged to the cash register to grab the phone as quickly as possible.

  “Valerie, hi, is everything okay? Is it Burton?”

  “Oh honey, everything’s fine. Sorry to worry you. No, I just tried your cell a few times and wasn’t patient enough to wait for you to call me back. I’m not a patient woman, Maren.” She laughed casually, and I knew everything was all right.

  I exhaled, resting my weight against the cabinets on the back wall. “Thank goodness. When Lyra said it was important, I assumed the worst.”

  “Of course, I mean, you were there with him. It’s only natural. But actually I have great news. Wonderful news, in fact. We got her, hone
y. We got Proby!”

  “Shut the front door!” I stood at attention. “Kristen. Proby. Are you serious?”

  “Yes, indeed. She and her husband are spending Valentine’s Day here, and she can do a signing Saturday morning, but she has to be out by three. They have a romantic dinner planned.”

  “Oh no,” I said, my heart sinking. “That’s the weekend Peter wanted me to come to San Francisco.”

  “He’ll understand, honey.”

  “I know. I just feel bad. I already told him I could make it…and it’s our first Valentine’s together.”

  “Hmm,” Valerie paused, “I don’t know that I can get her to reschedule. She lives in Montana—we’re lucky she’s even planning to be in Washington at all.”

  “No, no. We’re not rescheduling. I just have to figure out how to break it to Peter. Maybe we can float the holiday to another weekend…”

  “You let me handle him. Just mark it on your calendar and get ready to fangirl! I told her you would text her with the details.”

  “Wait, you have her cell?”

  Valerie laughed. “Oh honey, when I say I’m going to deliver, I deliver. She’s expecting a confirmation by Friday. I’ll send you her info.”

  “Got it. Valerie, you’re incredible. I can’t believe you did it!”

  “It was my pleasure, doll. I bought a few of her books too. I’ll come by and get them signed.”

  “Yes, please do.”

  “I won’t keep you. I know you must be crazed over there with Christmas only a few days away. Will we still see you on the twenty-third?”

  “Yes, ma’am. I’ll see you then.”

  I hung up the phone, doing a little dance behind the register.

  Lyra approached me, looking intrigued. “What was that all about?”

  “Kristen Proby is going to sign here next month.”

  “Omigod. Maren, you love her!”

  “I know!”

  “What are you going to wear?”

  I bit down on my fingernail and clenched my teeth. “No idea. I’m still processing the fact that Valerie got her. That woman is amazing!”

  “She certainly is. Ooh, and Kristen has a new one coming out. We’ll need to get a preorder set up on the site, get a poster and fliers made—this is huge, Mare. Seriously.”