Unbreak Me (Second Chances #1)

by Heather D'Agostino

  “For you,” was his only answer. She repeated the process of opening the box.

  This message read… at 5:30?

  The flowers kept coming throughout the day with a little more info each time. By the time lunch rolled around she had seven dozen roses in her office. She placed the cards next to each other to read the message.

  You’re beautiful. Join me tonight at 5:30 for a night at the opera? Love, Austin.

  She smiled and leaned back in her chair. Just then her phone chimed again.

  “Dr. Andrews,” she answered.

  “Hi, so do I get an answer?” a male voice came over the phone.

  Melanie giggled, “An answer to what? Who is this?”

  “Ummmm, didn’t you get my flowers?” he sounded confused.

  “What flowers?” she was turning red from trying to hold in her laughter.

  She could hear Austin grumbling and what sounded like papers being shifted around on the other end of the phone. After a pause, she decided to put him out of his misery. “You do realize that I’m teasing you, right?” she giggled.

  “That wasn’t a very nice joke. I was getting ready to call that flower shop and give the delivery boy a piece of my mind. So do I get an answer to my question?”

  “Yes and yes, they’re beautiful,” she was giddy with excitement. She hadn’t had this much attention from a man in along time, at least this much wanted attention.

  “I’ll pick you up at five,” he chuckled.

  Once she hung up the phone, she flipped open her schedule to make sure she could leave in time to get ready. She didn’t have time to shop, so she was going to have to make due with a gown she already owned. As much work as it was going to be to do this last minute, she appreciated Austin’s spontaneity in the planning. She felt like a schoolgirl being courted again. Austin was sweet, caring, and most of all romantic. She spun her chair around and threw her head back. She didn’t have any appointments scheduled for the afternoon, but she was on-call until six. She needed to find someone to cover her for a few hours so she could leave. Just then William stuck his head in her office.

  “You look happy,” he chuckled. “What is all this?” he swept his arm out in front of him and crinkled his brow.

  “Oh this?” she laughed. “They’re from Austin, aren’t they beautiful?” she leaned over and placed her nose over a bloom. Smiling, she turned back towards him, “I’m very happy.”

  “That’s good, it’s good to see you laugh and smile again. I missed that about you,” he smiled back at her.

  Just as he was turning to walk away, she called him back, “William, do you think you could cover my shift for the rest of the afternoon?” She smiled and gave him a pleading look.

  He rolled his eyes, “Now I know you’re getting back to your old self. Here you are asking me for favors again.”

  She stuck out her bottom lip and batted her eyes, “Please, I’ll owe you.”

  “Fine,” he sighed, “I don’t have anything going on tonight. Do you have plans?” he asked.

  “Yes, Austin’s taking me to the opera, and I need to get home in time to get ready,” she grinned and bounced in her chair.

  She had that dazed look in her eyes. William could tell that she was daydreaming about what the night might hold. She had that look of a woman in love. He shook his head to rid the thoughts that he was having. He longed for her to look at him that way. A good friend was all he’d ever be. He’d come to accept that, but it still hurt to watch her fall for another man that wasn’t him...

  April 1993

  “Sean and I are going to see a movie after school today, you wanna join us?” Melanie smiled.

  “No thanks,” William grumbled.

  “What’s going on with you?” she turned in his direction as she placed her lunch on the table. “You aren’t acting like yourself.”

  “I just don’t feel like hanging around you guys today, ok?”

  “Fine, I thought we’d hang out. Apparently you’d rather sulk about whatever is bothering you,” she shrugged her shoulders and started to turn away from him.

  William whirled around, eyes blazing as he lit into her, “You don’t get it, do you?”

  “Get what?” she looked at him with pleading eyes.

  “Nothing, never mind. You just don’t understand,” he began to take a bite of his burger when she let out a big sigh beside him. He turned abruptly and glared at her, “I don’t like watching you hang all over him.”

  Her eyes went wide. She’d never seen him like this and was beginning to wonder if he’d always felt this way. “What are you talking about? Sean and I? We bother you?”

  “Ah, look who just came to the party,” he glared.

  “William, why are you just now telling me about this? I thought we were friends?” she felt her chest tighten as his stormy eyes bore into hers. “How long has this been going on?”

  “It doesn’t matter. I’m going to go study in the library before class. I’ll see you later,” he stood, tossed his tray in the trash and stormed away.

  Melanie sat dumbfound as she tried to process what had just happened. William had seemed almost jealous of Sean. That couldn’t be true. She and William had always been friends. She would have noticed if things had changed, right?

  September 2012

  “So when are you supposed to get off?” he cocked his head to the side. “I wanna make sure I stay for your whole shift.”

  Her smiled widened when she realized she’d won the battle. “Thanks, I‘m scheduled until seven,” she jumped up from her chair and threw her arms around his neck. “You’re the best.”

  William tensed slightly when she hugged him, but soon relaxed when he realized that she hadn’t noticed. His eyes grew sad as he turned to leave her office, mumbling over his shoulder, “Have a good time. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Once he had left her office, she gathered her things and headed out the door. It was already four o’clock and she needed to get home to get ready. She had decided to leave the flowers in her office and let the smell permeate the air, and she smiled one last time before closing the door and locking it behind her.

  Once arriving at home, she found Katie pacing the living room.

  “Something on your mind?” she questioned.

  “No, Hannah asked if I could come over tonight for pizza and a movie. I’m pretty sure Sam and Anthony are going too. Zach offered me a ride. Can I go?” she pleaded.

  “I don’t know if I like the idea of you hanging out with Zach over there without adults around,” Melanie crossed her arms over her chest.

  “What do you mean ‘without adults‘?” Katie questioned.

  “Austin’s taking me to the opera tonight, and last I checked he was the only adult that lived with Hannah,” Melanie stated. “Plus you and Zach seem to be getting awfully close lately. I really hope that you aren’t letting him push you in to anything.”

  “Is this another sex talk?“ Katie rolled her eyes. “Please say no. I get it mom, really. No sex before marriage. Blah, blah, blah… All we’ve done is kiss,“ she huffed. “Don’t you trust me? When have I ever done something to make you question my judgment?” Katie begged.

  “Oh alright, home by midnight!” Melanie surrendered.

  “Yes, of course,” Katie jumped up and down. “Thanks mom, you’re the best.”

  “I try to be,” she laughed. “Now I need to go and get ready before Austin gets here.”

  She turned and went down the hall to her bedroom. She pulled open her closet and dug to the back, looking for several gowns from outings she’d gone to with Sean. She’d been to an insane amount of charity functions and hospital balls. Pulling out a green dress she hadn’t worn in many years, she asked herself, I wonder if this still fits? She placed it on the bed and dug for some shoes.

  Meanwhile Katie was having her own dilemma about what to wear. She knew that this was a casual affair and she should just relax. But, this was also a night with Zach. She wanted to look
nice for him. You have to get past mom to get out of here tonight she told herself. Make sure you don’t go overboard. She knew that Melanie would make her change if she didn’t deem appropriate what she was wearing.

  Katie had uniforms that she had to wear everyday to school, which made it that much harder when she had a choice to wear something different. She finally decided to on a denim skirt with a pair of black leggings. A gauzy white top with a pink tank underneath finished the look. Her pale shoulder peeped out of the neck so she decided to keep her hair down. She didn’t want to appear like she was trying too hard. She also didn’t want to send Zach the wrong message. He had hinted at wanting more, but she had no intention of giving that to him. After straightening her hair and putting on just enough makeup to highlight her features, she grabbed her purse and shoes and made her way out to sit on the couch and wait for Zach.

  Melanie sat at her vanity and fussed with her hair. It wouldn’t do what she wanted it to do and she was getting more and more flustered. She yanked the brush again. Up it is, she thought. She had wanted to wear it down, but it was not cooperating. She twisted it at her nape and began pinning and pulling pieces into place. She was determined to get this French twist to look right, and painstakingly curled a few flyaway pieces that fell around her face.

  Setting the brush down, she looked back at her reflection. Finally satisfied with what she saw, she stood to put on her gown. She slid on her stockings that felt like silk on her legs, and stepped into the dress. It was that beautiful hunter green shade that brought out her eyes, at least that’s what everyone always told her. It had a velvet bust with small stones that followed the halter top. The empire waist held the satin skirt so it hung loose and flowy. The gown looked rather simple in the front, but when you turned around, the back plunged low. It came to a deep V right at the hips, small strands of crystals swaged from one side of the V to the other creating a curtain effect. She glanced at her reflection, just what I was going for she thought. She sat on the edge of the bed and slid on her shoes, a pair of green stilettos that matched the dress. She grabbed her wrap and purse and made her way out to the living room.

  “Wow mom, you look great,” Katie beamed.

  “Thanks, I’ll have my cell with me tonight. If you need anything, and I mean anything, you call me, you hear?” Melanie looked over her shoulder at Katie.

  “Yes mom, now have a good time,” Katie giggled.

  Just then, there was a knock at the door. Melanie walked over to open it knowing it was Austin. He was right on time, as always. She opened the door and smiled at the sight before her. There was Austin, dressed to the nines in a three piece suit. He always looked nice when they went out, but she’d never seen him this dressed up.

  He smiled and kissed her on the cheek, “You look beautiful.”

  “Thank you,” she blushed.

  “For you,” he handed her a bouquet of flowers.

  “What’s with all the flowers? My office is covered in them today. You must have bought out the entire shop,” she giggled.

  “A lady must be courted,” he mused. He winked at her and held out his hand, “Ready?”

  “Let me put these in water, and then yes, I’ll be ready,” she smiled.

  When Melanie turned around to walk into the kitchen, revealing her back, Austin swallowed the lump that formed in his throat. The view of her back, a soft peaches and cream, was about to do him in. He shifted on his feet and clasped his hands in front of him trying to cover the reaction she was causing. One of the many things he found so attractive about her was the fact that she had no idea how beautiful she really was. He saw the way men looked at her when they were out somewhere. She was totally oblivious to her effect on them.

  Katie sat on the couch and stared at the interaction between her mom and Mr. Montgomery. She hoped that one day she’d find a man that treated her like that. It was like having a movie play out in real life right in front of your eyes.

  When they stepped out the door, Melanie gasped and placed her hand over her mouth. A black limousine was idling in front of the steps. “Oh Austin, what is all this?”

  “This,” he offered his arm, “Is how you treat a lady.”

  The driver had stepped to the side, holding the door open for them. Austin moved to allow Melanie to enter first. Once she had slid in, he climbed in beside her.

  “I wanted to be able to enjoy the night without worrying about the car. I can devote my entire attention to you this way.” He smiled a crooked smile at her as he reached over to clasp her hand in his. He ran his thumb slowly across the back of her hand as he shifted to face her more. “You deserve to be treated this way, cherished, adored… I intend to show you what being with me is really like. The real me, not the one you hear about.”

  Melanie blushed and turned her face down, “You make feel special,” she mumbled.

  “That’s because you are,” he answered with genuine affection.

  The drive seemed quicker to the theater than the last date they went on. Maybe it was the fact that they were beginning to get more comfortable around one another. Whatever it was, it made the evening much more relaxed. When they got to the opera house, the limo pulled up to the curb and a valet helped them out. Melanie raised her brow, but smiled as he offered her his arm. When they entered the opera house, Austin led her up to a private box and opened the door.

  “In here, my lady,” he gestured with his arm at the seats.

  She walked in and took a seat. This must have cost him a fortune she thought. A limo... box seats... what’s next? Austin took the seat beside her. He glanced over as he was making himself comfortable and thought god she’s beautiful. How am I going to top this date? I’ll be doing favors for Colin for a year to make up for these tickets. He was silently chuckling to himself when Melanie noticed the quick rise and fall of his shoulders.

  “What’s so funny?” she asked.

  “Oh nothing,” he replied. “A friend of mine has season tickets to the opera, so I bought these off him. I figure I owe him now. I’m not looking forward to what he’ll ask me for when he comes to collect is all.”

  Colin had a habit of getting Austin into some sticky situations, but they’d been friends for as long as Austin could remember.

  “Which opera is this that we’re seeing tonight?” she grabbed a program from Austin and removed her opera glasses from her clutch bag.

  “Carmen. Ever heard of it?” Austin shrugged.

  “Bizet’s Carmen?” she turned to face him with a look of excitement gracing her face.

  “That’s the one,” Austin chuckled.

  “Yes, I’ve seen it before. Oh, this is a very romantic story,” she sighed.

  Austin listened as she described the plot of the opera with such excitement in her voice.

  “Sound like she’s bad news if you ask me,” he laughed.

  Just then the lights dimmed and the curtains rose.

  Austin leaned over toward Melanie, “Do you understand French?”

  “Yes, I took French in school,” she smiled at him. Then she leaned even closer and began telling him what was going on.

  Austin nodded along as she continued to whisper in his ear. Chill bumps appeared on his neck from the caress of her warm breath. The more she spoke in hushed whispers, the more he wished they were alone somewhere. His body was so keyed up at the moment, he wasn’t sure he’d make it through the night. He couldn’t remember the last time a woman had had this much of an effect on him. The way she leaned toward him, her perfect body draped in that soft silky dress, he silently wondered what it would feel like to run his hands over her. That first kiss they’d shared in the park seemed like so long ago. He’d been fantasizing for days what it would be like to be with her...to feel her pressed against him, panting and begging him to take her.

  In desperation, Austin shook his head to rid the thoughts he was having. He needed to calm down before things got out of hand. The opera would be over soon, and he’d have to get up and walk. He
was not feeling at all honorable at the moment, and he did not want to make a fool of himself in front of her.

  When Melanie looked over at him, she could see he was completely mesmerized, but she had no idea the battle that was currently waging in him. His brain was fighting for control over his body and it was a struggle he wasn’t used to. Just then the final act began to play out.

  The curtains closed and the audience rose to their feet offering a thunderous applause. Austin picked up Melanie’s wrap and placed it on her shoulders.