Memory of a Melody

by Charli B. Rose

  “Get dressed and get out,” I bit out quietly.

  Without a word, she slipped the dress over her head and brushed past me. A moment later, the front door thudded shut.

  “Willa,” Cade’s voice pleaded in the silence that hovered between us.

  Unable to stand the sight of his duplicity anymore, I held up my hand and walked from the room.

  ♪ Take a Bow by Rhiana

  The sound of rushing feet followed me into the living room. I didn’t turn from the view of the city spread before me.

  How many people out there were walking around suffering from heartache like me? In a city the size of New York, they had to number in the hundred-thousands.

  Cade’s reflection moved in my peripheral vision.

  “Willa, I can explain,” his voice broke the silence.

  A humorless chuckle erupted from me. “Oh, I bet you can. Your clothes magically disappeared. Hers too. Some sort of voodoo. And then you fell into her. Over and over again, while I watched from the doorway until you came. Or no … I bet she’s a rising pop star you want to sign to Matthews’ Melodies, and in order to seal the deal, you had to sign her pussy with your dick. That’s it, right?” My voice rose with each word that fell from my lips.

  “Willa, I’m sorry.” He moved closer. I could feel the heat of his body behind mine. A heat I used to find comfort in. A heat that burned now.

  “How long?” I asked. It didn’t really matter, but the masochist in me demanded the painful information.

  “Willa …”

  “Don’t even think about lying. How. Long.” My hands clenched into fists by my side.

  With a sigh, he mumbled, “A few months.”

  “More than three?” Why did I ask that? Like less than three would somehow be better.

  “Yes,” he croaked, hanging his head in shame.

  So, before our short-term vow of celibacy.

  “I don’t love her. She means nothing to me. It was just business. I swear, I can fix this. Be the man you fell in love with again.” His hand gripped my wrist and spun me around. He pulled me to him.

  I snatched my arm from his grasp. “Are you really trying to embrace me with the stench of her perfume clinging to your skin? With you reeking of sex? Wrapped only in a sheet I bought for us, but now defiled with your joint bodily fluids? Hell no. We’re done.”

  I tugged the engagement ring from my finger. Tears filled my eyes as I stared him down, but I willed them not to fall. Not yet. I held up the ring that used to mean so much. The overhead light sparkled off it. But it didn’t mesmerize me like it had when he’d placed it on my finger a year ago. “When you put this on my finger, you promised to love me forever and protect my heart from the harshness of the world. Who knew the only thing my heart needed protecting from was the asshole who asked for my forever?” my voice cracked.

  “Willa, please don’t throw us away. I’ll end it with Bridgette. She’s the only one. I was never unfaithful before.”

  “I’m not throwing us away. You already did that when you chose to submit to temptation and violate the foundation of our relationship. I’ll come by tomorrow after my meeting for Larkin Inc, so around lunch, to get the rest of my stuff. Don’t be here. I’ll start calling and canceling the wedding vendors tomorrow afternoon. You can burn the sheets and comforter. I don’t want them anymore, but maybe Bridgette will.” My nose wrinkled in disgust. I threw the ring at him. It bounced off his chest and rolled across the floor. I turned my back on what was supposed to be my future, my forever, and shored up the walls holding my broken pieces in.

  “We can talk when you’ve calmed down a little. Don’t be rash while you’re angry. I love you,” he shouted at my back.

  I didn’t bother to answer. Barely holding it together, I stormed to the front door and scooped up my stuff.

  At least he had the good sense not to chase after me.

  ♪ Breathe You Out by Kaneholler

  2

  Trystan

  Work was exhausting. I’d spent most of the day rebuilding an engine for some hotshot lawyer. Now all I wanted to do was get off the subway at my stop, walk the couple of blocks to my apartment, shower and fall into bed. And pray for lyrics. They’d been so elusive lately. But my need for them had never been more critical.

  My phone vibrating in my pocket didn’t bode well for my plans. No one ever called unless they needed something from me. Against my better judgment, I dragged the black rectangle out. I swiped the screen when I saw who it was.

  “Yo, Chad. What’s up?” I greeted the owner of Mind Meld, the bar down the street from my apartment. I spent many hours there unwinding and performing.

  “I hate to ask, but one of the acts on tonight’s lineup bailed on me last minute. You think you could get your guys together to play a set at ten-thirty?”

  There went my plans for relaxing. “Sure, let me see what I can work out. I’ll call you back in twenty.”

  “You’re the best, man. And you never know. Another record label executive could be having a drink in the bar tonight.”

  “Lightning doesn’t strike the same spot twice,” I said and ended the call.

  My head thudded against the window behind me. Sighing, I shot off a group text to the other members of Tryst Disrupted to see if they were free. Performing tonight was the last thing I needed to do. The band had an appointment in the coming days with a junior executive at one of the big record labels here in the city. That meant we had minimal time to write and learn a new song, several actually. But one would be a good start.

  When Mack introduced himself to us after a gig at Mind Meld, he said he loved our original songs and couldn’t wait to hear more when we came in. Like an idiot, I didn’t tell him he’d heard all our original pieces in the set he’d listened to. Now our musical futures were riding on our ability to create new material, on my ability to write new lyrics. So far, I had nothing to show for the hours I’d sat at my piano trying to will a song into being.

  All the guys responded by the time the subway pulled up to my stop. They were all down to play tonight. Maybe a song was waiting at the bottom of a whiskey glass at the bar. Only one way to find out.

  I called Chad back before the doors slid open. “We’ll be there,” I said as soon as he picked up. “Drinks better be flowing. I’m gonna need something to get me through the night.”

  “You got it. Thanks, man. I owe you one.”

  Chuckling, I ended the call. He’d be in trouble if I ever decided to cash in on all the ones he owed me over the years. Now on a schedule, I weaved in and out of the throng of people milling around on the subway platform with haste. Everyone around me was in their own world, completely unaware of everything going on around them. I joined the scurrying masses, dodging each person moving slower than me.

  Emerging onto the street from the subterranean cavern, I breathed deeply, inhaling the scents of the city I loved. I needed to clear the smell of too many perspiring bodies from my nostrils. The aroma of hot dogs and pretzels floated around me, making my stomach growl. Lunch was a long time ago.

  “Hey, Nate,” I called, strolling up to my favorite hot dog stand in the city, which was conveniently located on my way home.

  “Your usual?” he asked as I dug out my wallet. Immediately, he began fixing the hot dogs the way I liked them.

  “You know it.” I handed over a fistful of bills in exchange for two chili dogs and a large Coke. I balanced one dog across the lid of my cup and began devouring the other as I moved in the direction of home. There’d be no time to cook when I got there. Those wings I left marinating would have to wait until tomorrow.

  My first chili dog was gone in four large bites. And I’d managed to eat the whole thing one-handed without dripping any on me. Only a pro could achieve that. I balled up the empty wrapper as I passed a trash can. Without missing a step, I tossed the paper inside. Sighing deeply, I swallowed a long drink of sweet soda to wash it all down. I’d started my second dog by the time I was cl
imbing the steps outside my building.

  For once, I had the elevator to myself as it moved in a jerky motion to the sixth floor. A soft ding announced my arrival on my floor. I turned left and sauntered to the end of the hallway. Once inside, I leaned against my door. I was weary and ready to give out. I surrendered to the feeling for a few moments. Then I finished my soda and set off to wash the day away and get my head in the right space to share my music with whoever showed up at the bar tonight.

  With my guitar strapped across my back, I made my way to Mind Meld. When I entered my home away from home, I paused just inside the threshold to allow my eyes to adjust to the dim lighting. Though I knew the guys wouldn’t arrive for another hour, my gaze still scanned the room just to be sure. Satisfied I was the first of our group to arrive, I threw up a wave to the bartender and moved down the hallway to stash my guitar.

  After a pitstop in the restroom, I sidled up to the bar. I didn’t even have to tell Marcy, the busty bartender, what I wanted. She slid a Jack and Coke into my waiting hand with a wink. Leaning against the bar, I took a slow sip and surveyed the scene.

  A few regulars were scattered about, laughing and talking and, of course, drinking. There were new faces in the crowd too. The bar wasn’t super busy since it was a Thursday night, but the group would grow by the time we took the stage. Adrenaline started pumping in my veins as I thought of entertaining this group.

  “Just sit here and we’ll drown out the memory of that bastard,” a feminine voice said to my right.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I looked at who’d perched on the empty barstools beside me. A woman in a sexy black dress sat right beside me. Her long hair hung loosely about her shoulders. She was a little overdressed for the likes of Mind Meld, but I wasn’t about to complain. Next to her was the vocal one, a blonde dressed in a leather skirt and halter top.

  Oblivious to her audience, the blonde continued, “I still can’t believe he’s been cheating on you for months. I mean, I know I never cared for him or anything … but I never imagined he was a lying, cheating douche bag.”

  The girl next to me sighed. “Me neither. And in the home he was supposed to be building with me.”

  “Look on the bright side. At least you found out what he’s been up to before you said, ‘I do’. I mean, could you imagine having walked in on that a few months from now?”

  The pretty girl next to me shuddered. “I know. Gosh, that would’ve been a nightmare. But even dodging that bullet, it still hurts. So much. I mean …” Her voice trembled for a moment, then she drew a deep breath and sat up straight.

  “It’s a good thing you took pictures and videos of the jerk in the act. You might need the proof so your family will understand why you can’t marry him,” the blonde commented.

  “Yeah,” the sexy one murmured. She didn’t sound like she thought it was a good thing.

  “You know, you should upload them to your cloud,” blondie told her.

  “I should. And I need to change the password since Cade knows mine.” She tapped the edge of the bar in a nervous rhythm.

  “Why does he know your password?” the other one asked in an annoyed voice.

  “We were together for three years. I was supposed to marry him in a few weeks. He knows all my passwords, and I know his.” She shook her head sadly. “A few weeks, Sydney. What am I going to do?”

  “For starters, you’re going to have another drink.” She waved Marcy over. “And you’re going to give me your phone so we can move the evidence. After that, you’re going to dance and laugh. And then, you’re going to find some smoking hot hunk of man meat to flirt with.”

  ♪ I Wanna Dance with Somebody by Whitney Houston

  “What? A hot hunk of man meat is the reason I’m sitting here about to drown my sorrows in cosmos, why would I want another one?” Her tone sounded so dejected.

  I was anxious to hear blondie’s reasoning, but before she could answer her friend, Marcy asked, “What can I get you, ladies?”

  “Two cosmos please,” the sexy brunette answered.

  “Put them on my tab,” I told Marcy, causing the girls to look at me finally.

  “Thanks, but you don’t have to do that,” the brunette told me.

  Blondie elbowed her, causing her to wince and glare at her.

  Blondie leaned around her friend and said, “What my friend means is, thank you for being a gentleman. You just may have started to restore her faith in men. I’m Sydney, by the way, and my friend here is Willa.” She stuck out her hand.

  I gave her hand a gentle shake. “It’s always a pleasure to meet two beautiful ladies. I’m Trystan.” I held out my hand to Willa. When she tentatively placed her hand in mine instead of shaking it, I pressed a kiss to it.

  “Hi,” she whispered as her skin pinkened.

  “Now, Sydney, I have to know what your answer was going to be to Willa’s question before Marcy distracted you with the promise of liquid libations.” I winked at her.

  “Wh-what was my question?” Willa stammered.

  “Why you would want another, what was it you called it …” I paused and tapped a finger to my chin, pretending to think it over. “Oh yeah, another hot hunk of man meat?” I teased.

  The pink in her cheeks deepened to crimson. Something about her blush turned me on. A lot. Made me want to keep doing things to make her skin flush.

  “I … uh … I didn’t mean to sound offensive. Not that you would think I’m calling you a hot hunk of man meat. Not saying you aren’t hot. Oh hell. I don’t know what I’m saying,” she tripped over her words and turned even more scarlet.

  I was loving this. “I should hope you aren’t insinuating that I’m not hot. Not that I’m conceited or anything. And I am a hunk, if I do say so myself.” I flexed my muscles and winked at her. Her friend was about to fall off her stool, laughing at the exchange.

  “You are both hot and hunky. But hopefully not a douchey jerk like her ex,” Sydney chimed in.

  “Definitely not douchey or jerky. At least, I don’t think so,” I teasingly defended myself.

  Willa buried her face in her hands. “I can’t believe we’re having this conversation.”

  “Would you like me to give you a pass out of this little chat, princess?” I offered. Her lips tipped up at the nickname.

  She nodded eagerly. “Yes, please.”

  “I’ll forget that you might have biasedly lumped me into the category of hot hunk of man meat who acts like a douchebag instead of the hot hunk of man meat who knows how to make a girl feel like a queen category, if you dance with me.” I didn’t know what made me ask her to dance, especially since I hadn’t danced in ages.

  “You want to dance with me?” Willa asked in disbelief.

  “I mean, I know that forgetting your grievous act seems like a large thing to ask of me in exchange for a small thing like a dance. But what can I say? I’m a nice guy.” I held my hand out to her.

  Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she smiled at me. That smile stole my breath and stopped my heart. “Why not?” She slipped her soft hand into my calloused one. “You don’t mind, do you, Sydney?” Willa asked her friend over her shoulder as I tugged her toward the dance floor.

  “Go get you some, girl. And that doesn’t have to stop with dancing.” Sydney waggled her eyebrows as she shoved Willa closer to me.

  I chuckled at Willa’s mortified expression as we made our way to the dance floor. The song magically switched to something slower when we stepped into an open space. Giving her a little twirl, I spun her into my arms. She giggled in surprise and rested her palm against my chest.

  “So, in addition to your hot, hunky, nice guy persona, you’ve got moves too?” Her eyebrows lifted in mock disbelief.

  “What can I say? I’m a man of many talents. I just might show you some more later,” I said with a wink as I expertly moved us across the floor.

  “I can’t wait.” She smirked up at me. She then nestled her head against my heart and moved in time wi
th me.

  ♪ Stolen Dance by Milky Chance

  We danced through several songs, just soaking up each other. The silence was oddly comfortable, like we weren’t two strangers holding each other close.

  “So, I’m guessing this place isn’t normally your scene since I haven’t seen you here before,” I said when she looked up at me. I’d have noticed her if she’d been here before.

  “No. I live across town. Sydney insisted that I come out tonight rather than wallow in self-pity at home. I didn’t want to run into my ex or any of our friends, so we came here,” she explained.

  I nodded in understanding. “I wasn’t eavesdropping or anything, but your friend …”

  “Has a big mouth and one volume setting,” she finished with a laugh.

  “Yeah.” I shrugged. “So, you recently found out your ex was cheating on you?”

  “A few hours ago, actually.” She grimaced.

  I whistled through my teeth. “Damn. That’s terrible. And you were engaged?”

  “Yep,” she said, popping the p. “For a year. Wedding was supposed to be in a few weeks. Guess I have a lot of cancellations to make tomorrow.”

  She looked devastated. As much as I hated to suggest it, I wanted to cheer her up. “Are you sure you don’t want to wait a few days and see if you can fix things with him?”

  Blazing eyes met mine. “Hell no. I wouldn’t marry that cheating scumbag if he were the last man on Earth. I’m upset my parents are going to lose all their deposits when I call things off. They … um … really shouldn’t be wasting money right now.”

  “I’m sure they’ll understand. There’s no way they’d want their little girl to marry a man stupid enough to cheat on her,” my voice was earnest and hopeful.

  “You’re right. It’s just …” Tears shimmered in her eyes.

  “It’s all right. I’ve got you, princess,” I crooned and tucked her back against my chest.