Dating Dr. Dreamy - Lili Valente Page 0,62
being hurt in the entire time we grew up together. Even when Melody was four and colored in permanent marker all over my new chef costume. “And who are you to decide what I need to do with my life? You’re twenty-two, Melody, and you’ve only dated one boy for more than six months. You’re not—”
“I’m young, but I know what it’s like to love someone who isn’t right for me,” Melody says, crossing her arms at her chest. “I loved Brian. I didn’t want to break up with him, but when I realized we weren’t going to work long term, I did it.”
The day I told Mason it was over, Melody came home in tears from her last date with Brian. When she took Felicity over to his parents’ farm to pet the animals, Brian not only refused to hold the baby, but made little effort to conceal his lack of enthusiasm for small, drooling people who make a mess in their diapers. Melody flat out asked him whether he wanted children in the future, and he confessed that he found babies “kind of gross.”
No one infers that Melody’s treasured baby niece is gross and gets away with it.
She broke up with Brian on the spot, and refused to even consider giving the boy a second chance.
“And I’ve been sad about it,” Melody continues. “But I’m not going to let it destroy me or my relationships with the other people I care about.”
I shrug, trying to act like I’m not bleeding inside from Melody’s attack of tough love. “Well, maybe you’re stronger than I am. Or maybe you don’t love the same way I do. Maybe it’s not as intense an experience for you.”
Now, it’s Melody’s turn to look offended. “That’s not fair. Just because I don’t give up on life when I’m sad, it doesn’t mean I’m not—”
“I’m not giving up! I’m hurting, Melody, can’t you—”
“Hold on, you two,” Aria says, stepping between us. “Just wait a second.”
Aria takes Melody’s hand. “I think what Lark is trying to say is that you’ve always been a really positive person, Melody. Like Mom. That doesn’t mean you don’t feel things, but it may mean you’re naturally better at…bouncing back. That you’re more resilient.” Aria turns to me. “And I think what Melody is trying to say is that you’ve come so far in the past four years. You’re a stronger person now, and there’s no reason to let what happened with Mason take that away from you.”
“So you think I need to grow up, too?” I clench my jaw against the urge to cry.
Aria meets my eyes for a long moment. “Not to be a jerk, because I love you and I understand exactly what you’re feeling, but…yes. It’s time to get help if you need it. That’s the grown up thing to do.”
I nod before tucking my chin, hiding the tears filling my eyes. “Well,” I say, my voice trembling. “Thanks for the help, y’all. I feel so much better.”
“Oh, Sissy, we love you, you know we do.” Melody pulls me in for a hug, crushing me into her abundant chest. “And you’re going to feel better soon, I just know it. We’ll help any way we can.”
“Yes, we will.” Aria throws her arms around us both, turning me into sister-hug sandwich filling.
I stiffen for a second—resentment at being blindsided by an “intervention” warring with the need to melt into my sisters’ arms—but I finally give in and wrap one arm around Melody’s waist and the other around Aria’s, pulling them close. We hug for a good five minutes, rocking back and forth in the fading light until Aria finally pulls away and says—
“I love you both dearly, but I’m hot as the devil’s nut sack. I can’t hug anymore.”
“Ew,” Melody says as she releases me. “That’s disgusting, Aria.”
“So is how sweaty I am under this white button-down.” Aria pulls at the front of her shirt. “Maybe we should let the servers wear short sleeves from now on.”
“No way,” I say, stepping in to slam the van’s back doors closed. “Short sleeve button-downs are tacky looking.”
“So are sweat patches,” Aria says. “And servers who smell more onion-y than the appetizers.”
“Mitch does get kind of stinky by the end of a shift,” Melody says thoughtfully, snatching the keys from my hand and heading for the driver’s seat while shouting, “I’m driving!”
“Shotgun!” I call, making Aria groan at being stuck in the middle for the ride back.
“But Mitch refuses to wear