Tell Me

Chapter Twenty-Five

Melanie had just shifted Nikki’s head from her shoulder onto a pillow when her phone rang. Gabe’s ringtone. She considered not answering it. She still couldn’t believe that he’d abandoned her at the police station with no idea why he’d left or where he’d gone. He’d better have a good explanation. Wanting to hear what excuse came out of his mouth was the only reason she answered.

Or so she told herself.

“Where are you?” he asked. “I came back to our room and you’re not here.”

“I got my own room.”

“What? Why?”

“Because Nikki needs me and you apparently don’t.”

“What are you talking about? I don’t need you? Where did you get that idea?”

“You just fucking left us there at the police station, Gabe. You didn’t even bother to say goodbye. Don’t you think I have enough to worry about with Nikki without you acting like a complete asshole?”

“I didn’t think. I just…” He took a deep breath. “Fuck, Melanie. What did you expect me to do for her?”

“Not a damned thing, Gabe. I didn’t need you there for her. I needed you there for me!”

Nikki stirred beside her, and Melanie took a deep breath to calm her frayed nerves. “I have to go. Nikki’s sleeping. I don’t want to wake her.”

“Are you in this hotel?” he asked. “I need to see you, Mel. I need to touch you. I need to know that we’re fucking okay. Are we okay?”

Irked as she was, she wanted to see him too. She wanted him to hold her while she fell apart, but she couldn’t leave Nikki alone again. She just couldn’t.

“I just… I just need to be with her right now.”

He was silent for a moment. Even listening to him breathe was making her chest ache. Making her miss him.

“She’s sleeping, isn’t she?” he asked.

Melanie stroked Nikki’s silky brown hair from her face. Nikki smiled peacefully in her sleep and snuggled into her pillow.

“Yeah. She’s sleeping.”

“Can we talk in the hallway or something? Where are you? Wherever you are, I’ll come to you.”

She hesitated, considering. What harm would it do to talk to him as long as she was in earshot of Nikki?

“Melanie, please,” he said.

“We’re in Shade’s room. Adam gave us Shade’s spare key because you left us and Nikki forgot her key in the room.”

“Oh,” he said. “So you didn’t leave me because you were mad.”

“I would have if I’d thought of it,” she snapped.

He chuckled and there was a soft knock at the door. “I think someone at your door wants to see you,” he whispered. “But I don’t think you realize how much.”

She disconnected the call, climbed from the bed—careful not to disturb Nikki—and hurried to the door. She blinked in the bright glare of the hallway and gasped when she saw Gabe’s face. Both eyes were well on the way to being black, and he had a cut on the bridge of his nose, a horrible bruise creeping up the strong line of his jaw, and blood on his upper lip.

“Oh my God, Gabe” she said. “What happened to your face?”

He shrugged, still holding his phone to his ear. “I got in a little fight.”

“A fight with who?”

“A certain cage fighter we both despise.”

He’d gotten into a fight with Dick Bailey? Was he insane?

“What in the world happened?”

“I figured since the cops weren’t going to do anything to him, I’d kick his ass.” He ran a hand gingerly over his face. “You didn’t tell me he was so fucking huge.”

“Are you crazy? You went after him? Gabe! He’s a professional fighter.”

“Semi-professional,” he corrected. “And yeah, well, he doesn’t look as bad as I do, but I got in a few good licks before they threw me out.”

“Is that why you left us at the station? So you could go beat up someone?”

He winced. “You make it sound like a crime. I was beyond pissed at the time, and it seemed like a good idea to release my anger on the responsible party’s face.”

She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed. He gasped, and she immediately let go. Apparently his face wasn’t the only thing that had taken a pummeling.

“Don’t let go,” he said, drawing her against him again.

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Then don’t ever again make me think you’ve left me.”

She pressed her face into his bare chest, but kept her hold loose. “I’m sorry if I hurt you.”

“You did,” he said. “Far more than getting punched in the face by a cage fighter.” He rubbed his lips against her hair. “I thought you’d gone back to Wichita without saying goodbye.”

She tilted her head back so she could look at him. He smoothed her hair with both hands and then lowered his head to claim her trembling lips. She couldn’t believe he’d risked himself for Nikki. If Melanie hadn’t already been completely enamored with the man, that reckless act of selfless heroism would have done the trick.

His kiss was too short. She’d have liked it to go on forever.

“Melanie?” Nikki mumbled from the bed. She sat bolt upright. “Melanie!”

“I’m right here,” Melanie said. “I’m just saying goodnight to Gabe.”

“You’re going to make me leave, aren’t you?” Gabe said.

Knowing she had to send him away made her sick with longing. She’d much rather snuggle against him all night than fight Nikki for covers, but sometimes sacrifices had to be made. Melanie knew Nikki wouldn’t sleep if she left her alone. And Nikki needed sleep. And to feel safe and loved. Nikki needed cuddles even more than Melanie did. So she brushed a kiss against Gabe’s lips, pushed him into the hall, and shut the door.