Melted by her Love

PART 18:-Secrets from the Past

The morning after their kiss, Emme woke up early, the events of the previous night still vivid in her mind. She sat up in bed, running a hand through her hair as she tried to process what had happened. The kiss with Alex had been so unexpected, so charged with emotion that she hadn’t slept much. But she couldn’t help feeling a sliver of hope. Maybe, just maybe, that kiss had been the breakthrough they needed. Maybe Alex was finally starting to let her in.

She quietly walked into the living room, expecting to find Alex groggily waking up on the couch, but instead, he was already sitting up, looking as impeccably put together as ever. His face was unreadable, his usual cold demeanor fully back in place. Emme’s heart sank when she saw the blank expression in his eyes.

“Good morning,” she said cautiously.

Alex glanced at her, a slight frown on his face. “Morning.”

There was an awkward pause, and Emme’s stomach churned with anxiety. “How are you feeling?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Fine. Why?”

Her heart skipped a beat. Did he not remember? Surely he hadn’t forgotten the kiss—the night they had shared, the moment when he had let his guard down. She had expected him to be distant, but not to act like nothing had happened.

“You… you were pretty drunk last night,” she ventured, hoping to jog his memory.

Alex rubbed his temples, wincing slightly. “Yeah, I remember that. I probably shouldn’t have gone to the bar.”

Emme’s breath caught in her throat. That’s all he remembered? The drinking? What about the kiss? What about the vulnerability he had shown her, the side of him she had never seen before? But as she stood there, watching him button up his jacket and prepare to leave, it became painfully clear that he had no recollection of the most important part of the night.

“You don’t remember anything else?” she asked, her voice quiet.

Alex shook his head, looking slightly puzzled. “Should I?”

Emme forced a smile, hiding the disappointment that threatened to overwhelm her. “No, nothing important.”

Alex nodded, grabbing his briefcase. “I should get going. Thanks for… helping me out last night.” His tone was stiff, formal, as if they were nothing more than casual acquaintances.

Emme watched him leave, her heart heavy with unspoken words. How could he forget something so important? Had it meant nothing to him? As the door closed behind him, she felt a lump form in her throat. Whatever progress she thought they had made last night seemed to vanish in the cold light of morning.

Later that day, Emme met David at her café to go over some final details for her upcoming fundraiser. His presence, as always, was a source of comfort. David had been her rock ever since he’d returned to her life, and while she had long since moved past their romantic history, she couldn’t deny that being around him made things feel easier.

As they sat together, discussing plans and laughing over an old inside joke, Emme glanced up to see Alex standing outside, watching them through the window. His face was a storm of barely concealed jealousy. She could see the tension in his jaw, the way his eyes darkened as he took in the scene of her and David sitting close together.

Alex stormed into the café, his expression cold and unreadable, but Emme could sense the underlying anger beneath his calm façade. David looked up, surprised to see him there.

“Alex,” Emme said, standing up, “I wasn’t expecting you.”

Alex’s eyes flicked from Emme to David, then back to her. “Clearly.”