Unexpected

Chapter 29

"What are you doing here? I would have thought my not answering your texts and calls would tell you I'm not interested in hearing anything you have to say."

"Please let me explain," he pleaded. "It's not what you think."

"Really? Because it looked like you were kissing that girl. Was that some sort of optical illusion?"

"No, I did kiss her but - look, can I come in? I don't want to do this in the hallway."

She hesitated before stepping aside and allowing him to come inside. She closed the door then went over to sit on the couch.

He sat down beside her. He wanted to hold her hand but her arms were folded and tucked in the blanket.

"I'm so sorry. From the bottom of my heart, I'm sorry. I would never intentionally hurt you. Especially with something like this."

She stared at him as he spoke. She had let him in. She decided to let him get it all out then she would tell him it was over.

"I'll start at the beginning. We had a really great show. We wanted to go out and celebrate. We went to a bar. There was a group of women at the bar who recognized us. They wanted to buy us a drink. We let them. They were nice girls." Melanie snorted at this.

Brian continued. "We stood around talking. Many drinks were had. We were all having a good time."

"Yeah, I saw," she interjected.

"Look, the more we drank the friendlier we became. I wasn't hitting on any of them or trying to pick any of them up. You know how I get when I drink. I was just being me. One of the girls misinterpreted my kindness and kissed me. That was it. I immediately pulled away from her but someone was quick to get a picture. After that happened I decided to leave the bar. I didn't want to put out any more mixed signals." He stopped talking and just looked at her. She hadn't moved. "Aren't you going to say anything?" he finally asked.

"What's there to say?"

"That you believe me. It was one kiss and it was over before it began. I didn't sleep with her. I have no interest in being with anyone other than you. If I need to get off all I have to do is call you. I love it when you talk dirty to me over the phone. I'd rather do it myself and listen to your voice than stick it in another chick."

She shifted slightly and brushed some hair out of her face. He seized her hand before she could tuck it back into the blanket. They had been looking at each other this whole time, but now his eyes seemed to change. Was this something he could do at will? The 'eyes' were now present. The eyes that could bring her to her knees. She looked down. She didn't want to get sucked in.

"Melanie, I love you. You know I love you. We have talked about this. It wasn't any easier for me to open myself up than it was for you. I would never do anything to jeopardize what we have. Look at me, please." There was pleading in his voice and she raised her head to look at him. "I will do whatever I can to make this up to you. To try and take away the pain I have caused you. I take full responsibility for it. I'm not going to blame the girl or blame the alcohol. I put myself in that position. Please say we can move past this."

She didn't know what to say. She had every intention of telling him it was over when she first allowed him to come in. But what if he was telling the truth? She remembered what Emma had said, that it could be a misunderstanding. Was it? And could she get past it if it was?

"I just don't know what to say. I trusted you. I gave you my heart and in an instant it was smashed to pieces. I want to believe what you're saying. You've never given me a reason before this to doubt you or mistrust you. But this hurt. A lot. Even if you didn't mean for it to happen, it did happen and it hurt. I just don't know if I want to risk that happening again."

"I promise you nothing like this will ever happen again."

"How can you say that? If what you say is true and she kissed you and you didn't want it, how do you know it won't happen again, that a girl will just kiss you?"

"Because I won't put myself in a position for it to happen." He was still holding her hand and he moved closer to her. "I love you so much Mel. I don't want to lose you. I want you in my life. I NEED you in my life. Please tell me we can get past this."

There was sincerity in his voice. She did believe him. Until this happened he had never given her any reason to question him. She knew he loved her. And she was so in love with him. She didn't want to lose him either. She just had to decide whether or not she could really forgive him and move on.

She stared into those eyes. They were big and warm and pleading. Those eyes would be the death of her. "OK," she finally said. "I forgive you. Let's move on. But..."

He cut her off before she could finish. "I promise you this will never happen again. And I will make this up to you."

He moved towards her and wrapped his arms around her. Relief washed over him. He never wanted to let go of her. He was afraid if he did she would change her mind. But she pulled away from him.

"I'm really tired. I'm gonna go to bed. You can stay, but don't expect anything to happen."

"Ok. Thank you. I'm exhausted. As soon as the show was over I got a flight here. I've barely slept the last 48 hours."

"Oh you poor thing," she said, clicking off the tv. "Come on."

She stood up and headed to the bedroom, him following close behind. He stripped down to his boxers and got in the bed next to her.

"Can we lay together?" he asked a little hesitantly. She moved over to him and he put an arm around her. He kissed the top of her head. "I love you."

"I love you, too," she said. Within minutes they were both asleep.