“Didn’t think so. Guess you’re not that special to her after all,” Rose said.
The sudden edge in Rose’s voice shook some sense into Mel. “You need to leave. Now.”
“I’ll be out of your hair in a second. I just thought that I should warn you.” Rose downed the last of her drink. “Vanessa ditched me at the first sign of trouble. And she’ll do the same to you.”
“Rose?” James’s voice rang out from behind Mel. “What the fuck?”
Rose put down her glass, shot Mel a cheeky smile, and disappeared into the crowd.
“Dammit!”
Mel watched James chase after Rose. Was everything that Rose said true? Vanessa never spoke about her exes or her past in general. Was it because she had something to hide?
Was Mel just the latest of Vanessa’s disposable subs? She thought back to her encounter with Vicki at the charity fundraiser. Vanessa had been reluctant to leave Mel alone with Vicki. Was it because she feared Vicki would expose her? Mel remembered Vicki’s words.
Vanessa has finally found a pet she wants to keep.
James returned to the bar, his fists clenched at his sides. “I don’t know how Rose got past security, but she’s gone now. Did she give you any trouble, Mel?”
“No,” Mel said. “She just ordered a drink.”
“Goddammit. This is the second time that she’s gotten in here recently. Vanessa will be pissed.”
“Is she really that touchy about Rose?” Mel asked.
“Let me put it this way. Last time Rose got in here, I had to talk Vanessa out of firing the entire security staff. Now I regret not letting her.”
Did Vanessa’s hostility toward Rose stem from guilt?
“I’m going to have to tell Vanessa about this.” James pinched the bridge of his nose. “Look, do you think you could not say anything to Vanessa until I’ve talked to her? I know you two are close, but I think she should hear it from me since it happened under my watch. I’ll call her as soon as she gets back from her business trip.”
“Sure.” Mel didn’t feel good about keeping something from Vanessa. But if Mel told Vanessa that she had met Rose, Vanessa would want to know what Rose had said to her. And Mel wasn’t prepared to talk to Vanessa about that. Not until she’d had a chance to process it all.
“Thanks, Mel. I won’t mention to Vanessa that Rose spoke to you, I’ll leave that to you. I don’t want to get in the middle of anything. Just let me talk to her first.”
“Okay.”
“Thanks, Mel. I’m sorry for putting you in this position.” James sighed. “I’m going to go have a chat with security.”
Mel watched James disappear into the crowd, a sinking feeling in her stomach. Surely Rose’s words were just the angry rantings of a jilted ex?
But Mel couldn’t help but think about how everything that Rose said sounded all too familiar.
Chapter Twenty
It had been a month or so into Mel’s freshman year. She was at the top of the world. She’d finally left her old life behind. She’d had lots of new experiences. Living in a dorm, going to wild parties, finding friends who she actually fit in with. No one cared that she was gay here. And she wasn’t the only one. She’d had her first of many kisses. One of which led to several other firsts, most of them involving the girl in the bed next to her.
Mel turned her head to look at Kim. Her blonde locks were in disarray, and her eyes were closed. She had a satisfied smile on her face. Mel watched Kim’s chest rise and fall under the covers.
Kim was Mel’s roommate. Over the past few weeks, they had become exceptionally close. And an alcohol-fueled hookup one night had led to them falling into bed with each other over and over again. Mel was infatuated with her.
The problem? Kim was straight as an arrow. At least, that was what Kim said.
Mel sighed. “We can’t keep doing this, Kim.”
“Why not?” Kim asked, her eyes still closed. “I’m having fun. Aren’t you?”
“Well, yeah.” The last few weeks had been incredible. But it wasn’t because of the sex. It was the little things. The quiet moments that Mel had shared with Kim. Having Netflix marathons in their PJs that lasted until the early hours of the morning. Cuddling in bed and sharing secrets under the covers. Waking up to a gentle kiss from Kim.