LOGINThe kiss caught her off guard for a second, Melody didn’t move. Her body went still, her mind blanking out completely as James’ lips pressed against hers soft at first, testing, like he was giving her time to pull away if she wanted to.She didn’t. Instead, her fingers curled slightly into his shirt, gripping the fabric like she needed something to anchor herself. The tension that had been sitting in her chest since last night disappeared.James pulled back just slightly, his forehead resting against hers. His hand was still wrapped around her waist.“You stress me out,” he muttered under his breath.Melody let out a soft, breathless laugh. “You stress me out too.”For a moment, they just stayed like that, close enough to feel each other’s breath, neither of them moving away. Then he kissed her again deeply this time. She responded just as intensely. She could feel him getting hard through his sweatpants.Everything about him felt familiar, his touch, his scent, the way he held her li
The moment she got into her car after leaving Tara, she sat there for a full minute, hands gripping the steering wheel, her mind running in circles. Every instinct in her wanted to delay it. Go home first, shower, and rest. Think about it properly. But she knew herself well enough to recognize what that meant.It was avoidance. And she had already done enough of that. She exhaled slowly, leaned back against the seat, then muttered under her breath, “Just go.”So she did. The drive to James’ place felt longer than usual, even though it wasn’t. Traffic was light, the roads were clear, but her thoughts made everything feel stretched, heavy. She kept replaying last night in her head, over and over again, each version worse than the last. The way he looked at her.She wished she could go back in time, she would have told him before leaving for Malibu. She wouldn't have spoken to him the way she did.last night.Her grip tightened slightly on the wheel.“That was harsh,” she admitted quietly
Melody woke up feeling like shit. Her body was heavy, her head dull, her stomach unsettled in that now familiar way. For a few minutes after she woke up, she just lay there, staring at the ceiling.She wasn't just physically stressed, she was emotionally and mentally stressed too. Last night didn't go as planned. Her eyes shut tightly as if she could block it out, rewind it, take it back.The words she said to James were hurtful, she couldn't even bring herself to call him and apologize. She would have to do that in person. He's been really good to her since they met, he even helped release her inner freak.She groaned softly, dragging a hand over her face. “God, somehow I end up fucking every good thing up.”Now that the anger was gone, now that the adrenaline had worn off, all that was left was clarity and it didn’t feel good. She understood why James had reacted the way he did. Walking into that house and seeing Logan shirtless sitting comfortably like he belonged there. She would
Melody has already texted James to tell him she was coming back home, she even went ahead to tell him about what happened to Tara in the house when she was away. She asked if he wouldn't mind coming over to stay with her and he agreed.She noticed he didn't really check up on her since she was in Malibu which was unlike him, James always called and texted her every hour all day but his responses were cold. She knew immediately that he was still mad at her.James wasn’t there when they arrived at home, and she felt kind of disappointed. He was taking his time.Logan glanced at her. “You want me to wait in the car until he gets here?”She looked at him and rolled her eyes like his question made no sense. “No, you can come in.”He got out of the car and asked his driver not to bother getting the suitcase. “I’ll help you take it inside.”She gave him a look. “You don’t have to.”“I know.” And just like that, he was already walking ahead. The house was exactly as she left it. Melody walke
The delay had been unnecessary. At least, that was what Melody kept telling herself as she sat stiffly in the airport lounge, her fingers curled tightly around her phone, her patience wearing thinner with every passing minute.“It’s just a precaution,” Logan had said for the third time, his tone calm, almost too calm. “The storm isn’t even that serious.”Melody didn’t respond immediately. Her eyes stayed fixed on the large glass windows overlooking the runway, where planes stood still like silent giants waiting for permission to move.“I don’t care how serious it is,” she said finally, her voice flat. “I just want to go home.”Logan studied her for a moment, he knew she didn't mean that. He didn't think his house was that bad that she'd rather board a plane during a storm just to get away from Malibu. There was exhaustion in her face, and he didn't want to add to that.“Melody…” he started, softer now. “We could just go back. Spend the night at a hotel if you don't want to stay at my
The baby had taken longer than usual to settle, fussing softly in her crib until Cynthia warmed a bottle, held her close, and swayed gently until those tiny fingers relaxed against her arm.Now, she stood for a moment beside the crib, watching her daughter sleep. A small smile tugged at her lips.“Stay asleep,” she whispered softly, brushing a curl away from the baby’s forehead. “Mommy has things to do.”She slipped out of the room quietly, pulling the door halfway closed before heading downstairs. She hadn't unpacked the things she got from the supermarket and this was the right time.Cynthia rolled up her sleeves and got to work. She kept the groceries where they each belonged and then went ahead to make the popcorn. Then she moved to the counter, rinsing fresh strawberries under running water, their bright red color almost too pretty to cut.She sliced them carefully, dropping them into a pot. Sugar followed, then a splash of lemon. A little stir, the wooden spoon moved in slow cir
Melody sat on the edge of Tara’s bed, phone pressed to her ear, heart beating just a little faster than usual.She hadn’t spoken to her mother properly since everything fell apart. Since Snowbrook Valley stopped feeling like home and started feeling like a wound she didn’t know how to touch without
Melody walked out of her room, looking like a zombie. She couldn't remember when she got back home last night. Everything feels so different. The house, the bed, even the air. Everything was better. Her head was banging so hard and she could barely see where she was going.“Good morning ma'am, the
SNOW BROOKE VALLEYSnowbrook Valley looked so Christmasy, the snow had been falling non stop, and everyone was spending more time indoors with their loved ones.The streets still wore their early Christmas decorations, faded ribbons tied to lampposts, pine wreaths hanging from shop doors, soft yell
Logan’s morning had been golden from the moment he stepped into his office. The skyline shimmered through the glass walls, the city was alive. Logan slept so well yesterday he woke up smiling like he won the lottery.Right now, he just won the lottery.The call had ended less than a minute ago, but







