Afraid to Love
The whole time Melanie was in the basement, I figured she must be mad as hell. She wasn't even gone that long, but it felt like forever. I talk a big game, but I guess I was a little anxious that she'd kick me out of the house and never speak to me again.
When she came upstairs, she had a framed photo in hand, which she stood on the table so it faced me.
“That's Owen,” she said.
I nodded slightly. “Good-looking guy.”
Melanie laughed.
“What?”
She brought her tea to the table and picked out an almond croissant. “The first day you came here, my mom said you remind her of him.”
“I'm not him,” I said. “I'm sticking around. That's what I've decided. I'm not gonna take off. I'm gonna stay here in town.”
Melanie looked kind of shocked, or maybe confused. I'm not su
