Chapter 7

Melissa walked slowly towards Spencer. She had pictured this reunion thousands of times. She’d be full of remorse and grief, and she’d tell him what a huge mistake she’d made sleeping with Brandon. She’d let him know that she’d thought of him every day, and never stopped loving him. He was the one and only man in her life that mattered.

Now that the moment was finally upon her, Mel wasn’t sure what to say.

For the first time since she got back in town, Mel was able to take a close look at her ex-boyfriend. He looked different, more mature, yet so much the same boy that she fell in love with all those years ago. He looked even better than she remembered, dressed in a black suit, his face freshly shaved.

“Lindsey told me you want to talk with me...” Mel started to say.

Spencer interrupted her, crossing his arms on his chest, “Nope. I told Linds that if YOU wanted to talk with me I would listen.”

His face was serious and there was a sharp aura in his voice. “I’m only doing this for her. I owe Linds a lot, she was there for me when you betrayed me.”

Melissa took a deep breath and started over again.

“Sorry, Spencer. Bad choice of words. I’m really glad you’re finally willing to talk with me whatever the reason,” she whispered. “You never wanted to talk about what happened.”

“Why would I? There was nothing you could say at the time that would have made the situation different. The moment you went to bed with Brandon Dickbreath, it was crystal clear to me you were determined to be famous at any cost. I think congratulations are in order. You became Mel Dawn, America’s Sweetheart,” Spencer’s voice was dripping sarcasm.

“Spence...” Mel whispered softly. “I was young, naïve, and stupid. I’d like to think I’m older and wiser now. If I could go back in time I would never do what I did.”

Spencer shook his head. “Women and court cases depend on precedent. Past does matter. I want to build a stable family, Mel, not just to be one of many.”

That hurt.

“You’d never be one of many, Spence. You are one of a kind...”

“Good line, but I’m not buying it, especially considering how easily you discarded me” he interrupted her. “Look, Melissa, I’m happy things worked out well for you. But you left this,” he spread his arms around. “You left me. It nearly killed me when I saw you cuddling and kissing with that asshole.”

“I only did it to get the part. Brandon never meant anything to me. None of the men I dated did,” she said solemnly. “Please...?

Melissa took a couple of steps toward him.

Spencer recoiled and shook his head slowly again.

“But you dated them anyway. Why? A role in a movie? Publicity stunt? Your picture in a magazine? Sorry, Mel. There is no do-over.”

Melissa lowered his head because Spencer’s words had hit very close to home.

“I’ve always loved you,” her words sounded like a beg. “I still do.”

He snorted. “Yeah, you loved me. Just not enough to be faithful to me. Or have the decency to break up with me first at least,” he looked at her defiantly.

“I’ll never forgive myself for that. I should’ve called you or at least come back to town to have one last talk.”

“Yes, you should. But you didn’t.”

“When I landed the role I was over the moon. I got an agent, a manager, a publicist and they just kept pushing and pulling me, and the next thing I knew I was on the set, being part of a successful show and everything just swallowed me.”