December 2020, San Francisco

Melody was in the midst of a busy afternoon, her hands deftly arranging frames, editing photos and adjusting lighting when her phone buzzed with a message from Christina. "Lunch break, 12:30 at the Garden Bistro? Bring your appetite!"

Melody's heart skipped a beat. She had been feeling a bit isolated since moving to the new town, and the prospect of lunch with her new friends was a welcome respite. She quickly excused herself, making sure to lock her shop up before making her way to the bistro.

The restaurant was lively, with the clinking of silverware and the hum of conversation filling the air. Melody found her friends seated at a cozy corner table, their faces alight with excitement. Christina, Rhea, Brielle, and Melissa greeted her with warm smiles, and they all settled into a comfortable chatter about their lives and recent adventures.

As they dined, the conversation naturally turned to the renovations Roman and Melissa were embarking on. This ultimately led Roman his own friends, Jey, Jimmy and Drew making there way into the bistro.

Roman walked over, giving Melissa and quick peck on the forehead before leaning his hands on the back of her chair.

"Figured I'd find my wife here, she's obsessed." Roman teased with a smile on his face. Melody smiled at Melissa, who was completely smitten.

"Hey, it's a good place to grab a quick lunch." Melissa argued playfully. Roman laughed.

"I've been thinking about the kitchen renovations, I like the rustic wood look, what do you think?" Roman questioned as Melissa tilted her head up to Roman.

"Oo, interesting. I'll have to have a look at some of the options." Melissa replied and Roman nodded.

As Roman and Melissa discussed their plans, Melody found herself smiling at Jey, who was standing beside Roman, his eyes reflecting a emotion he was clearly trying to hold back. The awkwardness was palpable, but Melody brushed it off, attributing it to the unfamiliarity of their friendship.

"You should join us for lunch." Brielle suggested and Christina agreed.

"Oh yeah that would be fun!" She added, her hand interlinked with Rhea's on the table. Melody could feel her heart jump at the thought of dining with Jey, but she pushed it away remembering these were her new friends.

Through their meal, the air around the table shifted, and the group was now a lively mix of nine. Roman introduced his friends, and they all exchanged pleasantries. Melody felt a sense of camaraderie, but the awkwardness lingered, especially between her and Jey.

During a lull in the conversation, Melody excused herself to the toilet. She pushed her chair back before taking off to the area where the restrooms were located. Before she could push open the door to the ladies, a gentle hand on her arm stopped her. As she turned her head around, her eyes darted to the beautiful brown eyes she spent years swooning over. He stepped into the secluded corner, his presence a silent acknowledgment of the tension between them. "I'm sorry if I made things uncomfortable," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "By joining lunch, that is."

Melody smiled, her response light and casual. "You don't have to apologise, Jey. No harm done, plus.. they were your friends before mine."

Melody had realised how close Jey was actually stood. So close she could feel the heat radiating off of him. Before another could be spoken, a voice had interrupted them.

"Melody?" He questioned as he looked at his wife. Melody turned her attention to Daniel. His gaze flicked between Melody and Jey, a hint of skepticism in his eyes. Jey stepped back, giving Melody a little more space, and greeted Daniel in a casual manner. "Hey, man. How's it going?"

Daniel nodded, his eyes still lingering on Melody. "All good mate, I came to grab some lunch."

Melody felt a wave of warmth wash over her. She knew her husband could be possessive at times, but she also knew he trusted her, for now.

She smiled at him, a silent promise of transparency. "You should join us. We're nearly done but we can grab another drink whilst you eat." Melody suggested stepping closer to her husband, who refused her attempts at grabbing his hand.

"Sure, why not?" Daniel said he sent a glare in Jeys direction. Jey forced a smile before stepping past the married couple, making his way back to the table.

The lunch continued, the awkwardness fading into the background. Melody felt a sense of relief, knowing that her new friends were genuine and that her marriage was strong enough to weather any misunderstandings. As they all vacated the bistro, Melody felt Daniel's arm snake around her waist, pulling her just a little too tightly towards him.

"Well, that was a.. nice experience." Daniel smiled sweetly at all the people who were looking in his direction, apart from Jey. "But I should be getting my wife home. It's been a long day."

Melody quickly sent a small glance at Jey, who was already looking at her, obviously ignoring Daniel's look of anger.