Marcus

"Yes, I do have feelings for you."

Melanie's words echo in my mind all day. I find myself replaying the scene over and over, savoring each syllable, each nuance of her admission. Unbelievably happy doesn't even begin to describe it. The world seems brighter, and nothing, absolutely nothing, can dampen my spirits today. Not my sisters bombarding me with questions about last night during breakfast, not my annoying colleagues failing to meet deadlines – nothing. I'm on cloud nine, and not even a rainstorm could bring me down.

So, when my work buddy Jason invites me out for a beer after our shift, I accept without a second thought. Melanie's spending the afternoon with Evie, shopping for home appliances. I had offered to take her, but she insisted she promised Evie they would go together. It doesn't matter; what matters is that soon Melanie will be mine again, and I can't wait to spend every possible moment making her feel loved and cared for.

Jason and I stroll into the bar near our workplace, finding a quiet table. A friendly waitress approaches, takes our order, and we request a couple of beers. As we wait, Jason eyes me curiously. "What's got you so revved up today?" he asks, leaning back in his chair.

I can't help but grin, and I ask, "Is it that obvious?"

Jason scoffs, "Please, Marcus, you've been irritable and sultry for the past weeks. Suddenly, you're like fucking sunshine. What gives?"

I chuckle as the waitress arrives with our beers, placing them on the table. I lift mine, and Jason clinks his bottle to mine with a smirk. Together, we take a satisfying swig.

I set the bottle down, grinning at Jason. "Well, my friend, things are looking up."

Jason raises an eyebrow, exasperated. "Okay, spill. What the fuck is going on?"

I lean in, reveling in the anticipation, and ask, "Remember when I told you about Melanie?"

Jason's eyes widen with realization, and he leans in eagerly. "You're back together with Melanie?"

I shake my head, the grin growing wider. "Not yet, but I'm getting there."

Jason playfully punches my bicep, "Congrats, man! I'm happy for you."

I thank him, taking another swig of beer. Jason continues, "Thank god, because you've been unbearable ever since Melanie left you."

I shoot him an annoyed glare, and he raises his hands in surrender. "Hey, just stating facts," he grins.

I roll my eyes, taking another swig of beer as Jason continues his line of questioning. "So, what happened with her boyfriend? When did they break up?" he inquires, genuine curiosity etched on his face.

I shrug nonchalantly, "I don't know."

He furrows his eyebrows, seeking clarity. "You don't know what happened, or you don't know when they broke up?"

I maintain my casual demeanor. "Either."

Jason's confusion deepens, and he presses on. "Wait, you don't know when Melanie broke up with her boyfriend?"

I shake my head. "Nope."

Jason rubs his temples, his patience wearing thin. "Are you even sure she broke up with him?"

I lean back, frustration building as I reiterate, "Look, man, I don't know if she broke up with him yet or not. She just told me that she has feelings for me and needs time."

Jason's skeptical expression reveals his concern. "Oh, man, I thought you were certain about Melanie."

I assure him, my irritation growing, "I am."

But Jason doesn't seem convinced. "Come on, Marcus. You don't even know if she broke up with him. What if she hasn't?"

My mood takes a nosedive, irritation mounting at Jason's persistent doubts. "She will," I assert, my tone more forceful.

Jason pushes further. "What if she doesn't?"

The tension in the air thickens, and I respond with a sharper edge, "She will."

Jason's expression softens, and he sighs, "I don't mean to rain on your parade, Marcus, but you were really broken when Melanie left. I just don't want to see you go through all this again."

I lean in, an air of confidence about me, "I won't. I'm getting back together with Melanie. It's just a matter of time. I need to be a little patient."

Jason raises an eyebrow, skepticism lingering. I give him a knowing look and ask, "Come on, man, would you want to jump from one relationship to the other?"

He presses his lips into a tight line, contemplating the question before admitting, "Honestly, no."

I nod triumphantly, "See? Everything will be okay. Melanie will be mine again."

Jason smirks, "I hope so."

I finish my beer and hold up the empty bottle, signaling the waitress to bring two more. The waitress nods and I turn my attention to Jason, launching into a discussion about work. The waitress efficiently takes our empty bottles, swiftly replacing them with new ones.

Jason glances at the departing waitress and smirks, "Man, she's got a great ass."

I chuckle, shaking my head, "You never change, do you?"

Jason defends himself with a grin, "Just because you've found the woman of your dreams doesn't mean the rest of us are blind."

I raise my hands in mock surrender, "Hey, I didn't say anything. And yes, indeed, the waitress's ass is quite impressive."

Jason sighs dramatically, leaning back in his chair, "So, does Melanie have any friends? Good-looking friends, of course."

I smirk, "Well, Melanie's best friend, Evie, is very pretty."

Jason's eyebrows shoot up, "Really? Any chance you can set me up?"

I laugh, "Easy there, buddy. Let me get Melanie back first, and then we can talk about your love life."

The banter with Jason about Melanie's friends brings back memories of when I asked Adam about Mallory's friends. Back then, Adam mentioned Emma, but when I met Melanie, everything else seemed to fade away. It was like love at first sight.

Jason's right; when I lost Melanie the first time, I was utterly inconsolable. This time, it feels different. We've both grown, changed, and learned from our mistakes. But something in Jason's words is now tugging at me from the inside. Did Melanie break up with Daniel? The uncertainty begins to gnaw at me. Shouldn't she have told me if she did? Maybe she's planning to, but doubt starts creeping in, and it's casting a shadow over my good mood.

I'm still chatting with Jason, when an unexpected interruption throws a wrench into the conversation. A shadow falls across our table, and as Jason and I look up simultaneously, the air seems to grow heavy with tension. It's Daniel, standing there with a scowl etched on his face.

"You piece of shit," Daniel seethes, his words cutting through the ambient noise of the bar.

I take a deep breath, trying to remain calm. "Daniel," I acknowledge, my tone measured.

"You got between us, didn't you? You couldn't stand that we were working things out," Daniel accuses, his face contorted with rage.

I exchange a quick glance with Jason, a mix of surprise and irritation mirrored in his expression. I stand my ground, meeting Daniel's gaze without flinching. "If I got between you two, it's because you made room for me, Daniel," I retort, my voice steady.

Daniel takes a threatening step forward, rolling up his sleeves as if preparing for a fight. My instincts kick in, and I stand up, facing him directly. "Back off, Daniel," I assert, my voice firm.

He doesn't heed my warning and pushes me, the force causing me to take a step back. Jason, sensing the tension, jolts up from his seat and places a hand on Daniel's shoulder. "Hey, man, don't do this here," Jason advises, attempting to diffuse the situation.

Daniel glares at Jason's hand on his shoulder, his jaw clenched. With gritted teeth, he tells Jason, "Take your fucking hand off me."

Jason hesitates but eventually removes his hand, stepping back cautiously. The bar's patrons start to notice the commotion, and a tense silence hangs in the air. I hold my ground, maintaining eye contact with Daniel, refusing to let the hostility affect me.

"Marcus," Daniel warns, his voice low and dangerous, "stay away from Melanie. She's mine."

I respond with equal determination, "Melanie is free to make her own choices, you can't claim ownership over her."

Daniel scoffs, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. "So, you admit it. You're the reason she broke up with me, huh?" he accuses, his tone laced with anger. "She went with you to that lake house, didn't she?"

I take a moment to process his words, caught off guard by the revelation. Melanie broke up with Daniel before going to the lake house with Evie? It's a surprise, and I can't help but feel a mix of confusion and relief. Why didn't she say anything? Nevertheless, I maintain my composure, meeting Daniel's accusatory gaze.

"But you should blame yourself, Daniel, not me," I respond calmly.

Daniel points a finger at me, pushing it against my chest. "This is not over, I'm getting Melanie back," he warns, his tone threatening. "You're going to regret this."

I smirk, unfazed by his intimidation. "Doubt it," I retort confidently.

Daniel's face contorts with anger, and he mutters "asshole" under his breath before turning on his heel and storming out of the bar. The tension in the air dissipates, leaving behind a sense of relief. Jason and I exchange glances, and I can't help but smirk at the dramatic exit.

We both sit back down on our seats, and Jason lets out a sharp breath. "Man, that was intense," he remarks, still processing the confrontation. I grin at him, unfazed by the encounter and Jason looks at me exasperatedly, "How are you still in a good mood after that?"

I chuckle and lean back, crossing my arms, my grin widening. "Didn't you hear? Melanie broke up with him. Last week."