MELODY'S POV

The water licks at my ankles and I shiver slightly. With the sun beating down on my already darkened skin and the salty sea breeze blowing through my hair I feel at ease with the world. I should have come to the beach ages ago.

"You look gorgeous Melody." I turn to see Heather slowly walking into the water. She looks like a picture of perfection in her red bikini, with her hair piled on top of her head. There is a thin sheen of sweat coating her body making her look like she was lightly dipped in oil. Damn white people can make sweating look really hot. Oddly enough her bikini reminds me of a bathing suit I used to have... but I shake the thought and focus back on her.

"Thank you Heather. Red suits you very well. You could be on Baywatch." She giggles and takes my hand.

"You're too sweet Melody. Come let's go a little further into the water, it's really hot out today." I hold her hand as we move further into the water. Glancing around us I notice Heather is getting looks or as I like to call them leers from some men wading near us.

"Heather don't look now but there are quite a few guys checking you out." A musical laugh slips from her mouth as she makes an obvious attempt at catching the men that are watching her. One actually has the nerve to wink!

"Oh please Melody don't be naive! They are watching you not me. The guys and I noticed it the moment you stepped into the water. And rightfully so you look gorgeous as hell in that bathing suit. Whoever said one piece bathing suits aren't hot are liars. I wish I had a body like yours." I look down at my bathing suit and then back to her.

"Listen I am not one of those girls who spends hours rejecting compliments just so I can make myself feel good, but you are literally a model Heather." She strikes a quick pose before we both break out into laughter.

"Alright, alright let's call it a truce and say they're watching both of us."

"Sure." I turn towards the shoreline in search of Trevor and Mike to see them talking to a hot dog vendor. What about I have no clue but it seems to be pretty indepth.

"Hey Melody, if you don't mind me asking, who will you choose?" Heather asks beside me. I continue to watch the guys hoping I can catch on to what they're saying by reading their lips but their speaking to quickly. Trevor catches me staring and sends me a wink before continuing his conversation, so I turn back to Heather and shrug.

"To be honest I want my old boyfriend back. Plain and simple. I want him and I love him and he's the one... but I highly doubt that he'll take me back. What I did to him, intentionally no less, was terrible and if he did that to me I know I wouldn't forgive him for a long time so I expect no less." Heather nods her head and splashes some water at me.

"Don't beat yourself up too much. I know it's none of my business and I have no right to comment on this let alone talk to you after my... mishap, but I always found it's great to get a person's perspective from outside of the drama." I splash water at her and she smiles.

"I appreciate it. My head has been swarmed with enough drama that I shouldn't have to deal with right now. I mean work is hard enough."

"Oh yes what is it like to be an event planner? You must go to the best events out there huh?" I laugh at her question and then stop because it must have seemed rude.

"Sorry I didn't mean to laugh. To answer your question it is hard and tedious being an event planner. It takes a lot of time and revision and can be quite annoying at times but it is a job I am more than happy to perform. As for the lavish events I rarely go to them because I am not assigned to them. At our company we each have certain things to do. Those who are more experienced are given the lavish events while those who are still learning are given smaller functions." We walk deeper into the water until it reaches our waist.

"That must suck. I remember when I first started modelling I was getting some really crappy gigs, I was always so frustrated that they didn't think I was good enough."

"Yeah well I know I'm not good enough, at least not yet. The pressures of this job have never seemed so real until I was assigned Trevor's birthday. I mean I love the guy but he is really particular with what he wants and with such a short time frame he hasn't made it easy to get everything done."

"I didn't know I was so high maintenance." Warm and strong arms wrap around my shoulders and for a brief second I let myself enjoy the feel of a man holding me again. Trevor seems to catch my instant release of tension because his arms pull me back to rest against his chest... his bare, muscular chest. Oh God no. I pull away and yank on my hair to snap myself out of it. I was able to go without a man for two years so what the hell is wrong with me now?

"Yeah well you maybe high maintenance but you're also family so I deal with it." He laughs and sinks further into the water.

"What are you girls doing out here anyway? You're supposed to be enjoying the water not just... well standing in it." Mike scoops Heather up in his arms and dunks them both in the water. While he comes up looking like a model out of a cologne commercial, the actual model comes up sputtering.

"Don't you ever do that again Michael or so help me I will move out." Mike holds his arms out for a hug and pouts childishly.

"Oh come on baby it wasn't that bad. You're supposed to get wet." Heather rings out her hair and fixes her bikini strap from undoing.

"I was wet thank you. Now I am soaked. Now if you'll excuse us Melody and I were having a conversation." She turns to me and I see her eyes widen.

"Don't even think about it Trev. If my hair gets wet I will have your balls on a plate understood?" I feel the loss of his body heat and know he's backing away.

"Alright Mel but I don't know what to tell you about the wave that's coming." I turn too late as the wave hits all of us. The taste of salt water fills my mouth and I refrain from sallowing it. When we all get up for air we look at each other's dishelleved figures before laughing.

"Heather you've got some sand in your bikini." She looks down at her chest to see one breast is larger than the other and not in the normal way.

"Well you have seaweed in your bathing suit." An itching feeling catches me off guard and I see seaweed hanging out of the lower area of my suit. I groan and dunk under the water so I can pull it out.

"You do know we can see into the water right?" Trevor says trying to get the water out of his ears. I hit the back of his knee and he tries to stop himself from falling face first into the water.

"You do know I can do much more damage down here right?" He grins and helps me up.

"Now this is how you spend a vacation." Mike throws his head back to enjoy the sun while Heather remains pouting.

"Let's enjoy this for as long as we can. I need this peace." Everyone nods their head in agreement and we bask in the wonderful weather.

***

Mike and Heather's place is perfect; a bungalo with natural lighting and their own garden. I love it.

"Have I mentioned that I love your place?" I say for the sixth time since we arrived. Heather smiles wide and gestures for me to follow her down a hall.

"I'm glad you like it. It was our last choice when we were looking for a place and it ended up being the best one we could have chosen. Now here is the bathroom and here are your clothes." I take my bags from her and smile.

"Thanks Heather. I won't be interrupting anything right?" She shakes her head.

"Of course not! We have to start cooking dinner anyways. Now go enjoy our rain shower and relax. Mike will call you when the food's ready." Turning to leave Heather has a hop in her step obviously displaying just how happy she really is. That is how I want to be one day... hopefully one day soon. Sighing I walk into the bathroom and gasp. It looks like a rainforest in here, and not in the cheesy way either. It's like I just stepped into a five star hotel's bathroom... for free! Shedding my clothes I turn on the water and watch as the water falls from the ceiling. It such a beautiful sight that I find myself becoming entranced by it. Each drop falls like the tears I have shed and I want to cry all over again. But for what reason? What good will it do me to cry over something I don't completely understand myself? Why waste tears on men who probably aren't crying for me?

"Get a grip Melody." I tell myself. On the counter there are products that I can use so I bring them with me into the shower and moan, very loudly, at the heat of the water.

A nice hot shower always calms the nerves. My mom used to say that all the time... wait a minute mom? THAT'S IT! My mom! She is just the person I need to talk to! As much as I want to stay in here forever I wash myself and hair as quickly as possible. Getting out I change into the new sundress Trevor picked out and I rush to a room to get some privacy. Right now I know they're in Europe, but my mom always has her phone on her and even though it's probably early in the morning by now she will answer. I dial her cell and sit on the chair in wait.

Ring.

Ring..

Ring...

When the dial tone sounds I close my eyes and will myself not to cry. I just dial her number again.

Ring.

Ring..

Rin-

"Hello?" Her voice cause me to laugh out in joy.

"Mom?"

"Oh Melody how are you baby?" Forcing the tears back I inhale slowly, and exhlae even slower.

"Mom... I'm ready to talk."

"Well then let's hear it."

"His name was Jacob Worthington, or sorry, his name is Benjamin Jacob Worthington II. He's a man I met when I was on vacation with Tara. He had such a sex- such a strong personality I found I was drawn to him like a moth to a flame. We... we had sex. A lot. And I was sure I was in love with him. I was even preparing for him to meet you guys when we came back. But..."

"Let me guess he did something to you that was so cruel that you couldn't handle it." I sigh.

"Am I that predictable?" She laughs and I hear my dad my mumble in the background. "Is that daddy?"

"Yes did you want to say hi?" I shake my head no.

"Not yet I want to get this over with first." She makes a quick 'mhm' and tells him I said hi.

"Now continue hun."

"He took away my job by framing myself, a friend of mine who was actually working the job and this sweet guy named Mike whom I'm visiting with right now. He broke my heart and I left him hoping to get over it with time."

"So he's that big shot that was on the T.V. when you froze up?"

"Yeah that was him."

"Ok but I'm not sure where you're going with this."

"Ok well remember how I told you guys that I finally got my big break at work?"

"Yes and we are very proud of you for that."

"Yeah well the only reason I was able to land the event was because the man who's party we'd be throwing is the best friend of Jacob. His name is Trevor and we had become very close during the trip. He was almost like a brother to me. When he found out that I was working at the company he gave us the job."

"Continue."

"Well I'm sure you know where I'm going with this. Needless to say after two years of hiding Jacob has come out and won't back down."

"What about Dean?" My heart clenches and I squeeze my eyes shut trying to ignore the pain.

"I cheated on him mom..." The line goes silent and I fear she may have hung up on me.

"Aww baby. Is he ok? Where is he now?"

"He's been in Paris for the past few days because of a family emergency. He said he doesn't know if he will be coming back anytime soon."

"And how do you feel about that?"

"I feel horrible! I feel like the worst person alive and I wish I could take it all back!"

"So you don't want this Jacob person back? You don't want to rekindle your fling in hopes of making a relationship?"

"I... I..."

"The real question isn't who you should choose, it's why do you think you need to choose."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means the decision will come to you, you just have to be patient. Don't rush into this like you did before. Take your time and keep a distance for now hun."

"Should I call them anymore?"

"Who do you want to call?"

"...Dean."

"Is that the choice you want to make?"

"I don't know."

"Keep going."

"Dean is right for me in everyway, but lately he's been so secretive. I never realized it before but... I've never once met any of his family members. I know nothing about them except his mother passed away. I don't know when it happened, I wouldn't know who they are without looking at a picture... I don't know much about him."

"And that bothers you."

"Yes! I mean sure it's only been a year but he's the man and he's the mature one! Why do I have to beg and plead for him to tell me about his family? What is so bad that he can't just let me in? What is he hiding?"

"So will you call Jacob?"

"Maybe. I don't know. Probably. He's probably freaking out right now. But it serves him right. Did you know he had people watching me? He hired Cameron, you know the black guy at my work? He hired him to pretend to be gay so he could get close to me! He paid people to watch me because he wasn't man enough to do it himself! He's so controlling! He's crazy!"

"Ok, ok, now calm down." My chest hurts from my harsh breathing and I'm beginning to get light headed, so I take mom's advice and tries to relax. "Now that you have gotten that out, does that help? It isn't about how good looking they may be, how rich they are or even how great in bed they may seem. If you don't truly know who the person is, how can you say you love them?"

My heart stops at her statement. How could I have been so blind? How did I overlook this? She's completely right. I need to get my hormones and feelings out of the way and really look at this situation. Why would a guy that was supposed to be a fling be so adamant on being with me? What is his reasoning? Why not someone else? Why would a man want to hide his family? What is so bad about his brother Daniel that each time he says his name he becomes hostile? Who are these men?

"Mom..."

"You don't need to say anything right now Melody. I just felt that you needed to hear that. Now I need to go. Your father and I are going to tour around Paris. Who knows maybe we will see Dean."

"Don't hurt him mom." She laughs and I hear my father calling for her.

"No guarantees babygirl. I love you so much and I hope I was able to help. Don't let this overwhelm you because it's not worth it."

"Thank you mom. I love you guys too. Have fun."

"Bye sweetie."

Mom hangs up the phone leaving me with a new perspective. I never thought to look at my problem in the way she pointed it out. I feel almost lighter because of it.

"Hey Mel? Dinner's ready." I look to the door to see Mike waiting for me. I can smell the fresh smell of body wash radiating off his skin and his hair is still damp from his shower. He looks just as good as I remember if not better.

"Hey I was just talking to my mom. I'm ready now." I put my phone back into my purse and get up to meet him at the door, but when I reach him he doesn't move. "Is there something wrong?" From where I'm standing I can see his body is tense but when I look in his eyes I begin to realize just why.

"You know you really hurt me Mel... and I was so confused as to why you would choose him over me. I treated you so well. I kissed you so tenderly... I... I was your first. I thought that was special. I thought it meant something to you." I take his hand in mine and pull him to the couch in the spare room.

"I was confused, lustful and excited. So many things were happening to me at once that I just wanted to experience it all. I don't regret giving my virginity to you Mike because you treasured it as much as you treasured me and for that I will always be grateful. I care about you but I never loved you. I just loved the attention. I know that now." He frowns and pulls his hand away.

"Maybe I shouldn't have come down here." I begin to stand but he grabs my arm.

"No. No I just, I needed to hear it from you. I needed to hear you say the truth. It hurts a lot more in person but it helps." He rises as well and holds my arms. "Before we go to dinner can I ask you something?"

"Anything." He opens his mouth but then closes it. He seems to be at war with himself over something.

"Melody... will you kiss me? One last time? We never officially broke up and we never really said goodbye. I need this-"

"Closure. I understand." I look up into his eyes and press my body against his. Mike dips his head closer to mine and we're a breath away from touching lips, but then I see Heather. Not in person but in my heart. I can see her love whenever she looks at Mike, I can hear her gushing about him and I can feel just how much this would kill her if I let this happen.

"We can't Mike. For Heather's sake." He pulls back and looks at me with dazed eyes.

"Yeah... you're right. Thanks for that." I punch him on the arm trying to lighten the mood.

"No problem. I've been through enough problems, I don't want to add any more thanks." I walk to the door and wait for him to lead the way. When we reach the dining room Heather is anxiously waiting at the table.

"What took you guys so long?" Mike sits beside her and kisses her hard and long on the mouth. When he pulls back Heather's face is as red as the tomatoes in our salad.

"We were just catching up is all baby. Are we ready to eat?" Still in shock from the kiss Heather just nods her head. As we eat in silence my brain won't shut up. All I keep thinking about is the motives to why these men kept these things from me.

What else did Jake do to keep an eye on me?

What's so bad about Dean's family that he has to keep them from me?

What's happening in Paris?

How much money has Jake really spent on me?

What else have these two kept hidden from me?

"Melody!" The vibration of the table underneath my hand makes me look up.

"I'm sorry. When did we start talking?" Trevor starts to laugh.

"About 30 minutes ago. Are you ok? You looked like you were ready to kill someone." That's because it has crossed my mind more than once.

"Sorry I'm not being a proper guest. What were we talking about?" Heather smiles lightly and holds Mike's hand.

"We were just saying it will be fun to see Colton and Alexa again. Did you know they have a daughter now?" My drops open at the comment.

"Really? I would have thought they would get married first."

"Oh they're already married. For about a year now. Alexa just had her baby. I figured Colt knocked her up and did the right thing by marrying her first."

"I think it's so sweet! And no he didn't knock her up Michael. She was pregnant 3 months after the wedding." She hits his arms and Mike gives her a big smile full of food.

"I hope I can see them soon." I say trying to grab their attention again.

"Well of course! They said probably on the weekend so they can bring the baby. Alexa remembered just how much you loved kids."

"That's very exciting! I can't wait!"

"Well I can't wait for dessert." Trevor says standing up. Mike agrees and begins to clear up the table.

"Come Melody, you can help me with serving the dessert." Heather leads the way into the kitchen and pauses at the fridge.

"What are we having?"

"Did you two kiss?" She turns to me with fresh tears welling in her eyes and I frown.

"Wh-"

"Did you and Mike kiss?" I can tell she is trying not to yell at me but she is definitely freaking out, which makes me feel that much better that we didn't let anything happen.

"No we didn't." I go to touch her arm but she pulls back.

"I heard you two. I heard him ask you to kiss him and you're telling me you didn't?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying. If you stayed longer you would have heard me say that I didn't it to happen for your sake." Her eyes are guarded but her shoulders slump forward.

"Do you swear you didn't kiss him?" She asks stepping closer to me.

"If you stayed long you would have also heard me say I have enough problems and I didn't care to add anymore. So yes I swear I didn't kiss your boyfriend." Heather runs to hug me and I feel her weight almost collapse on to me.

"Oh thank you! Michael had told me what he wanted to do. He told me he wanted closure and I was so against it and mad and scared but... oh thank you so much!" I rub her back soothingly.

"Don't thank me Heather. I know what heartache feels like and trust me it's not something you want to go through." She wipes her eyes and smiles again.

"Ok, well," she takes a deep breath to relax and I continue to rub her arm in comfort. "We're having pie if you don't mind and ice cream. It's a classic so we figured you two would like it as well."

"It sounds delicious Heather." She reaches into the freezer to take out the ice cream and directs me to the cupboard to grab some plates. While I serve out the ice cream Heather warms up the pie. By the time dessert is done the table is cleared up and the dishes are in the dishwasher.

We all gather in the dinning room again to have dessert and spend the rest of the evening playing card games and dominos. By the time Trevor and I get to the hotel he has to carry me to bed. And what a peaceful sleep I had.