One to Keep (One to Hold 2)

Instantly, she has my arm in her steel grip. “Be right back, AB. Start without us.” And we’re out the door, headed down to the ocean.

Taking a deep breath as we approach the pounding surf, I’m again amazed at how karma will just come around and knock your socks off. Melissa spent five years with a lying prick of a husband, who slept with prostitutes and beat her, to living here, steps from the ocean, engaged to Derek Alexander, a.k.a., Mr. Sex on Two Legs, who is devoted to her and treats her like a queen. It’s extremely reassuring.

“Now,” she says, as we walk quickly down the surf, arms linked as the salty breeze pushes our hair back. “The truth, please. What’s wrong?”

Taking a deep breath, I just tell her. “I know it shouldn’t matter, but… Oh, god! I still can’t stop caring about this whole Kenny thing.”

We keep walking, and for a few moments, she doesn’t speak. “Lainey,” she finally says, “Patrick loves you so much. It’s so abundantly clear—”

“I know,” I groan, shaking my head. “And I’m sure it says something bad about me that I still don’t like it—”

“It says you’re a human being. You love Patrick, and she’s sharing something deeply personal with him. Something you hope to share with him one day.”

“She’s having his first son.” I can’t help it, but my eyes grow warm. “That hurts me so much.”

We stop and she pulls me into a hug. “I know.” Her voice is quiet, and for a moment we don’t move. We just stand there in our strange embrace, me trying to make room for her own growing baby bump.

“Speaking of,” I sniff, straightening up and pushing my tears away. “How are you feeling?”

“Five months pregnant.” Her voice is more of a groan. “It’s the second trimester. I’m supposed to be in the golden days, right?”

My eyes narrow. “Why does that sound like you’re not?”

“I think a man must’ve called it that. So far, I haven’t seen any of this pregnancy as being particularly golden.”

“And how’s Derek doing with it?”

She smiles that secret little smile they share and looks down, cheeks flushing. “He’s wonderful.”

“Oh my god, you must be the cutest pregnant couple on the planet!” I scoop her arm into mine as we start walking again.

“And you and Patrick are just cute period,” she adds. “You know I’m forever one thousand percent on Team Patrick.”

“I know,” I say as we continue down the shore.

“He made it possible to put Sloan away without me even saying a word.” Her tone becomes serious. “I can never thank him enough for that.”

I squeeze her hand. “He was so glad he could help you.”

“He did. Although I’m sorry that girl… Toni? I hated she had to take a hit.”

My lips press together. “No way, she was prepared for it, and she kicked Sloan’s ass. He never saw it coming, Patrick said.”

“They’re my superheroes.”

“Patrick and his friendly call girl.” I can’t help it, I burst out laughing. “Oh my god, Mel, what am I going to do with him?”

“Love him,” she declares, laughing. “Keep him.”

I shake my head, closing my eyes. “That’s the problem. I do love him. I love him too damn much.”

“Why is that a problem?”

“It’s not,” I sigh. “Except he gets away with everything.”

Melissa catches her long, brunette spirals in her hand and twists them over her shoulder, turning us back to her home. “That’s okay. Patrick’s a good boy.”

“Oh, no he’s not,” I snort, my blonde hair flying in the breeze.