Teaching Melody Read Online Free

that---
kid
."
    "He's not a kid. He's a twenty-three-year-old man, Preston."
    "What do you want me to say? It's been over seven months since you left. You just expect me to drop everything and let you back in?"
    "Yes."
    "Huh?"
    "Yes, Preston. Let me back in. You know how hard I've worked to keep us together."
    "Yes,
until
you met that kid."
    "That's over. Give me a second chance. We've been together too long to give up."
    "You should've already thought of that," he said.
    "Please, Preston. One more chance is all I'm asking."
    "You can stay until we decide what to do about our marriage. Alright?"
    "Fine, whatever."
    Shit
. Heart splitting, I skulked away at that point not wanting to hear any more.
    Now that the bitch was back I had to sleep in a guest bedroom. As I reclined on the twin bed I devised a plan. A twisted plan that would keep me in Preston's heart and erase Chelsea forever.
    No I wasn't going to murder her. But I
was
going to give Preston that son he wanted.
    He just didn't know it yet.
    * * * *
    The following weekend, Preston shattered my heart further.
    I woke to the sounds of lovemaking. Chelsea cried out as she and Preston had wild sex in the next room.
    He
betrayed
me.
    Preston drove a figurative blade inside my chest. And the more Chelsea screamed, the deeper that knife went.
    Something told me I wouldn't be sleeping for a long, long time. Probably a good thing, for I didn't need to see Preston's face in my dreams. It hurt badly enough when I was awake.
    "
Oh yes
," the bitch screamed, bed springs creaking.
    Lovely.
    Tears blurred my vision.
    Two evenings later Preston joined me on the living room sofa. The television was off and I just stared at a blank screen, feeling numb.
    He put his hand on my knee. I flinched, scooting farther away. Anger flared within.
    “Something wrong?” he asked, reeling back his hand. He looked genuinely confused.
    “What do you think?”
    “Is this about Chelsea?” He narrowed an eye.
    “You should know.”
    “No, I'm afraid I
don't
know. But maybe whenever you decide to grow up, you can tell me what's wrong.” He bolted off the sofa and left the room.
    I crossed my arms over my chest, frowning and sulking.
    Tonight I could've put my plan in motion. The plan to give Preston that son he wanted, for I felt pangs in my belly; familiar pangs that signaled the beginning of ovulation. This would've been my final chance.
    Hours lagged by. Now I was lounging in the bedroom.
    The door flung open and Preston appeared, wearing nothing but his silk ebony boxers. His flat, ridged stomach teased and taunted, his hair slick from a recent shower. Glistening droplets trickled down his gorgeous face and body.
    Damn! What are you trying to do to me?
    I scooted to the edge of the mattress, clutching the quilt so it covered my breasts even though I wore a night shirt. I didn't want him to see any part of my body, clothed or not. And I refused to look in his eyes.
    He sank beside me. I migrated a few inches in the opposite direction.
    Unfortunately for me, Preston smelled
sooo
good. The enticing scent of shampoo drifted from him.
    "What do you want, Preston?" I brushed tears from my cheeks.
    "Melody, I'm truly sorry but I couldn't help feeling bad for Chelsea. I never meant---"
    "You never meant to hurt me. You never meant for this to happen. Now that we've cleared that up, you can get the hell out of my room. Thanks."
    Brief silence.
    My chin quivered as tears welled. "You still love her."
    "No. I don't."
    "Then
why
? I heard you in there---with her. I know what you were doing."
    "Honestly? I have no idea what you're talking about. And no, dammit, I
don't
love her."
    I swallowed. "Really? You don't?"
    "No, Melody. Now do you care to elaborate about this other bullshit?”
    "I heard you and Chelsea having sex the other night."
    “I haven't fucked Chelsea in months. I wasn't even
here
the other night, remember? I was at the office catching up on paperwork.”
    “Oh.” I looked down.
    “If