Don't Give Me Tainted Love novel · Chapter 19 of 24

Chapter 19: The Hallway

Melanie came up the stairs at the family house with her coat still on and her hair wet from the drive.

My mother had kept Eric in the kitchen with a plate of pancakes and a lie about a surprise.

I stood at the end of the upstairs hall with a brass key in my fist.

Ahead of me, at the far end, was the door of my father's study.

"You called me here," Melanie said. "You said it was important."

"Yes."

"Then why are you standing here?"

I looked at the door.

Nine years ago, in a hallway like this one, I had stood outside Roxanne's apartment while she told me she was in love with my brother.

I had said, "If it's what you want, Roxy."

I had gone home and eaten dinner.

"Say it," Melanie said.

"Say what?"

"Whatever you're doing right now. The thing where you go quiet and let it happen."

I turned.

She stood ten feet away, pale and straight, with her arms crossed over her coat.

"I'm not trying to hurt you," she said. "I'm trying to understand. You found out last night that you could have me. You said you loved me. But you walked to this door and stopped."

"I'm trying to open it."

"You're trying to decide whether to let someone else open it first."

It landed so squarely I had no answer.

"You stepped aside for Roxanne and Bradley," she said. Her voice was low and shaking. "Nine years ago. You didn't yell. You didn't go to his apartment. You didn't ask her once to stay. You said, 'If it's what you want,' and you let them go."

"Melanie."

"I was in the next room when you told your mother. I heard you say, 'I'm fine.'" She laughed, and it hurt to hear. "And I thought, there's the man who will never fight for anything. And I loved you anyway, for eight more years, in a house where you never once said it."

← Chapter 18 · All chapters · Chapter 20 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend