Page 5 of Only in Our Dream (Moonflower Cove #15)

Melanie

M ovie nights with Cameron and her kids had been an ongoing tradition as far back as Melanie could remember.

She could recall cuddling with Jonah and Dylan when they were just babies as she and Cameron watched movies together.

Melanie had always loved her friends’ babies as if they were her own, but there was something different about Jonah and Dylan.

Maybe it was because Melanie was around them more than anyone except Cameron.

Whatever it was, Melanie’s connection with the West kids had been established since the day they were born.

And, of course, Melanie had been there for both of their births.

Not only had she been among the first people to hold them, she’d also been the one to cut both of their cords.

It was an honor Melanie didn’t take lightly, even years later.

And especially not now with Jonah and Dylan growing up so fast. She was thankful every day they still wanted her in their lives as their crazy Aunt Mel.

Jonah had texted earlier in the day that he’d aced his math test, while Dylan had been texting her all afternoon trying to convince her to watch a scary movie for movie night.

Normally, scary movies were reserved for when the kids were asleep or staying at a friend’s house.

But Dylan was old enough now that it was time.

Or, well, probably past time. She was twelve, after all. Melanie was much younger than that when she watched her first scary movie. And promptly spent the next three weeks cuddled in bed between her parents every night.

Pulling into Cameron’s driveway, she parked her car in front of the garage.

Cameron lived in a two-story Craftsman-style house in an older subdivision.

The front porch wrapped around one side of the house and led back to the fenced-in backyard.

Two Adirondack chairs sat on the front porch, and Melanie could recall countless conversations she and Cameron had there.

Cameron had been her closest friend for over two decades.

She had been there for Melanie through the loss of both her parents, her relationship with Rob, and all the ups and downs in the career.

Just like Melanie had been there for Cameron anytime she needed help with the kids or a shoulder to cry on after she lost a patient.

Their friends often joked they’d make the perfect couple, but they had never crossed that line.

Not until that kiss on New Year’s Eve. It wasn’t uncommon for them to kiss each other on the cheek.

They were both openly affectionate with most of their friends.

What was uncommon was the way Melanie had turned her head toward Cameron as she leaned in for the kiss on her cheek.

Cameron’s lips made contact on the corner of Melanie’s mouth as they awkwardly laughed it off after it happened.

They hadn’t talked about it since then, but Melanie thought about their almost kiss way more often than she’d let on.

Because, if she were truly honest with herself, she wanted to kiss Cameron again. Correctly this time. Full on lips and everything.

But Melanie wouldn’t do that while still married to Rob. She couldn’t. That wasn’t who she was. Besides, Melanie wasn’t even sure Cameron was interested in her. For all Melanie knew, Cameron saw her as just a friend. Nothing more.

So, no. Melanie would remain loyal to Rob. He was her husband, after all.

Not that that matters to him.

Melanie scoffed to herself as she thought back to Janet Doka’s picture on Rob’s phone. If Rob could cheat on her, then why couldn’t she cheat on him? That would be fair, right?

You know that’s not how that works.

“Damn my integrity,” Melanie mumbled as she stepped out of the car.

She grabbed the large supreme pizza from the backseat, along with the beers she’d picked up for her and Cameron.

Before she reached the front door, Dylan ran outside with a huge smile on her face.

She looked so much like Cameron it was insane.

Except for their hair being different colors, the two could pass as sisters instead of mother and daughter.

“Aunt Mel!”

“My Dylan!” Melanie matched her excitement as she carefully balanced the pizza in one hand and beers in the other while she hugged Dylan. “Grab the pizza, please.”

Dylan did and headed inside. Melanie trailed behind her, savoring the way she felt like she was home each time she stepped into Cameron’s house. Smells of pumpkin spice mixed with cinnamon mingled together to create the homiest feeling that wrapped Melanie up in a scented hug.

Walking into the kitchen, Melanie felt her heart skip a beat at the sight of Cameron.

She was leaning on the kitchen island, writing something on a piece of paper.

Her blonde hair was tucked behind one ear as she twirled the other side around her finger mindlessly.

Melanie knew it was Cameron’s tick when concentrating.

She knew her best friend better than anyone.

Melanie also knew that Cameron was and always would be the prettiest woman she knew.

It didn’t matter that she was wearing the same oversized Taylor Memorial Hospital sweatshirt that Melanie had seen her in a hundred times before.

It would always be a mystery to Melanie how Cameron had stayed single for so long.

“I’ll get married if I ever find the right woman,” Cameron had told her countless times before. Even so, she remained single for reasons that baffled Melanie.

“Aunt Mel’s here,” Dylan announced as she set the pizza box by Cameron. Jonah was sitting at the dining room table, lacing his skates. He looked so much like Cameron that Melanie thought, not for the first time, how it looked like she hadn’t even used a sperm donor.

Finally looking up from whatever she was writing, Cameron’s smile spread wide as her eyes lit up. Melanie sat the beers on the counter as she embraced her best friend.

“Hey, Mel.” Cameron kissed her quickly on the cheek. “Thanks for coming over.”

“Anytime. Whatcha writing?”

“Grocery list,” Cameron groaned. “I hate grocery shopping. You’re so lucky Rob does all that for you.”

“Except when he gets the wrong sports drink every week.”

“How does that stupid man still not know you want the purple Gatorade with the sippy top?”

Melanie chuckled. “It’s not a sippy top. It’s just easier for me to drink on the go than one with a lid.”

“Whatever,” Cameron laughed, waving Melanie off jokingly. “All I know is I’d always get you what you wanted.”

“I have no doubt about that.”

The comment was out before Melanie could stop it.

Not that she would have stopped it. She meant it.

Cameron knew her better than Rob ever would.

Not for the first time, Melanie wondered what it would be like to be married to Cameron instead of Rob.

She could see them on grocery store dates together, buying their supplies for the week.

And always coming home with the right sports drink.

Oh, my god, Melanie Lucille Wright. Stop it right now!

“Of course Mom would get you the right drink,” Jonah snorted a laugh as he opened the refrigerator. “That’s why we always have a ton of these in here even though you’re the only one who likes them.”

Jonah pulled out a purple Gatorade bottle and held it up with a smirk. Melanie’s eyes darted to Cameron, who was blushing. And not just a little. A lot. Her cheeks were so red it looked like she’d been out in a winter storm. The gesture touched Melanie more than she could ever express.

“You don’t like them?” Melanie cocked her head at Cameron. “I thought that’s why you always kept them around.

“Nope,” Dylan answered with a laugh, “she buys them for you.”

Melanie felt her heart skip yet another beat. Her feelings for Cameron were going to make her need a cardiologist if she didn’t get her shit together soon. So Melanie fell back on her usual tactic: humor to distract from feelings.

“Well, now it makes sense why you bring me one to work so often.”

“Gotta keep my girl happy.” Cameron nervously smiled, looking away from Melanie as she opened the pizza box. “Dill, grab some plates for us, please. Jonah, carry the drinks into the living room, please.”

As the kids did as they were asked, Melanie watched Cameron.

Why was she embarrassed to be caught keeping Melanie’s favorite drink at home?

Melanie thought it was a sweet gesture. Was there some reason Cameron didn’t want Melanie to know that?

Something felt off with Cameron, but Melanie couldn’t pinpoint it.

Thankfully, the movie served as an excellent distraction from any of her thoughts.

She and Cameron sat on opposite sides of the couch while Dylan lay on the recliner.

Jonah was sprawled out on the floor, as were their normal movie night positions.

But Melanie couldn’t help but feel something was different between her and Cameron. Maybe she was just overthinking.

With the movie over, Dylan and Jonah kissed them both goodnight before heading upstairs to bed.

Cameron had poured them each a glass of wine as they sat on the couch facing each other.

Melanie had her arms wrapped around her legs while Cameron was in a similar position a few feet away.

She could tell by the gentle way Cameron was looking at her that her best friend was trying to figure out why she was being so quiet.

The truth of the matter was Melanie didn’t know how to tell Cameron about Janet Doka and the picture she found on Rob’s phone.

She’d been racking her brain, trying to think of any logical reason, but at the end of the day, there wasn’t one.

Melanie took a long sip of her wine before locking eyes with Cameron.

“So,” Melanie took a deep breath, “I need to tell you something.”

Cameron perked up, sitting up straighter. “Oh, tell me. What is it? Is it good work gossip?”

“No.”

“Bad work gossip?”

“No.”

“Work gossip?”

“No.”