Melanie stopped at a red light and looked at Nikki. She had that needy puppy look on her face and yeah, Melanie, liked it. She wanted Nikki to need her. She had never wanted Nikki to sleep with jerks just to gain her attention though.
"I had no idea, Nikki. I'm sorry I didn't make more time for you when you weren't in crisis."
Nikki shrugged. "It wasn't all bad. I had some great sex in college. And a lot of mediocre sex. Still, nothing compares to last night. And this morning." She fanned herself. "That man knows his way around a vagina. And no wonder he likes threesomes-he's too much for one pussy to handle."
"Did you really ask that waitress to double-team him?"
Nikki grinned. "She was happy to join us. You missed out on some serious fun, Mel. Ever had a woman go down on you?"
Melanie flushed and her gaze automatically went to Nikki's lap. "Uh. No."
"You don't know what you're missing."
And Melanie was pretty sure she didn't want to know. She did want to change the subject. She'd known that Nikki was wild, but she'd had no idea she'd go to those kinds of extremes.
"So you don't want to be in a real relationship with Shade?" Melanie asked.
Nikki laughed. "Hell no. I just wanted to fuck him. Do you know how hard it is to maintain a relationship with a musician while he's on the road? With so many girls like me trying to get in his pants?"
Melanie turned her attention back to the road as she searched for a sign pointing the way to the interstate. "I guess I'm about to find out."
"What's that mean, Mel?"
Melanie shrugged. "Gabe wants to try a relationship."
Nikki slapped her on the thigh with the back of her hand. "Shut up. Are you serious?"
"Probably not. I doubt he'll even call me."
She couldn't believe she'd become such an annoying, needy pest that she'd actually shed tears at the thought of leaving. He was probably glad to be rid of her. Ten more minutes in his presence and she'd have attempted to have herself surgically attached to him.
"If he breaks your heart, you know who to call for ice cream."
Melanie smiled. "You know, even without the broken hearts, we can just hang out. Like this. Even have some ice cream."
"Yeah?"
Melanie nodded.
Nikki sat quietly for a long moment, as if she were trying to get her courage up. "Um, Mel?"
"What?"
"Do you need a roommate?"
Melanie stifled a wince. "Not really. Why?"
"I sorta spent my rent money on scalped concert tickets." She grinned sheepishly. "Again."
Melanie released a frustrated huff of air. "I suppose you don't have anywhere to go?"
Nikki shook her head. "I could try to find some guy with low self-esteem to take me in. They're easy enough to find and manipulate."
"You can stay with me." I'll help you get your finances in order, she added silently.
Nikki launched herself across the car and hugged Melanie. Melanie swerved halfway into the left lane, earning a well-deserved blare of a horn from the truck she'd almost hit. "Hug me later!"
Nikki kissed her cheek and then slid over to her side of the car. "I do love you, Mel."
Melanie smiled. "I know."
"If that rock star hurts your feelings, I'll hurt him."
"He's a good guy," Melanie assured her.
After they'd traveled about twenty miles and Nikki had told her several shocking stories about her night with Shade, Melanie's ringtone played from inside her purse. "Will you see who that is?" she asked Nikki. "I wasn't planning to be out of town all night. Someone might be worried about me."
Nikki fished the cellphone out of Melanie's purse and checked the screen. "Someone named Gabriel Banner."
Yes! Melanie almost cheered aloud.
Nikki chuckled and slapped Melanie's thigh. "Oh no, he's never going to call you. I can't believe he waited a whole half hour." She pushed a button. "Hi!" After a pause she said, "No, this is her friend, Nikki. She's driving. Do you want me to give her a message?" Nikki laughed. "You want to do what to her tits?"
Melanie snatched the phone out of her hand. "Hi. It's me. I'll call you when we get home, okay?"
"Okay," Gabe said. "And Mel?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for giving me your real number."
"Thanks for actually calling me."
"I missed your voice."
She smiled. Her heart fluttered and foolish tears prickled her eyes. He might not look like one on the outside, but on the inside, Gabe was a total sweetheart. "I wish I could talk right now, but I'm a road hazard when I use the phone and drive."
"Drive safe," he said, "but call as soon as you can."