Hooked 2 (Hooked #2)(12)

“That’s tragic,” Drew said, saying exactly what I wanted him to say.

I nodded. “I think she’s happy, though.” We were stopped at a red light and the engine hummed beneath us. “She has her baby. And her lake, and her life. I don’t think she would have changed anything.” I thought for a moment. “Would you change anything about your life?”

Drew sighed through his nose. “You know. That’s a heavy question. Because—if I were to change anything, I wouldn’t be here, with you, right now.”

I smiled, flashing him my white smile. I brought my blonde locks around to my front and played with the ends, a bit nervous with the energy, the vibrant way Drew and I spoke to each other—as if we had something here. As if we were more than just hooking up.

Finally, we arrived to the other side of the city. We parked in the parking garage beneath Mel’s apartment building. We walked outside of the garage to look at the angry lake in the evening air. We could hear the waves crashing into the sand. I watched as a single, lonely runner rushed down the boardwalk, south, toward the bright lights of downtown. A single red hat wrapped around his ears, shielding himself from the angry autumn air.

“Shall we?” Drew asked me, placing a tender hand at the base of my back.

I nodded, turning back around. We walked toward the elevator in the foyer, and rushed to the top of the building, where I knew Mel and her husband had the entire top floor. I tucked myself close to Drew, feeling a bit afraid of the evening ahead. Would Mel approve of this man? Would she chide me for bringing home such a player, such a man who would surely ruin my life, my mentality?

Deep in my heart, I knew nothing mattered anyway. I would probably have to rush back home, to Indianapolis, and admit that I had messed up my life, that I didn’t have what it took to remain. I knew this would happen. So I decided to enjoy my time, no matter what.

We walked toward her large door after the great elevator doors opened before us. “Now. This wouldn’t be too bad,” Drew laughed as we looked at the automatic grandeur of their foyer. A large painting hung on the wall; a beautiful rug swooped along the floor. “I should look into a place like this.”


“I thought you wanted to live in Wicker Park?” I asked him, my eyes flashing. In my head, nothing was better than Wicker Park. Nothing.

“I do, of course. But later. Wouldn’t it be nice to live by the lake?” He wrapped me in an embrace, there in front of the door. I felt, again, like we were a part of something bigger—something stronger.

Finally, I struck my finger against the doorbell and waited. On the other side of the thick door, I could hear a baby crying; I could hear a woman—Mel?—calling to the baby. “It’s okay! It’s okay!”

Drew and I exchanged glances, both of us at once happy that we hadn’t had children yet—that we hadn’t reached this state of apparent “bliss” that included screaming and baby poop.

Finally, Mel appeared on the other side of the door, baby Jackson strewn across her left shoulder. “Darling,” Mel said, leaning toward me. I grabbed her in a big hug and placed my lips on baby Jackson’s head.

“Is he all right? He’s crying?” I whispered with great emotion. I was never sure how to be around babies.

“Oh, he’s fine. He just was hungry. But we’re taking care of it.” Mel grinned, showing all of her wide, white teeth. “And you’ve brought a friend?” Suddenly, I watched Mel’s jaw drop. I assumed, in that moment, that she thought he was so gorgeous, so perfect, perhaps too perfect for me. But instead, she screamed into the hallway; “ANDREW?”

My eyebrows arched over my eyes. “What?”

But Drew, beside me, had wrapped Mel into a broad hug, as if they had known each other all their lives. I looked from head to head, at the way their eyes closed as they embraced.

“Oh, god. It’s been years!” Mel cried. “Hank! It’s Andrew!”

“New York Andrew?” This was the voice from the other room. Hank, Mel’s husband, turned the corner and approached them, a bit of pasta sauce on his shirt. He shook his head, reaching his hand out to Drew. “God, buddy. It’s good to see you again. You been in the city long?”

Finally, Drew spoke. “Just a few weeks, actually. I was meaning to call you both. God. I did NOT think this was where we were coming. I thought you guys still lived in Old Town.”

Hank shook his head. He placed his hand across the back of his neck. “Nope. Nope. We moved here a bit before the baby was born.”

“That’s right. You know, my mom mentioned you had a baby. But I didn’t know he was this adorable. Or small.”

Mel leaned across and handed baby Jackson to Drew. My eyes were wide as I watched the interaction take place. “What’s going on?” I finally sputtered. Everyone seemed to know each other so well. “How do you guys know each other?” I tried to calm my face down. I felt, suddenly, like I was the stranger in the room—like I should be the one to leave to let everyone catch up.

Drew turned toward me, bobbing Jackson like a natural pro in his left hand. “Oh, gosh. Molly. I didn’t know we were coming to see Melanie.”

“And I didn’t know you were bringing Andrew over!” Mel called out, clapping her hands together. Her eyes were bright, happy. She didn’t look like the normally tired, aging ballerina she normally did. “Andrew’s my nephew.”