Chapter 173


    Harrison watched as Jocelyn sauntered over to Melvin, who gazed at her with a look so tender that it


    could melt butter. He wrapped his arms around her waist, and as they turned to leave, Melvin shot a


    triumphant nce back at Harrison. His smirk was a silent taunt, proudly proiming his ce by


    Jocelyn’s side.


    They slipped out of the bistro and went back into the car. Once the engine hummed to life, Melvin’s


    curiosity got the better of him. “What did you tell him?”


    “Not much,” Jocelyn said with a shrug, “just that we’re better off as friends.”


    Melvin chuckled, steering onto the road. “Friends, huh? That’s just an excuse to keep someone on the


    back burner.”


    Jocelyn’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “What’s the matter? Scared he’s gonna steal me away?”


    “Ha!” Melvin scoffed. “I was here first. Why should I be scared?”


    She smirked, her lips curling in amusement. “Quite confident, aren’t you?”


    “Who else would you want when you’ve got me?” he retorted.


    “Well, what if you dump me one day?” Jocelyn quipped with a teasing pout. “I can’t be expected to pine


    for you forever.”


    Melvin frowned, “Why would I ever let you go? Unless you don’t want me.”


    Jocelynughed off his charm. “But mark my words, if you ever dare to dump me, I’m not the type to


    revisit old mes.”


    “I won’t,” Melvin said, gripping her hand with an intensity that brooked no argument. “You’re the only


    one for me.”


    Jocelyn loved these cheesy lines.


    “Don’t be friends with him,” Melvin said abruptly. “When a guy wants to just be friends’ with a girl he


    couldn’t have, he’s usually lying in


    wait.”


    “Why don’t you just not give him the chance?” Jocelyn teased, eager to see him squirm. “Besides, you


    have Willow as a ‘friend.’ Why should I stop making friends?”


    That was an old score waiting to be settled.


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    Melvin scowled, “There’s nothing romantic between Willow and me.”


    “But she’s got a thing for you,” Jocelyn stood her ground. “With all the history you two have, if you can


    manage to keep it tonic, surely Harrison and I can be friends without an issue.”


    Melvin nced at her, finding her too cheerful and obviously enjoying the difort she was causing


    him.


    “It’s not the same.”


    “How’s it different?”


    “Men have primal desires, and mine are for you alone,” Melvin dered, as if asserting his fidelity to


    Jocelyn meant downying himself as a beast of sorts.


    Jocelyn burst intoughter. She still had her arguments ready. “Desire doesn’t discriminate between


    men and women. Otherwise, Willow wouldn’t do that thing to you.”


    Melvin fell silent.


    “Makes sense, doesn’t it?” Jocelyn loved to see him at a loss for words.


    After a moment, she spoke again, “Wait ’til we get home. I’ve got something to show you.”


    “What’s that?” Melvin’s bravado had deted.


    “You’ll see. Don’t want it to distract you while driving,” she replied calmly.


    Melvin couldn’t fathom what she had up her sleeve.


    Back at her apartment, Melvin watched her expectantly. “What did you want to show me? It isn’t some


    kinky surprise, is it?”


    “Sort of. It’s a st from the past,” Jocelyn said as she sat down on the couch and patted the space


    next to her. “Come, have a look.”


    Melvin sat down beside her, his face a picture of skepticism.


    Jocelyn handed him her phone, which disyed a message thread. Melvin’s brows furrowed as he


    read through it.


    “How about that? Isn’t she ambitious?” Jocelyn’s chin rested on his shoulder, smirking at the photos.


    “You two do make a cute couple.” Melvin made a move to delete the message.


    Jocelyn snatched the phone back. “Why delete it? It’s part of your youth. It’s a treasure to keep.”


    Melvin took a deep breath, his gaze locking with Jocelyn’s nonchnt expression. He pressed her back


    onto the couch with firm resolve. “Willow and I are just friends.”


    “Sure, I believe you,” Jocelyn replied, surprisingly agreeable.


    But Melvin sensed something amiss. “We were just neighbors when they moved in next to us.”


    “Oh, so you’ve known each other for ages. Must be close friends of childhood.”


    Melvin exined in a suppressed voice “No, we were both adults when we first met.”


    “Oh, so it’s ate-blooming friendship, Jocelyn nodded. “I get it.”


    Melvin felt she understood, yet she wasn’t letting the issue go.


    “Adults know how to develop romance out of friendship, Jocelyn added with a sh of mocking in her


    eyes.


    Melvin was left speechless.


    Jocelyn had conjured up a whole drama in her head, entertained by her own imaginings.


    “Don’t frown. I truly do understand. She’s into you, but you’re not into her,” Jocelyn rified. “That’s


    why I truly get it.”


    Melvin looked at her suspiciously.


    Jocelyn smiled, her hands framing his face. “You’ve seen it yourself. She sends me pictures of you two


    from time to time to annoy me. Imagine if an old me of mine kept sending you pictures of us back in


    the day. Would you be cool with that?”


    Jocelyn wasn’t being unreasonable. She was just making a point.


    “Don’t even get me started. You get worked up over a few words I talked with Harrison, Jocelyn


    continued. “You’re handsome, I’m pretty. It’s normal for people to be attracted to us. As long as we


    maintain boundaries and don’t cross lines, I think it’s not worth sweating over. What do you think?”


    Melvin’s eyes narrowed as he tried to read her true intentions.


    “Don’t look at me like that, I’m dead serious,” Jocelyn said as she caressed his face. “But, grown-ups


    gotta have boundaries, babe. You need to have a word with Willow, tell her to stop messing around. I


    love you. Unless you push me away, I’m not letting go.”


    Jocelyn’s sudden deration tightened Melvin’s throat. He was deeply moved, and all the words he


    had in his mind condensed into a single word, “Okay.”


    With that, he leaned down and kissed her lips tenderly.


    Step by step, he invited her to a dance of intertwining breaths andughter with him.


    After what felt like an eternity, Melvin finally broke the kiss. Looking at her plump lips, he couldn’t resist


    taking another taste. His nose brushed against hers, and his husky voice was wrapping around her like


    velvet, “I am yours, and yours alone.”


    Jocelyn’s heart clenched, a sensation of delightful suffocation took over her.


    She couldn’t help but wrap her arms around his neck. Her cheeks were burning as she whispered in his


    ear, “Honey…”


    At that word, Melvin lit up like a fuse. A rush of blood roared through his veins, like an electric current


    zipping from his feet to his heart, then shooting up to his head before cascading down all over him. He


    was enveloped in an indescribable tingling sensation.


    No longer able to contain himself, he picked her up and made his way to the bedroom. Heid her


    down and hastily undid her clothes. He gave out a maic whisper, “I need you…”