Saving Melissa

Chapter 9

Gavin

Present

I still don't know what I was thinking as I sit here in a booth with a little girl I've never met before, watching her for a woman I barely know but here we are. As I watch Melissa and that dreadfully annoying woman walk away I can't help but wonder if this Brittany woman always treats her like that. If she thought she would win points with me by trying to cut Melissa down in front of me she is sorely mistaken. I happen to think it's disgusting to try to tear a person down to make yourself look better, and I couldn't help the anger that flared up inside of me when Melissa's face turned red in embarrassment. That woman has nothing to be embarrassed about, I would do just about anything to spend a night with a woman who looked like her. I'm sure it's not easy for her, again I don't know the whole story but I do know that when there is abuse in a relationship it is not often relegated to just one area like physical abuse, but it often spills over into mental, physical, and verbal abuse as well. And judging by her lack of confidence I'd say this ex of hers did a real number on her.

I looked down as I felt the little girl tug on my jacket, "Do you want something kid?" I ask her and follow her finger as she points to her bag. I open it up and start going through it until she sees a coloring book and starts to squeal, so I take it out and set it in front of her. As she's coloring I start to answer some emails and honestly the first 45 minutes goes by pretty fast since she's so distracted by her coloring book. I was starting to think this whole babysitting thing would be easy until she stood up on the seat and started yelling.

"Charlie, are you okay?" She didn't respond, she just kept running her finger up and down her throat. "Does your throat hurt?" I asked her but she just kept getting louder and louder while she scratched at her throat. I heard someone come to the table and was relieved Melissa had heard her but when I turned around it was to see Brittany standing there looking at me with a mixture of sympathy and lust in her eyes.

"Oh this poor girl, are you okay honey bunny bear," she asked Charlie while giving her a little pouty lip. "Is your mama ignoring you?" She asked Charlie before turning to me, "I can't believe she would stick you with a sick kid, that's so rude. I mean she's obviously sick right? That's why she keeps scratching at her throat."

"Actually," Melissa said coming up behind Brittany, thank God, "that means she's thirsty, she doesn't talk a lot so I've been teaching her some sign language for the most common words she might need. She's thirsty that's all. Gavin there's a cup in the side pocket of the bag if you can grab it and hand it to her."

"Sure thing," I said smirking at the crestfallen look on Brittany's face as she walked away. "Why do you let her treat you like that?"

"Like what?" Melissa asked, but she was avoiding making eye contact with me so I knew she knew exactly what I was trying to say.

"Like she's better than you. You let her talk down to you, insult you in front of your friend and your kid, act like you don't even know how to take care of your own kid. You're telling me that doesn't bother you at all?"

She c****d her head to the side before answering me, "Are we friends?"

"Is that honestly what you took away from what I said?"

"No, sorry, you're right. She is rude, her and Ameilia are pretty much the worst to work with but I just ignore them. There's no point in arguing with them every time they say something about my appearance or my needing to work here because it won't change their minds. It will just make working with them even more uncomfortable than it already is."

"Whatever you say," I tell her as she leans down to whisper something to Charlie before standing back up and starting to walk away before she turns around to look at me.

"Can I get you anything to eat, or more coffee, on me of course?"

"No I'm alright thank you." After she walks away I get out some more toys for the kid and play with her for a few minutes before she starts to entertain herself and I can check more emails. I'm waiting to hear back from Shawn, since I brought him the results of my background check on the Granger Family and he apparently found out that Phoebe wasn't pregnant with his kid he's been a little out of it. I'm hoping to hear from him soon because I have a feeling Phoebe is going to cause him more trouble, especially since we don't know who her baby's father is yet.

I'm about to ask Charlie if she wants anything else to play with when she climbs in my lap, "Hey, why don't you go ahead and sit back down in your seat kid," I try to tell her but she just starts playing with her hair and saying seep, seep. I don't understand her until her eyes start to close before she opens them rapidly clearly trying to ward off sleep. That's what she must be saying she's sleepy. These are unfamiliar waters but I'm assuming she wants a more comfortable place to sleep than the restaurant seating, so I pick her up and let her rest her head on my shoulder. Then she starts twirling my hair with one hand and hers with the other for a few minutes before she finally stops and I'm assuming she's asleep.

"Oh my God, if this isn't the cutest thing I've ever seen," Brittany squeals as she walks towards us. This woman seriously cannot take a hint.

"Could you kindly keep your voice down before you wake her up," I snap at her.

"Oh yes, that's right sorry I forget how sensitive their little ears are, ugh she's just so cute."

"She is but I'd prefer not to talk right now so I don't wake her up. Don't you have tables to wait on?"

"Oh no, I'm all caught up for now. So Gavin," she says fluttering her eyelashes at me. I'm sure she's trying to look cute or something but honestly, it just looks like she has something in her eye. "You're not like with Melissa right? She said you guys are friends?"

"Why?" I ask, I'm running out of patience for this woman very quickly.

"Oh no reason," she smirks as she starts playing with her hair. "I just wanted to leave you my number, but just between you and me," she whispers, leaning in so she can shove her t**s in my face, "I don't mind hooking up with someone in a situationatioship, just something to keep in mind," she winks at me before standing up and puffing her chest out again.

"And just between you and me, there is absolutely no way anything will be happening between us. Now could you please stop annoying the s.hit out of me and go do your job?" Her face turns as red as a tomato before she finally leaves, giving me a little peace and quiet.

"Hey, my shift just ended," Melissa says coming up to our table a few minutes later. "She must really like you if she's willing to sleep on you." She's says sounding a little taken aback by how she found her daughter sleeping on a strangers shoulder, "Come on if you scoot over a bit I can take her from you and head home so you can get back to you day."

"Don't worry about it."

"Worry about what?" She asks me, looking confused.

"Taking her, or getting her home. My driver is outside, he'll take us to your place. I'm sure I've read, or heard from someone that you should never wake a sleeping kid so let's not tempt fate. Come on, she can sleep on me in the car."

"Um, okay, if you're sure."

"Positive now let's go." As we sit in the car on the way to her place I can't help but think I actually had a good time with the kid. She's cute as hell, her voice is adorable, and she was pretty good at keeping herself entertained. Except for that one time I couldn't figure out what she wanted. She was probably the best well-behaved kid I'd ever seen.

"Thank you for watching her, and bringing us home. You really didn't have to do any of that and I hope you know I really appreciate it."

"If you want to thank me, let me take you to dinner tonight," I say to her once again pissed that my mouth seems to be working faster than my brain. I just convinced myself to leave her alone and here I am trying to take her out on a date.

"Oh, well, that sounds really nice it does, but my friend wouldn't be able to watch Charlie tonight."

"Okay, how about dinner at my place then, bring her. I'll send a car to pick you up at 6."

"Okay, that would work. Will you mind if I put my carseat in your car?" S.hit I hadn't thought about Charlie needing a carseat, the restaurant was only a few minutes drive from her place and I was holding on to her the whole time.

"Yeah, of course."

"Okay I'll see you later then." I nod at her as she takes Charlie and starts walking into her apartment. What the f.uck am I doing right now?