"And, I guess it just sort of escalated from there," Mel finished the story. She stared at Joe, waiting for a response, any type of response.
Joe's eyes were glazed over. He walked slowly into the living room and calmly sat on the couch. He rubbed a tired hand over his face.
"Joe, please say something," Mel said anxiously.
Joe turned towards her, "What do you want me to say, Mel?"
"I don't know," Mel didn't know what to say, "Something that will make me feel less guilty?"
"Mel, you should feel guilty," Joe said matter-of-factly, "You lied to me."
Mel bit her lip, "Well, when you put it that way..."
"What other way is there for me to put it?" Joe was barely keeping himself from exploding. Mel didn't know how to respond so she said nothing. She just shrugged.
"Let me think for a minute," Joe took a breath, "So, that…" he pointed at Mel's midsection, "is mine?"
Mel nodded.
"So you and I... you know...?" He wrinkled his nose.
Mel nodded again but wisely kept her mouth shut.
"Okay," Joe got up and started pacing, "And I was drunk so I don't remember?"
Another nod followed.
"So you took advantage of my drunkenness and-"
"Whoa there, Longo. Don't flatter yourself. I was drunk too. I had poor judgment," Mel defended herself, "I remember it, but that does not mean I had full control over my actions. I am not that immune to the effects of alcohol."
Joe frowned, "So, were you ever going to tell me?"
Mel looked at the ground.
"Mel!" Joe was affronted.
"Let me explain! I wasn't going to tell you because I didn't want to mess up the family dynamic around here."
Joe looked like he wanted to interrupt, but she kept going, "And I did almost tell you, but then Tiffany showed up and I didn't want to break you two up. Then after she left, you were all like 'I'm the baby's uncle'-"
"Mel, I thought that was all that I was and you didn't correct me!"
"Shhh! Let me finish!" Mel stomped her foot, "Anyway, I was just about to tell you when I got home, but you read the text message from Stephanie and found out on your own!"
"Oh. So you were going to tell me?"
"Yeah."
"As of when?"
"I don't know, like thirty minutes ago..."
"What made you change your mind?" Joe asked curiously.
"Umm," Mel hesitated, "Well, tonight at dinner with George, he told me the story of the music box."
There was silence.
"And I realized that you did that so I would be happy. And that you know me better than anyone," She started to walk closer to him, "And that if there was anyone that I wouldn't want to lie to about something like this, then... well, it was you."
He took a few steps forward so that they were about an arm's distance from each other, "Really?"
Mel smiled and nodded.
Their eyes met for a moment. Quickly they both looked at the floor.
What is this? Why is she looking at me like that? Her eyes are almost sorta kinda beautiful. What am I thinking? She's probably thinking something like: 'Ew! Longo is the father of my baby. What was I thinking that night? Ew! Ew! Ew!'
Oh my God. Why is he looking at me like that? Get it together, Burke. You most definitely do not want to grab him and kiss him right now. And even if you did, which you don't, you don't, then you wouldn't act on that impulse because right now he is probably thinking something like: 'That bitch got me roped into years of parenting. How could I have been so stupid that night? Ew! Ew! Ew!'
But whoa she looks-... okay... she looks okay! I am just going to ignore that impulse to grab her and kiss her. No matter how much it seems like it would be a really really good idea to kiss her right now! Is it really such a bad impulse? Maybe she's feeling it too...
Why is this so difficult?! I am in a very odd situation. I don't want to be the one to initiate the kiss. But should I? Maybe he's feeling it too...
Why isn't she saying anything?
Why isn't he saying anything?
I'm gonna say something!
I'm gonna say something!
"Say something!" They said at the same time.
"You can talk first!" Mel said, eagerly looking for an opportunity to not have to say something.
"Okay," Joe started, "So…" then he said the first thing that came to his mind, "That kid is ours?"
"Mm-hmm," Mel nodded.
"So that means that you and I..."
Mel nodded again.
"So, um, what does that mean for, you know us?"