I DO NOT OWN ANYONE OR ANYTHING IN THIS STORY BESIDES THE OC'S.
Melanie's Point of View-
I woke up early enough so I could take a shower, be able to pull on my swim suit under my outfit in case it was needed since we were apparently taking a boat ride today and found an outfit that looked good without the suit being too obvious underneath and a t-shirt I didn't mind getting wet along with grabbing another shirt to put on that was going to be dry. I then pulled my hair up into a tight bun that way it won't become another tangled mess from any water that it may come into contact with over the course of the day and didn't even give make-up a second thought because it would just get ruined, the only thing I bothered to do was grab the bottle of sun block I had for occasions like this. I looked at the two bags I had resting on my bed, was two bags too much? One for today on the boat and one for the stay at his place, well maybe it wasn't too much then. I zipped up the bags before I pulled them onto my body to carry them downstairs putting them down besides the front door to be an easy grab when heading out with Corey. I went into the kitchen sliding onto a barstool to join the people I lived with.
"When is Corey going to be here?"
"Eight, we are apparently going to go do breakfast before he takes me on his boat." I said as I looked to Kevin and Anita, "You guys never told me that he has a boat and that you guys have been on it." I said as they looked at each other before Kevin looked to me.
"You never asked." He said as he began to casually drink at his coffee.
"Or that he goes to Florida and has a house there." I said.
"You never asked, and it's not my place to tell you any of his business." Kevin said.
"When are we going to uncle Corey's Florida house again?" Jack asked as he put another spoonful of his cereal in his mouth.
"Well, he knows so I can ask all my questions to little Jack, he won't lie to me would you?" I asked as Jack shook his head no.
"Or you can ask Corey himself, you won't abuse the information out of my son." Anita said.
"I won't abuse it out of it, it's easy to get information out of him because I can just bribe him with ice cream." I said with a smile.
"Would you get mad if Corey did the same thing?" Anita asked as I glared at her because she had a point because I wouldn't want Corey to find out things, especially like Alex through Jack.
"Alright alright, you guys are worse than my guilty conscious. I got an angel and a devil, gah." I said as they both laughed.
"Well my precious, I need to get Jack to school and get to my cycling class…Kevin, will you be home when I get here?" Anita asked.
"Probably not, I need to go into the office and finish up paperwork I didn't get to last night." Kevin said as he let out a sigh and took another drink of his coffee.
"So I guess whoever is last out needs to lock up." Anita said as I checked my pockets before I got up heading upstairs to grab my keys out of my room pushing them into my purse in case I needed them.
"How long are you staying at Corey's?" Kevin asked as I let out a sigh.
"I honestly have no idea, however long he lets me stay."
"He may keep you there forever so you may be moving in."
"I wouldn't hold my breath." I said with a smile.
"Aunt Melanie, I don't want you to move out." Jack said as he looked up at me with a puppy dog lip.
"I won't Jack, at least not right now handsome…" I said as I reached over ruffling his hair as he smiled and took the last bite of his cereal. I watched him as he got up and took care of his dishes, I couldn't wait until I had kids of my own one day but I didn't want any right now because I needed to get my life straighten out before I popped out any kids. Corey is the first guy that I have ever found myself interested in since Alex and still fear that Corey could turn into Alex, Alex was the same way when we first started dating then when I did finally move in with him everything changed so I should be worried about spending these couple of nights at Corey's because what if behind closed doors he becomes that exact way?
"Melanie?! Earth to Melanie!" Kevin said as it finally got my attention and I shook out of it.
"Uh?" I asked.
"Zoned out I see, everything okay?" Kevin asked as I nodded as I ran a hand through my hair, "Nothing to be nervous about going to Corey's."
"How'd you know?" I asked.
"Lucky guess, he is nothing like Alex….he was raised right and he would never lay a hand on a female or strike up a fight, he is a big cuddly bear." Kevin said as I let out a sigh, I needed to trust Kevin because Kevin knew Corey a lot longer than I ever did and I nodded.
"Alright, but if you are wrong I have the right to shove it in your face." I said as Kevin rolled his eyes.
"Alright, deal." He said as I stuck my pinky out to do a pinky promise with him and Kevin hooked his pinky with mine to make it official. I heard the doorbell, and I looked out to the front door then back to Kevin, "Your man awaits." He said as I rolled my eyes and chuckled at his dumbness. I got up going to get the door, I didn't even know Kevin was still here but it was probably to make sure that I went and didn't back out at last minute due to my insecurities and doubts, rethinking this whole thing through. I opened the door to see Corey on the other side, I tried to not let my mouth drop open, why was I just now seeing how hot he looked? True, not everyone can rock a pair of swim trunks, but they weren't like Hawaiian style but it was black with a blue at the tope around his waist. He was wearing this grey skin tight tank top to expose his sleeved out tattooed arms along with the ones along his neck along with a pair of light shaded sunglasses and a fedora hat that was an off shade of white that somehow matched his attire.
"Good morning beautiful, you ready to go?" Corey asked as a smile spread across his lips and I couldn't help but to smile.
"Yeah, let me just tell Kevin I'm heading out and grab my bags." I said as I turned around and Kevin was leaning against the wall in the hall that connected the living room to the kitchen with his mug of coffee in hand.
"You guys have fun, but not too much fun because I don't have bail money." He said as he sipped at his coffee.
"What are you implying? If anything, I'll get away because I have the get away car." Corey said as I gasped.
"You'll leave me?" I asked as he chuckled and smiled at me.
"Never." Corey said sarcastically as he bent down grabbing my bags, "Would Robin ever leave Batman and vice versa?" Corey asked as I thought about it, "No answer, good…" Corey said, "See you later Kevin, we might be late to work." Corey said as I stepped outside onto the porch.
"As long as you show up is all that matters." Kevin said as I rolled my eyes.
"We will, I need the money." I said as Kevin smiled.
"Have fun, and just relax." Kevin gave me the advice as I nodded before I pulled the door shut behind me knowing that Kevin would lock it behind me and I walked along the sidewalk down to Corey's car where he just slammed the trunk shut.
"You got your bathing suit, right?" Corey asked.
"Already on, it's underneath this." I said looking down at my outfit and he nodded.
"Alright, where should we go do breakfast?"
"Isn't there a rule not to eat an hour before getting into the water?"
"Well, we aren't going to be getting into the water for another hour so." Corey said as he leant against the trunk of his car.
"Denny's?" I asked as a suggestion.
"What about IHOP? I am in love with their Strawberry-Banana French Toast."
"That does sound absolutely good, then let's do that." I said as he smiled.
"IHOP it is." He said as he led me to the passenger door where he pulled open the door for me, I slid into the car and couldn't help but the blush and smile at the same time. I watched as Corey walked around the front of the car twirling his keys on his finger before he slid into the driver's seat starting the car before he buckled up.
"Thanks for opening the door for me, it was very gentlemanish of you." I said awkwardly as I looked at my lap.
"Never do you need to thank me for that kind of stop, my parents raised to treat woman with respect." Corey stated as I nodded, much like what Kevin had tried to tell me this morning.
"How long have you had a boat and the place in Florida?" I asked out of curiosity.
"My boat, for maybe a year and a half and my place in Florida I would say like three or more years. I got a boat because I live near the beach and boat pier in Florida, my friends always liked going out into the ocean or going to the lake so I figured just to invest in a boat."
"If you can afford that kind of stuff with your other job, why are still with Kevin or wanting to come back to Kevin's shop?" I asked curiously as Corey let out a sigh.
"I don't need the pay from Kevin, but is it wrong that I only offered to come back to help his publicity and get closer to his secretary?" He asked with a smirk.
"Nothing wrong with that." I said blushing as I pushed a strand of hair behind my ear as I looked out the window.
"But what place do you like more, here or in Florida?"
"Definitely Florida, it is so much nicer, the weather and everything…"
"Still don't get why you chose to come back here." I said shaking my head with a chuckle.
"Uh-huh…one weekend I'm taking you down to Florida and you will see what I mean because you sound like you are talking a lot of trash right now."
"This is trash, I haven't begun talking trash." I said with a chuckle and he smiled as he glanced over at me.
"Is that so?" He asked.
"Absolutely."
"I may need to see this 'real' trash talk you supposedly have." Corey said as he made a left turn when the light turned green and it wasn't that much further until he pulled into the IHOP parking lot.
"Do you trash talk?"
"More than I should, I have to at work."
"Not at Kevin's work." I said as he chuckled.
"I do to you."
"Oh really?" I asked sarcastically as I smiled and let out a soft chuckle.
"From now on I do."
"I see how it is." I said as I climbed out of his car and met him in front of the car where I walked beside him feeling his hand slowly sliding into my hand, it felt nice but weird at first, he slid his fingers between mine to interlock our fingers as he led me to the front door pulling the door open letting me walk in first then he quickly grabbed the second door for me so I wouldn't have to pull it open for us. "Thank-" I began to say as he glared at me.
"Don't you dare finish that." He said as I stepped through the second door stepping aside to let him to be able to step into the restaurant with me.
"A table for two?" The hostess asked as we both nodded, Corey let me walk in front of him to follow the hostess to a two person booth so we could face each other. I slid into the one side allowing Corey to claim the other side, the hostess set the menus down in front of us to look over.
"Where is this Strawberry-Banana French toast you were going on about?" I asked as I flipped the menu open and he did the same thing searching the different menu items until I found it myself, "I think I am going to copy you and get that as well."
"You aren't copying me, it just means you have good taste when it comes to food because you will love it or like it too." Corey said with a smile as he closed his menu back up.
"Does that give me a plus in your book?" I asked curiously as I smiled up at him.
"Most definitely, a girl that has good taste buds is right up there with a good personality and loves tattoos."
"Obviously, if they didn't like tattoos they wouldn't like these sleeved out arms you have." I said as I reached out running my finger to trace over one of the tattoos that drew my attention on his arm.
"I can buy those things that cover them up."
"You wouldn't get annoyed having to wear those 24/7? What about intimate moments? I think she would notice it won't match your skin tone." I said truthfully as he let out a chuckle.
"If that is her biggest concern during an intimate moment, then she may have ADHD or issues." Corey said as we both burst into laughter as I blushed.
"You're probably right…" I said with a smile.
"Plus, I don't think the sleeves can hide the one on my belly button or the ones on my neck." He said with a smile.
"That is what make-up is for."
"But that would just rub off or sweat…"
"Why are we even thinking of this?" I asked with a chuckle.
"You started it, I am just trying to finish it."
"Well you win." I said as he smiled and chuckled when the waitress came up, we ordered our food and drinks. "So, what is your other job?" I asked as he let out a sigh.
"I'm an entertainer…"
"Oh really? So you like act?"
"You can say that." He said as I nodded.
"Theater, movies?"
"Uh, television."
"What show?"
"You won't know it, it's a local show down in Florida."
"How did you get casted on a local show in Florida all the way from here?"
"They saw my work elsewhere around here and there, they liked what they saw so they pulled me down there."
"So you are strictly with them? Can't you still work around here?"
"Not due to my contract."
"Oh, so you have a contract?"
"Yep, it was a four year contract and still have one more year with them before I resign another one if they still want me."
"Why wouldn't they want you still if you are so good at your job?"
"How do you know I am good if you haven't seen me perform?" He asked as I shrugged.
"I am just presuming and being confident in you." I said as I bit at my bottom lip, "Would I ever be able to go on set with you?"
"One day, I am sure that Kevin, Anita and Jack would love to go back."
"They've been?"
"A couple times, Jack loved it more than the rest of them."
"Well he is amused by the simplest things." I said as we both laughed when our food came, we spent less time talking and more time eating, I guess we were both hungry and glad that I wasn't the only one that was eating as fast as he was. I wonder what he does as to acting wise, does he do the news? Soap operas? Commercials? But oddly a part of me didn't want to investigate more, if he wanted to tell me he would have told me what he acted in and maybe he wanted to keep his life separated between Florida and here considering he has like two separate lives and doesn't want to blur the lines. Would he ever take me to Florida to live, or want me in both lives? What if he has a girlfriend or wife in Florida I don't know about? I began to talk mentally to myself, why must I think of anything and everything that makes me want to push myself far away from him?
"You ready?" He asked as he wiped a this mouth with a napkin and I patted at mine before I nodded yes, I put my used napkin on my plate before I slid to my feet and he grabbed the check off of the table. I opened my purse to find my wallet and grabbed some of the cash from within it, I counted out how much I thought I would need to pay my half and handed towards him. "What are you doing?" He asked staring down at the cash then up at me.
"Paying for my half of the bill."
"Why do you think you need to pay for half?"
"Because it was my food too."
"Did I tell you about me being a gentleman, right?"
"Yes."
"So I am paying for your meal and that is what the man does in a relationship." Corey said, and he used the word relationship. Relationship? Did he mean like boyfriend and girlfriend relationship? Friendship type relationship? Does he do this to all his girl friends? Why am I even reading too much into this? I pushed my money back into my wallet as I stood beside him watching him pay for the meal before he rested a hand on the arch of my back leading me out of the building the same way we had entered the building. "Was I or was I not right about those French toast?"
"You were right, they were quite delicious."
"You're welcome." He said as I smiled as he pulled the door to my seat opened and I slid in with a smile before I began to buckle up as he shut the door going to the driver's side where he did the same thing. "Now off to the boat." He said as I nodded as I let him do the driving to wherever his boat was, he was the captain and navigator for the day, but the word relationship kept ringing through my head.
"Corey?" I asked as he glanced over at me.
"Yeah babe?" He asked, he just called me babe?
"Back there, at IHOP….you said that is what a man does in a relationship…"
"Yeah, what about it?" He asked curious.
"What do you mean by relationship?" I asked as I bit at my bottom lip nervously and knew I was blushing bringing this up.
"I mean, if you are okay with it because you are an equal part in this, that we are boyfriend and girlfriend…" He stated as he glanced over at me as he continued driving through the back road, I really liked him and Kevin's voice and words echoing through my head of giving this a shot, even though I may not know Corey as much as Kevin does but I know that Kevin trusts him, and oddly I find myself trusting him day by day with these antics and what I guess he calls dates we have been on. Heck, I am trusting him to take me on a boat and let me stay at his place for a few nights, so I must have trust in him. "So, what do you say babe?"
"I….I, uh, say yes….but…"
"But?" Corey asked in a little shock as he glanced to me.
"It's nothing, never mind." I said as I nodded, I didn't want to ruin today with bringing up my ex.
"I know you had a bad ex, but I promise whatever he did I am not like him…would hopefully prove to you over time that." He said as I nodded as I ran a hand through my hair before it fell back into my lap.
"You're doing okay thus far." I said with a small smirk as he smiled.
"I am glad to hear that." He said.
"And he definitely didn't have a boat."
"He didn't even have a boat, what a tragedy." Corey said sarcastically as I let out a chuckle. The drive was longer than I had thought but it seemed to be going by fast because we were chatting randomly to make the time to go by faster than it was.