More Than Friends Read Free Page A

an empty space on the top shelf. “That smells awesome. What is it?”
    “Buffalo-chicken dip.” Melanie pulled a casserole dish from the oven and set it on top of the stove. “Kendall is on the patio checking on the grill.”
    “I’ll say hi in a minute. First, can I help you with anything in here?”
    “Will you grab the fruit out of the fridge?”
    Evelyn pulled out three plastic containers full of cut fruit.
    Melanie slid a divided serving tray across the counter. “You can set it out on there.”
    They worked quietly side by side; she arranged the fruit and Melanie prepared a cheese-and-cracker plate.
    “How’s the eye? You’ve got some nice shades of purple and yellow going on there.” Melanie’s casual tone sounded forced.
    She paused and raised an eyebrow. “I’m surprised you don’t want to inspect it.”
    “I do. But I’m not going to.”
    “Good.” The entire side of her face had throbbed that first morning. Then the pain subsided, but a sickly rainbow had spread across her cheek and around her eye. Melanie’s lips were pressed together, but she didn’t speak. “It’s fine, Mel. It’s a two-day-old bruise. It looks a lot worse than it feels.”
    Melanie nodded.
    She sighed and touched Melanie’s shoulder. “But thank you for being concerned.”
    “Okay. I’ll let it go.”
    “I’ve heard that before.” She meant her comment in a teasing way, but Melanie froze and her demeanor changed right away. Her back stiffened, and the tiny muscles around her eyes and mouth tightened. “Hey, it’s okay. I know it’s hard to see anything marring this gorgeous face,” she said, hoping to reverse whatever had just changed the mood in the kitchen.
    Melanie met her eyes and she was surprised to find the remnant of hurt, before the tension in her expression eased. She smiled, albeit slightly awkwardly, then bumped her shoulder against Evelyn’s and resumed work on the snack trays. Evelyn watched her for a moment longer. Though she nodded along when Kendall complained about Melanie’s motherly concern, she kind of liked knowing that Melanie cared. Melanie had always been touchy about what she called their “tough-guy acts,” but had she been more edgy lately?
    While she was still debating whether to ask her what was wrong or just drop it, Kendall came through the back door.
    “The ribs are almost done.” She stopped and gestured to Evelyn’s Patriots jersey. “Oh, come on. Did you have to wear that thing?”
    “Yes.” Evelyn grinned.
    “We’re watching the Titans play the Colts.”
    “But the late game is the Patriots and the Jets, and I plan to stick around for it.”
    Kendall faked a stern look. She’d guessed that Evelyn would want to stay and watch the late game. But she couldn’t miss the chance to tease her about her favorite team. “Says who? The invite was for the Titans. We may not want to watch the Pats game.”
    “Oh, what? You have better plans?” Evelyn glanced at Melanie, then back at Kendall with a wink.
    She blushed, but not for the reason Evelyn probably assumed. She couldn’t remember the last time she and Melanie had made love. Weeks? Months? And when they did, their interaction lacked passion and she was left feeling even more disconnected. When she met Melanie’s eyes, she saw her own sorrow reflected there. “Whatever. Watch your damn game, but you may be alone on the couch.”
    “Yeah? What about Richard’s cousin. Maybe she’ll watch it with me.”
    “I bet she will,” she said, relieved for the subject change.
    Evelyn laughed. “Why do you do this? You know these fix-ups never work out.”
    “Because I’m bound to get it right someday. Besides, if I didn’t force you to go out, you’d happily turn yourself into a hermit.”
    “I’m not a hermit.”
    “Uh, you are—a little,” Melanie said.
    Evelyn glared at her. “You’re not helping.”
    “I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that.”
    “Oh, no.” Evelyn wagged her finger at