She Took The House The Car And My Heart

Chapter 516:

Otherwise, why would his friend have dragged him out for an impromptu night of heavy drinking?

“Wait a sec.” Gerard said suddenly, his thoughts churning. “Weren’t you pretending to be Ms. Briggs’s boyfriend before? Could it be your actual girlfriend misunderstood and dumped you because of that?”

“She doesn’t even know I like her,” Melvin said, irritation bleeding into his voice. He couldn’t believe Gerard was this thick.

But to keep him drinking, Melvin let his emotions show—lips set in a bitter line, and he tossed out a carefully measured clue. Gerard mulled it over.

So… it was a secret crush?

The realization struck him, and he looked at Melvin with newfound curiosity. He hadn’t expected the cool and aloof Melvin to be harboring quiet affection for someone. But who was this woman? Why had he never heard a word? Melvin had never once mentioned her.

“Who is she?” Gerard asked, thinking he was finally getting somewhere.

eyes clearing like a fog lifting. It was as though Gerard’s question had sobered him. Shaking his head, Melvin said quietly, “I

“You can’t… tell me?”

the bottles between them and

replied, his voice cool

doubled down, pushing drink after drink on Melvin, determined to

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if Melvin just drank enough, he’d

simple: let Melvin get wasted while he played along and

what Gerard hadn’t accounted for was Melvin’s stubbornness—even under the influence. Every time Melvin took a shot, he insisted Gerard match

was spinning like a top, and the room felt like

that, Melvin

his arm over Melvin’s shoulder again and slurred, “I’ve drunk more with you tonight than I ever do at Mr. Shaw’s business dinners. Can’t you at least tell me who

set his glass down, his drunken haze vanishing in an

he was back to his usual