It had been three days since the library incident, and Melissa hadn't stopped thinking about him.
Not in the usual way she thought about men—fleeting, shallow, mostly fuelled by alcohol or boredom. No. This was different.
She was annoyed by him.
Annoyed that he didn't fawn over her.
Annoyed that he called her out like she was some freshman who'd wandered into the wrong class.
Annoyed that… she wanted to see him again.
So, when she walked into her Ethics and Leadership lecture that Friday morning and spotted David three rows ahead, something like electricity sparked through her chest.
She hadn't meant to come to class—she'd almost bailed again—but something told her he'd be there. And he was.
She slipped into the row behind him, pretending not to care, pretending not to notice the way his broad shoulders moved beneath his sweater as he took notes.
Midway through the lecture, she leaned forward and whispered, "Still think I believe the world owes me something?"
David didn't turn. "Still acting like it does?"
Melissa's jaw dropped a little, then she caught herself and smiled—because this was fun. He wasn't afraid of her. Not even close.
After class, she followed him outside.
"You're... bold," she said, matching his stride. "Usually, most people try to impress me."
"I'm not most people, and…I assure you there's nothing usual about me" he said, his tone neutral.
She walked alongside him anyway.
"You know, you're kind of fascinating."
"I'm not interested in being fascinating."
"Well, too late. I'm intrigued."
He stopped, finally facing her. "Why?"
Melissa blinked. "Why what?"
"Why are you following me? Is this a game to you?"
That stung a little.
"No," she said, folding her arms. "But you—you talk to me like I'm normal. That's rare."
"You are normal, Melissa. That's the point."
The way he said her name—soft, deliberate, that sent a chill down her back.
He turned to leave, but then paused.
"If you're really intrigued, come to the community reading program tomorrow. Noon. Briar Street Centre."
Melissa raised an eyebrow. "Is this a date?"
"It's a challenge," he said. "Let's see if you can care about something other than yourself."
Then he walked away.
Melissa stood there, mouth open.
Who the hell did he think he was?
But deep inside… she already knew she was going.
As she walked away, something stirred inside her, she felt like she was 14 and her crush had just given her a first kiss, she didn't know if she should skip or run, she smiled to herself as effervescences of thoughts flared in her mind.
The Briar Street Community Center was not the kind of place Melissa Vauhn usually visited.
The building was small and run-down, wedged between a bakery and an old church. Inside, the walls were lined with bookshelves, mismatched furniture, and the faint smell of vanilla and old pages.
Children's laughter echoed from the reading room.
Melissa hesitated at the entrance, wearing black jeans, a casual blouse, and the humblest pair of boots she owned (they were still Chanel, but at least not rhinestoned).
She spotted David near the back, kneeling beside a little boy who clung to a picture book like it was treasure.
David looked up, spotted her, and—shockingly—smiled. This was the warmest smile she had seen on his face, it was as contagious as it was captivating.
"I didn't think you'd come."
Melissa shrugged. "Neither did I."
He motioned her closer. "Come meet Ayo. He's six. He reads better than most twelve-year-olds."
Melissa knelt slowly, offering a small wave. "Hi, Ayo."
Ayo grinned shyly.
David handed her a book. "Here. You'll read to the next group. You're on in ten minutes."
Melissa's eyes widened. "Wait—what?"
David stood. "I told you, it's a challenge."
She stared at the book. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
"God, I haven't read this since I was ten."
"Then you're overdue."
As the minutes passed, Melissa felt something unfamiliar creeping into her chest, she was nervous. But also… warmth. She watched David move through the room, high-fiving kids, helping an old woman shelve books, laughing with the volunteers.
This wasn't some publicity stunt.
This was his life.
And for the first time in a very long time, Melissa felt ashamed of how small her own world had become.
When her turn came, she sat before a semicircle of wide-eyed kids and read. Her voice wobbled at first, but then steadied. She made faces. Did accents. They giggled, and some even clapped.
When she looked up, David was watching her.
Pleased.
Afterward, they sat on the front steps as the sun began to lower.
"That was… unexpectedly fun," she admitted.
David glanced sideways. "You're good with them. Not something I expected."
"Yeah, well. I surprise people."
There was a pause.
"Why are you really here, Melissa?"
She looked down at her fingers. "I don't know. Maybe because you talk to me like I'm not broken."
"I don't think you're broken," he said softly. "I think you're hiding."
She looked up at him, surprised by the gentleness in his voice.
Then—impulsively—she leaned forward, her lips brushing his cheek.
"Thank you," she whispered.
David looked at her, eyes unreadable.
"I think I like you, David," she said. "Even if you're kind of a pain in the ass."
He smiled.
"But if this is going to be anything," he said calmly, "you'll have to make some serious changes."
Melissa arched a brow. "Like what?"
"No more drugs. No more reckless nights. Start showing up for yourself. For life."
Her heart pounded.
"Those are... heavy conditions."
David stood.
"So is love."
He started down the steps.
Melissa stared after him, stunned.
This wasn't a game.
And as strangely as it was confusing, this time, she wanted to play by the rules.
What in the world is going on here? She thought to herself. "Did he use some kind of African voodoo on me or something?".
For the first time, she felt powerless.