Awakening by Ashley Suzanne

has a huge problem with Melissa and I basically just invited her over.  She’s my friend, nothing more, but Mira won’t see it that way.  I think about texting Mira to tell her that I’m going to hang out with Melissa for a while, but for some reason, I decide not to. 
    Why start an unnecessary fight, right?
    I start straightening up the living room, so it looks less like a bachelor pad, when the doorbell rings.  I open the door to see Melissa standing on the porch dangling a fifth of tequila by the neck of the bottle.
    “Dr. Mel is here,” she jokes, walking through the door and into the living room.
    “Dr. Mel, huh?”
    “Yeah.  Everyone needs a little tequila in their life.  Take some Vitamin T and call me in the morning.  Now get some shot glasses and spill your guts.  We’ll figure out how to fix this problem.”
    Doing as Melissa asks, I get the shot glasses and salt from the kitchen.  We’re in luck; I have a few limes in the fridge.  I slice them quickly and go back into the living room.  Melissa has taken off her shoes and is sitting Indian style on the couch.  I take the seat at the opposite end of the couch and sit facing her.  Setting out the shot glasses on the coffee table, I pour the correct dosage and pass one to Melissa.
    “Here’s to meeting great friends in hospitals when our worlds were falling apart,” I say, raising my glass.  Melissa follows suit.  Our glasses clink, I lick the salt off my hand, tip the shot back, letting the tequila light a fire all the way down my throat before taking the lime in my mouth.
    “Okay, Danny, spill.  What’s going on with Mira?”
    “I don’t even know how to explain it.  She told me that she wanted to put our engagement on hold so she can figure out who she is.  She had some kind of dream while she was in a coma where she and Skylar were a couple.  I died in the accident and she was all alone.  Now she’s having some conflicting emotions.”
    “Well shit.  That’s some heavy stuff.  I just knew you were going to say you forgot her birthday or some kind of anniversary.  I know how to fix that kind of crap.  I have no idea what to tell you.”  Melissa refills the shot glasses and we repeat; salt, tequila, lime.
    “I don’t know what to do, Mel.  If she thinks she loves Skylar, what can I do?”
    “Think about it this way.  If she is in love with someone else, would you want to marry her?  Would you want to always think you’re coming in second, even though you technically won?”
    “That’s what Mira said.  She says I deserve to be the only person in her heart.  It wouldn’t be fair to me.”
    Melissa lines up another round.  “Sounds like a smart girl.  Maybe you should listen.”
    It would be nice to just give her the time she needs and think she’s going to come back to me.  But I can’t.  Call it fear or insecurity, but I know if she loves Skylar and he loves her, I’m going to be the one mending a broken heart.
    “Easier said than done,” I mumble, taking another shot.  “Maybe I should just let them be together.  Give them my blessing, or whatever.”
    “Are you fucking kidding me?  Do you still love her?”
    “I don’t think I’ll ever not love her.  She’s supposed to be my wife.  Our mothers already started planning our wedding.  Skylar and I are very much alike, but completely different.  If that’s who she’s in love with, she can’t be in love with me.”
    “Wow, where did this pussy come from?  When I met you in the hospital, you were so strong.  Holding onto the love you shared with Mira and praying for her to come back to you.  Now that things aren’t all unicorns and birthday cake, you’re ready to bow out.  I should man check you right now because I bet where your dick is supposed to be, you have a pussy now.”
    I spit my last shot straight across the room and double over in laughter.  I’ve never had a woman talk to me like Melissa just did.  She’s calling me on