Laid 2 Rest Two Halves of a Whole by Melanie Rose Page A

and pulled up to Jay’s house around midnight. We made our way thru the house, grabbing my bag out of the living room before heading back to my room. “If you need me, I’ll be right across the hall,” he said sitting my things down on the edge of the bed.
    “Jay, I know where your bedroom is. I think I’m just going to take a hot bath and then turn in for the night if you don’t mind,” I responded coldly, throwing my walls back up out of sheer habit.
    Leaning down, he hugged me close to him then kissed me on the cheek and turned to leave.
    I caught his arm to stop him from going which was completely out of character for me. Over the years, I‘ve grown used to seeing a man’s back, but this was Jay… not Diego. “Thank you for everything. I couldn’t have made it thru today without you. You know that, right?”
    He simply brushed his thumb gently across my cheek, smiled knowingly, and then took his leave, closing the door softly behind him.
    Whomever he finally ends up with… will be one lucky ass woman, I thought sadly to myself.

    Restless, I tossed and turned for hours unable to fall asleep that night.
    Leaving my room, I crossed the hall to Jay’s, pressing my ear up against the door, I listened for a second. I could make out the sound of his light snoring, so I pushed the door open quietly and tiptoed inside.
    He looked so peaceful sleeping there, that I made a sudden split-second decision to see if he was willing to share some of that peacefulness with me. I already knew he would… he’s been trying to get me back into his bed for years .
    Pulling back the covers, I slid in next to him as gently as I could, so I wouldn’t scare the shit out of him.
    Good Lord, these sheets are soft. What are they, 4000 count? Only the best I see for Mr. Basketball.
    Tucking myself up under his arm, I rested my head by his collarbone. “Hey you,” he groaned softly, somewhat unsure about my sudden unexpected appearance, but gently wrapped his big strong arms around me anyways.
    “Hey.”
    “You okay?”
    “I’m alright now. Can you just hold me for a little while until I fall asleep?” I said, making my intentions clear just in case he thought I was there for a late night booty call.
    “I got you, love. Just close your pretty little eyes and try to clear your mind. I’m here and I won’t let anything bad happen to you.” He kissed my forehead, snuggled in a little closer to me, and began stroking my hair gently.
    I loved when he did this and he knew it; I felt my body relax instantly. You can’t image how safe and secure I felt with him next to me, so I simply closed my eyes and fell fast asleep in a man’s arms for the first time in years.

 
    CHAPTER FIVE
    W ITH THE HOLIDAYS OVER AND long forgotten, I found myself caught up in a whirlwind of cashing in all the gift certificates, my regular clients had bought as Christmas presents. It was a brand new year and I was determined to have a brand new outlook to go right along with it. Keeping myself busy was the key. So, my current massage frenzy was more than welcomed.
    I’m sure that it comes as no surprise to you that things between my husband and I are still pretty crappy and seemed to be getting worse by the day, but I casually ignored it and let little things roll off my back with a lot more ease now. I refused to let him get under my skin any longer and it was time that the tides were turned in my favor for once.
    He sure has noticed the difference in me though. The extra little pep in my step, the sparkle in my eyes. The man swore to high heaven that I was having an affair.
    WHATEVER … I just rolled my eyes and reminded him that that was just his guilty conscience catching up with him for his shortcomings .
    You see, about a year and a half into our marriage, he had some form of inappropriate relationship with a fellow female co-worker of his. Numerous times, he tried telling me (unsuccessfully) that all they did was kiss, but I knew that was utter