Tame This (The McCallans, Book Two) by Hadley Quinn Page B

cried. So while my sister helped me get ready, all my mom did was bitch the entire time that we were mistakes and if we hadn’t been born, she’d being off doing this and that. I don’t understand what the issue was in the first place. Camryn was the one that ended up picking up the slack. I never felt that my mom loved me as much as my sister did. And I look back at all the shit that I put Cam through, all because I didn’t even know who I was or where I belonged, and I feel so…bad. She didn’t have to step up like that.”
    “Yes she did, because she loves you,” Jay answered quietly. “And she doesn’t regret it, Mel. I know that for a fact because I’ve heard her say it so many times.”
    “Really?” Melanie’s voice was barely a whisper.
    Jay turned onto his side so he was facing her back. “Yeah, hon. Really.”
    Several seconds of silence passed between them before Melanie sighed again. “My sister is amazing. She’s the strongest, most forgiving person I know.”
    Jay couldn’t help but chuckle a bit. “You two are so much alike, don’t you realize that?”
    “Me and Cam? No, she’s smart and independent. I’ve never really thought over my choices sometimes because I was just willing to find the next thing that made me happy. I felt like I deserved to do whatever I wanted because I had such a lonely childhood growing up. I just wanted to be accepted by whoever would accept me, even if had to make things up. I know better now, but Camryn has always put other people first. She’s inspiring and I wish I were more like her.”
    “And there are things about you that she admires as well. The point is …we all make changes and progress at different intervals, Mel. Everyone’s trails are blazed a different way. You can only move forward and use what you’ve got inside you to get where you want to be. It’s different for everyone. Do we fuck up along the way? Hell yes. But when you can pick yourself up on your own and move on…that’s where tenacity separates the losers from the winners. You’re doing that, and I admire you for it. You’re an inspirational person, whether you realize it or not.”
    Melanie was quiet for the next two minutes, and Jay thought that she’d fallen asleep. But just when he was about to return to his back, she softly said, “I will never ever make this baby feel like he or she isn’t wanted or loved. Never.”
    It wasn’t just a statement but a promise, and Jay knew that she meant it. His hand slid across her waist and settled on her stomach out of instinct. “This baby is lucky to have you for a mom, sweetheart. You’re gonna give him—or her—an amazing life. I have no doubt.”
    When she didn’t respond, he went to remove his hand but she stopped him by placing hers on top and she held it there. Jay waited for the awkward tension to settle in but it didn’t. He was actually comfortable lying there with his arm around a female that had become one of his best friends.
    “Jay?”
    “Yeah, hon.”
    “Your voice is extremely sexy in the dark.”
    He lightly laughed but absolutely loved the compliment. “I try, just for you,” he teased.

Chapter Nine
     
     
    Jay was up at dawn, and even though he believed he actually slept a few hours, he felt like strange dreams and thoughts had been going through his head all night.
    He carefully slid off the futon and left Melanie asleep. She looked so tiny wrapped around a pillow to the point it was barely visible, and he pulled the blanket up to her shoulders.
    Jay walked th rough the house in search of Grady. The place was a mess and there were a couple of guys still around, crashed on various couches or chairs. He finally found Grady asleep on his own bedroom floor. Jay helped himself to the shower, and when he came out, his buddy was somewhat sitting upright on the bed.
    “You two comfortable enough last night?” Grady asked Jay. “Wish I had a spare bedroom, bro.”
    “Nah, it was fine.”
    “Where’d you