"Where were you last night?" he asked.

Lie! Quickly! "I took Mike's shift so he could go on a date. So I didn't get home until one or two in the morning."

"Oh, wow, you must be exhausted then. You're still going to work?" He asked.

"Of course." I was getting my keys and purse. "I'm going out now."

"You're not busy at lunch are you?" He asked.

"No."

"How about I pick you up at twelve and we can go have lunch at your place? And do some... activities." He said trying to use code.

I laughed.

I bit my bottom lip.

"I would love to have lunch with you and do those activities you're talking about."

"You missed me?"

"A lot. I have to go. I'm gonna drive." I said arriving at the lobby.

We hung up. I walked to my car and found Peter leaning against the passenger's door with his arms crossed and my coat.

"Morning." He said standing straight when he saw me.

"Morning." I said with a small smile.

"I found it this morning, thought I would bring it by now." He said handing it over.

I took it.

"Thanks."

"About last night..." He trailed off.

"I think it's best if we don't talk about it, Pete... ever." I said.

"You said the same thing last time it happened." He muttered.

"This isn't the same, Pete I have a boyfriend I love very much." I said.

"Then why haven't you two been spending time together? He's always at his office doing God knows what!"

I was getting angry but I was curious.

"How do you know about that?" I asked. "Hmm?"

"I just know because I talk to Devlin, Mels, he's my friend as well."

"Why is he telling stuff about someone else's business?" I snapped.

"It doesn't matter, what matters is that Nathan doesn't give you the attention you deserve which is every single second." he said trying to hold my hands but I took them back.

"I have to go to work before I'm late." I said going around to the street to get on the driver's side. Peter followed.

"You know I'm right."

I twirled back. "For your information Nathan and I are going to have lunch together. And probably dinner." I lied at the last part.

I got inside of the car.

Peter went back to the side walk and I drove towards the hospital.

[Peter's Point of View]

I watched as Melinda's car made a left turn.

I took out my phone and dialed Lucy's.

"What?" She answered knowing it was me.

"You need to keep Nathan busy all through lunch." I said.

"Ugh, I've been thinking. Pretending to be Devlin's fiancée is really getting on my nerves. Devlin is just so... ugh!" She said in her perky voice.

"Maybe it has something to do with you cheating on him with his best friend." I said in a chuckle.

"F**k you, Peter." She cursed.

"No thank you. I want to be STD-free." I joked.

"Ha. Ha. B***h." She muttered. "How busy do you want Nathan?"

"Enough so he has to miss a special lunch date with Melinda."

She sighs. "How am I supposed to end up with Nathan when he believes I like Devlin... and that I'm marrying him?"

"Because as soon as Melinda is with me you can 'break it off' with Devlin and comfort Nathan. I'm sure that'll be enough." I sighed as I walked towards my car.

I got inside and looked at a picture I always kept. It was when Melinda and I went to Six Flags and she was kissing my cheek and I had the camera to take the picture. Happiest day because she kissed me that day.

"Can't I just drug him?" She joked.

Ding! Ladies and gentlemen that was the sound of a great idea.

"Oh, I know that pause." Lucy said I could hear her smirk.

"Do you know where to get it?" I asked.

"Of course."

[Melinda's Point of View]

At 11:50am I was just jumping up and down, not literally.

I was just happy to be with Nathan again.

It has been too long since we've seen each other.

Plus I wanted to jump his bones and kiss him to death.

At 11:55am I was ready at the lobby waiting for him

At 12:00pm I was still waiting.

At 12:30pm I got a call.

"Yes?" I asked knowing it was Nathan.

"Melinda, it's Lucy." She said in her perky voice.

I groaned. "He's not coming."

"He's caught up in a very important meeting, dear. I'm so sorry." For some reason I didn't believe she was.

"Yeah... just have him call me when he gets out... I guess."

"All right." Lucy said. "Good bye."

I hung up.

Just as I was about to leave I felt a hand on mine.

"Peter." I said.

"Are you eating alone?"

************

I got home late because I covered for Marcela since she covered for me on Thursday. I got home at ten at night. I opened my door and just wished to go to sleep but I found Nathan in the living room.

He looked like he was watching TV but his mind seemed to be somewhere else.

"Hey," My voice brought him back and he turned to me and gave me the sweetest smile. "Whatcha watching?" I took off my coat and dropped it somewhere.

I sat next to him on the couch.

"Just the Food Channel." He said as he put his arm around me. "I'm really sorry about lunch." He whispered.

I shrugged. "You got busy, it happens." I said.

"I cleared my entire Saturday just for you."

I bit my bottom lip.

"What is it?" He asked immediately.

"What?" I asked laughing a little nervously.

"You bit your bottom lip and that's a sign of something is wrong." He pointed out.

I turned a little red from the cheeks. "I kind of promised Dr. Albright I would work tomorrow, but just the morning." I quickly added. "One of the regular midwives couldn't make it... since she's having her own baby so I said I could cover. I thought you were going to work tomorrow, I didn't know."

He smiled weakly. "It's all right, it happens." He said using my words. I don't know if was a good thing or a bad thing. So I shrugged it mentally. He rubbed my arm.

"God, I'm so tired. I'm gonna shower and hit the hay. Are you staying?" I asked as I got up.

He nodded his head. "I'll be in bed waiting for you." He got up and pecked my lips. I walked towards the bathroom. I grabbed a towel and took my well deserved shower. When I was out I walked out in my Betty Boop pajamas. I dried my hair a little.

I saw Nathan in bed already. He was going over some papers. When he saw me he puts the papers aside and I crawled in bed with him.

I hugged him and he wrapped his arms around me.

"What did you do for lunch?" He asked.

"Um," I said. "I had lunch with Marcela and the others." I don't know why I lied. No. I know why. Because he would make a big deal if I told him I had lunch with Peter.

He would take it to the head and start getting paranoid and tonight I just didn't want to deal with it.

"Oh, all right. Well tomorrow I'm taking you out and we're having a romantic night." He kissed my head.

I was falling asleep when he said.

"Did you know Muse was in town last night?"

My eyes open wide. I cleared my throat.

"Really?" I tried my best to sound surprised.

"Yeah, we could've gone. Since their music inspire us both."

"Damn, we should've gone." I said trying to say as normal as possible. "Next time."

"Of course and I'll do some calls so we can meet them in person." He said.

I felt so bad. So guilty.

"Yeah," I whispered clutching to him closer.

I fell asleep to the sound of his heartbeat.

In the morning the alarm went off. I groaned as I pried away from Nathan. I didn't want to. My body felt so relaxed next to his.

Every time we slept together--not just physically--I felt like I could breathe.

I woke up and straighten my hair. Nathan was still asleep. His hair was stuck to his face and he looked so cute. I tied my hair into a low pony tail. I got my things and went to work.

I arrived just in time before it got busy. Saturdays were the busiest since it was the only time families could come together. I must've done about ten sonograms before ten o'clock. It wasn't tiring to see the happy faces of future mothers and fathers and sometimes future big brothers and sisters, it was just the standing and sometimes the drama.

Like a cord around a fetus' neck and having to do surgery.

The moms would know when something was wrong. It was something motherly I guess. At my break I went to the break room and made myself a coffee. Krystina--one of the midwives--walked in.

"Hello." She greeted me.

"Hey," I said back.

"I've noticed your accent. You're American?" She asked.

I nodded. "Chicana, my parents are Mexican."

She smiled. "That is so bloody wicked. I've never met a Mexican before." She said.

I laughed a little. She made it sound like I was some kind of extinct species or something.

"Really? Have you ever had Mexican food?" I asked.

She shook her head. "I haven't! You know how to cook?"

"Of course." I said. "I was taught at a early age. I can make mole, enchiladas, pozole, tamales--"

"Ooh," She jumped up and down a little. "I've heard of those... in movies."

I laughed again.

"I'm going to make some for Christmas. I'm having a small party at my place on Christmas Eve, you're welcome to come."

"I would love to." She squealed. "You're Melinda, right?"

I nodded. "And your Krystina with a K." I said.

She nods too. "I can not wait to have some tamales, why can't Christmas get here any sooner?"

When I was done with my shift I went back home. Outside my apartment building door stood Devlin with his arms crossed and leaned against the door, like he was expecting me... creepy.

I gave him a weak smile.

"Hey you," I said as I approached him.

"Afternoon, Melinda." He said with his Irish accent.

"Is Lucy here?" I asked with a tone of bitter.

He caught it and chuckled.

"Not yet... we're having a double date!"

I cringed and he laughed.

"I didn't like the idea very much either, but Lucy and Nathan insisted."

I groaned.

"Aw, Melinda," Devlin said with fake hurt. "I thought we were growing on each other. You're sure growing on me, lass."

I gave him a hard look.

He laughs throwing his head back.

"I don't get what's so funny. Devlin don't get me wrong but I don't like Lucy. Her act is fake and I don't know why she wants me in your wedding. When I first met her I hated her and she hated me. And why... would you forgive her?" I asked.

He frowned. "You know?" His tone was dark.

"Peter told me... is that bad?" I asked.

He looked away angry but then looked back at me with a different expression. It was like he was in on a secret joke that I didn't know about.

"You must've been pissed at Nathan."

"Well yeah, he was your best friend and he did that behind your back and he seemed okay with it---never mind. I don't want to think about. I'll just get more pissed." I sighed taking big breaths.

"You want to know why I took her back?" He asked.

"You don't have to--"

"I want to." He interrupted.

I waited for him patiently.

He seemed to drag it out a bit.

"Lucy and I were childhood sweethearts and stuff like I had with her is hard to forget."

I don't know why I had the distinct feeling he was being forced to tell me this. So I just went along.

"Yeah, okay."

A car pulled up behind us and surprise, surprise... it was Lucy. With her big blonde hair and her big boobs and her curvy body. The three of us went to my apartment. I opened the door and saw Nathan in the kitchen.

"Hey!" He greeted me with a peck on the cheek.

"I'm gonna go change." I said pointing to my room.

He nods. I excused myself from the others and went to my room. I took out a pair of skinny jeans and a nice shirt. Nothing fancy since we were going to have lunch here with Devlin and Lucy.

Nathan had ordered Chinese and it was on its way. I slipped out of my scrubs and slipped on my jeans. I was buttoning up my shirt when the door opened and Devlin stood there staring at my chest.

My half naked chest. He didn't even blush or tried to apologize. He actually smirked and winked at me. I turned my back to him.

"You're a pervert who's about to get married." I said in a hiss.

He chuckled. "I'm still a man, Melinda." And then I think I heard him say 'And I liked what I saw'. But I'm sure my ears are defected because all of the metal music I listen to. "Food's here." He closed the door leaving me alone.

I couldn't figure Devlin out.

I didn't want to. Just another headache.

I let my hair down and brushed it. I walked out of my room and joined the others at the table. Nathan had already served me. I sat next to him and Devlin and Lucy sat across from us.

Half way through lunch Lucy... became the most stupid... blonde bimbo in the entire world.

"So Melinda how was the Muse concert you and Peter went to?"

I stopped eating. My heart stopping beating and my body stopped working. I dropped my chopsticks and stared at her in complete awe.

Did anyone else feel the tension? The silence that just came over the room was so thick I couldn't breathe.

"I heard it was a great show. And you got to meet the band, how wicked must've that been?" She had a fake smile.

B***h.

***********

I can't recall a time I hated someone more than I hated Lucy right at that moment--well maybe Juan Rodriguez when he shot Nathan--but right now she was the most evil person on the planet. I'm sure she knew Peter and Nathan didn't get along. She knew what this would start between Nathan and I.

The only sounds heard in the table was the clock ticking and each second was a nail to my coffin--okay so I'm a exaggerating a bit, but this was bad. The other sound was the beating of my heart. It was pounding against my chest and it was giving my breathing problems. I didn't want to turn to Nathan and see the anger or disappointment in his eyes.

I lied to him. I told him I was covering for Mike and it was total bullshit and now he was putting the pieces together in his head.

"Oh Lord... did I do something wrong?" Lucy played the 'I didn't know he didn't know' card. I wanted to pull those f**king hair extensions and hang her with it.

"No, you did nothing wrong, Lucy. Melinda can I talk to you in private?" Nathan's voice was hard to decipher if he was mad or sad. I looked at Lucy and her eyes were shining in victory. I set down my chopsticks and followed Nathan to my room.

He closed the door once I entered and I went over to my bed and sat down on the edge of it. He paced in front of me back and forth. He ran a hand through his hair. He was frustrated I could tell. I didn't speak because I knew I would only set him off and I wanted to speak to him calmly and reasonably.

I should just tell him the truth. But right now he was scary. I've seen him mad and furious but never towards me. Not like this. He finally stopped pacing.

"I'm trying to figure what to say here, Melinda." Uh-Oh, he used THAT tone with me. He was both mad and disappointed. "It seems that you don't trust me enough. You had to lie to me and go behind my back."

"I know I lied Nathan but... I had no choice--"

"No choice?" He raised his voice at me.

Something bad about me is that I'm like a snake when cornered I strike with venom. I stood up. "Yes! Because I knew you would get like this Nathan. I knew you would have this jealous fit."

"How am I supposed to feel, Melinda? You lied to me and what's worse is that you weren't planning ever telling me, were you?"

I stammered with words and sighed. "I get why you're mad and I'm sorry for lying to you Nathan but I didn't want this--" I gestured between us. "To happen. I didn't want to fight. I didn't think it was going to hurt anybody and... you've been really busy lately... I just...I don't know and Peter was there--"

"Are you sleeping with him?" He interrupted me for that question?

I had to blink several times to make sure this moment was real.

"Are you really asking me if I'm cheating on you with Peter?"

"Yes." His lips were pursed.

"You don't trust me." I concluded.

"What am I supposed to trust? Your words? Because your exact words were 'I took Mike's shift so he could go on a date. So I didn't get home until one or two in the morning' and I believed you!" He hissed the last part.

"I'm sorry!" I was sort of begging this time. I didn't want to lose him because of a small thing. Good thing he didn't know about the kiss.

"Did ANYTHING happen?" He asked me with a sadness that hurt me.

I didn't know what to tell him. I didn't know whether to lie again or just come out with everything? But the best thing is to get everything out in the open and let everything take its course.

"We had a few beers--wait!" I told him when he started cursing and I wasn't even done. "He kissed me but I pushed him and told him to get out. That's all that happened I swear nothing else."

He looked at me looking into my eyes to see if I was lying and his expression didn't change. He wasn't trusting my words.

"Can you say something? Please?" I begged when his silence was tearing my apart. It was tearing me like a knife. Each wound hurt more than the last.

"All of my life I've had people lied to me, Melinda and they don't matter but when it's you who lied to me then... it's a dark place. I don't what to think or say. You've lied to me before how do I know you're not lying to me now?"

"Because I love you! Have I not proven that?! I've given you everything!"

He just shook his head. "I don't know what to think anymore... we need a break."

I stepped back away from him. "You're breaking up with me?" I choked a little at the end.

"No," He said and I started to breathe again. "I just need time to think about... us."

"Are you serious? After everything we've been through you need to think?"

"How do I know I can trust you?"

I just scoffed. "No... you need time to see if I didn't cheat on you with your best friend, I get it."

"He's not my best friend and it's his entire fault."

"No it isn't, Nathan. It's ours because we don't have trust in each other. I mean, how do I know you're not fooling around?"

He was offended by my question but I was exactly offended as he was when he asked me if anything happened with Peter.

"It isn't the same--"

"How?" I yelled. "You 'stay at work' for a long time and you miss our lunch dates because things just happen to POP up. You know what, I think we BOTH need time to think about this."

He gave me a dark look and he walked out of the room and I let the tears fall. I heard the front door get shut. I couldn't believe this. Did we just break up? I don't know.

I don't know anything anymore. He was gone and that's all that mattered. This wasn't good. I needed him. I needed him to believe me but how can I be in a relationship where my partner doesn't believe me?

I know that lying to him was wrong and f**ked up and he feels hurt and betrayed but he MUST know that I would never cheat on him. After years of waiting for him how could he just assume something happened between Peter and I?

I walked back into the kitchen and I saw as Lucy recovered from a smile that said 'I won' into a one of 'I'm sorry'.

"You