Next Time by Robin Alexander Page A

it.” Jana sucked her teeth. “This picture doesn’t look like it was taken a long time ago. Melanie is gonna shit. Oh! Look, she made a post three days ago. ‘Wishing I was anywhere but here.’”
    Neither of them said anything as they continued to stare at the profile. Payton couldn’t tear her gaze from a line in Leigh’s introduction. I’m not looking for commitment, but if the right one came along, I might change my mind.
    Jana stood and set her hands on her hips. “I need to get home and show this to Melanie.”
    “What’re y’all gonna do?” Payton looked up at her.
    “This is Melanie’s call, they’re her friends. I’ll call you later.”
    Payton didn’t see Jana out; instead, she sat at the computer staring at the screen. She couldn’t view the find as a fortunate turn of events. As much as she wanted to be thrilled that Leigh was a cheater, she knew that Ryann’s heart would be broken.

Chapter 5

    “Ponkey the Donkey had a little saddle, and when he went into town, my how it did rattle,” Payton sang and bit her bottom lip. “Do donkeys wear saddles?”
    She made a note to research that, then played a somber tune on her piano. Ryann had been on her mind since the night before when she and Jana had found Leigh’s profile. She would’ve jumped at the chance to date Ryann, but in her opinion, things had gone from hopeless to utterly hopeless in that department. Women in relationships were off-limits, but women with broken hearts were to be avoided at all cost. She’d filled the position of rebound woman once and swore it was an experience she’d never repeat.
    When they met, Julianna didn’t divulge that she was trying to get over her ex. Payton had sensed a reticence in her, but then again, Julianna had said from day one that she wanted to take things slow. Payton was young, still in college and ready to be in love. She forged on, ignoring cues that should’ve given her pause. She chipped deeply into her food money to buy flowers and a bottle of wine, and when she showed up at Julianna’s apartment, she found herself kicked to the curb.
    “All the good ones are gone,” Payton sang as she played a tune fit for a funeral procession. “I will spend my days alone. No whispers of love, my sorrows I will drown in Dove—chocolate. No nights of passion, no hand to hold. My fun parts will mold.”
    Her phone was normally set on mute when she was in the studio, but she’d been waiting on a call from Jana, and the shrill ring nearly sent her toppling from her bench. “Hey, what’s going on?”
    “Drama. Melanie called Leigh at work today, and she’s gonna stop by her place tonight. I’m coming to see you because I wasn’t invited.”
    “Did Melanie tell you what Leigh said when she talked to her?”
    “She did,” Jana said quietly. “I should’ve shut the door to my office before I called you. Give me a sec.”
    “Yeah, you should’ve,” Payton spat out when Jana put her on hold. “You don’t wave a bone in front of a hungry dog! I should chew your arm off.”
    “You there?” Jana asked when she picked up the line again.
    “Yeah,” Payton said nonchalantly.
    “Melanie said she didn’t mince words. She asked Leigh if she had a minute, she said yes, and when Melanie told her that she’d seen the profile, total silence. Then she started begging Melanie not to tell Ryann before she could explain everything. Melanie’s upset because she loves both of them.”
    “Let me tell you this for future reference. If I ever fall in love and you find out my partner is doing something like that, you’d better not go to her first. I can’t express how betrayed I’d feel.”
    “That’s not something you have to warn me about. I’d always go to you first. Melanie met them as a couple, so she’s doing what she thinks is right.”
    “No, she’s giving Leigh a shot to make a bunch of excuses, so she won’t say anything to Ryann,” Payton retorted angrily.
    Jana exhaled loudly.