Work Text:
[frankmd] melatoninking added to their story
It kills him to open it. When he does, he sees the reposted story.
Mel, bundled up in her oversized scarf and earmuffs that swallow her head, is beaming at the camera with her boyfriend's lips on her cheek. She had mentioned he was taking her to pumpkin farm today and by the sound of it, they found one. The story is from her stupid fucking boyfriend captioned "a pumpkin for my pumpkin" as he holds it up in front of the camera.
If he were crass, he would mumble something of a what a fucking cliché under his breath. But Langdon wishes to be cordial. Happy for her, even. He really wishes to find it in his heart.
Part of him wishes to make her jealous in the same way, post a story of his happy wife splayed over his chest with her book, as she is right now.
He knows that won't reach mel the same. his marriage has no lasting effect on their friendship. It's mentioned in passing once or twice. Never a permanent fixture in their conversation. Nothing to loom over their heads.
And besides, it no longer counts. What they shared—a mere peck on the lips in the break room after another MCI—is nothing of note.
It brought them comfort at the time. But now, the dumbass blond paralegal holds that privilege.
Langdon sucks it up and closes Instagram. This is the last thing Mel deserves. Someone getting in the way of her happiness. And Christ, does she look happy.