Page 59 of Finding Molly Parsons

Bessie’s voice echoed in her ears. Chelsea was just a friend, and they weren’t dating, and Molly wanted nothing else from their arrangement. Actually, she wasn’t sure the friends with benefits agreement suited her needs anymore.

After the brief conversation Molly had with Carmen earlier, the one where she pretty much told a complete stranger that she wanted to find a woman that made her feel at home, the thought of casually hooking up with Chelsea—well anyone—turned her stomach sour.

Molly lied when she’d told Bessie and Enid it was just Ruth who wanted to settle down. Molly had those dreams, but she wasn’t prepared to fulfill those dreams with anyone less than her soulmate. Was that too much to ask? Was she being unrealistic? Possibly, but it didn’t stop her from wanting it.

A difficult conversation with Chelsea loomed on Molly’s horizon. She’d been foolish to get involved with Chelsea so soon after Ruth. Now Molly was certain she was about to lose a friend. Chelsea wanted a girlfriend. That was plain to see. Sagging her shoulders in defeat, Molly typed out a quick reply, asking Chelsea for a rain check. But it wouldn’t be a booty call. It would be Molly putting a stop to their bedroom antics.

As soon as the screen read sent, Molly peered over her shoulder. Carmen quickly dropped her gaze from Molly’s ass. A lightness bloomed in Molly’s chest. Were Enid and Bessie right? Would she and Carmen make a good couple?

You have literally just sent a message asking your current fuck buddy to talk. How about you sort that shitstorm out first, before trying to mix up another one?

“I’m heading up. The day has suddenly caught up with me,” Molly announced to the group, unable to look Carmen in the eye.

“Alright, love, see you in the morning.” Bessie called, blowing her a kiss goodnight.

Mateo, Enid and Carmen all said good night in chorus. Making her way up the stairs, Molly paused outside the kids’ rooms. Opening their doors, she took a second just to look at them, safe and sound. Tiptoeing over to the room where Faith was sleeping, Molly cracked the door and peered in. It was astonishing how alike she and Faith were. They both had the habit of sleeping on their backs with one foot hanging out of the covers by the looks of it. The sight of Faith sleeping warmed Molly’s entire body.

I need to stop thinking about relationships, and finding The One, because I have Faith to look after now. She deserves all my attention.

Resolved to put women to the back of her mind, Molly closed the door and headed to bed. Tomorrow was a new day. The sun would rise and the birds would sing. And Molly would have the chance to build a family with Faith.

Chapter 15

Faith

Waking up to the sun shining through the windows was a pleasant break from Seattle’s gray skies. It must have been around 3 a.m. before Faith could finally sleep. The sound of adrenaline-infused raucous laughter coming from Bessie and Enid made sleeping before then impossible.

Faith rolled over and stared out of the window. As much as she wanted to process meeting her aunt, there was something else on her mind. Nathalie.

After their brief conversation yesterday, the pair had continued to message throughout the day and night. Even when Faith was being entertained by Courtney and Lisa, her mind and often her gaze wandered at the thought of her girlfriend. That’s what they were now—girlfriends. They’d labeled the relationship last night.

Out of their many messages, one of them kept Faith up, thinking. Discussing the book Faith read seemed to have propelled them to another level in the relationship.

So far, Faith didn’t know when they would get to see each other again, so calls and messages were all they had. Something new and exciting was stirring in Faith and after last night’s string of texts, she wanted to do something about it.

However, it wasn’t that easy. Well, not for her. A lifetime of being taught that a woman’s pleasure was sinful tended to make a lasting impression. But Faith couldn’t ignore her body any longer. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Nathalie. Her dreams were becoming more and more vivid. This morning Faith had woken with a start. Her skin was flushed, and she was panting. If she’d just stayed sleeping for a second longer, she would have surely experienced her first orgasm.

Wiggling her butt, Faith felt the evidence of her arousal between her thighs. Her mind was warring with her body. Warring with that voice, she always heard repeating how wrong it was to want to touch herself. Grabbing her phone, Faith opened the last message Nathalie had sent. It was a picture of Nathalie’s torso. A sliver of Nathalie’s pink lace bra was visible at the top of the picture. Faith hadn’t felt confident enough to send one back, but that was okay. Nathalie said she didn’t have to do anything. She said she’d wanted to show Faith what was waiting for her when she got back to Seattle.

Faith’s breathing hitched at the sight of Nathalie’s tanned abs. Looking from the picture to the bedroom door, Faith made a decision. Scurrying over to the door, she flipped the lock. The bed was warm when she got back in, pulling the sheet up and over her head. “It’s natural,” she whispered to herself as she slid her panties down. “You’re not a sin,” she said, a little stronger. Faith had come such a long way. She was damned if she was going to listen to that godforsaken voice in her head for a second longer.

Propping her phone against her leg, Faith let her hand wander. Closing her eyes, she took a couple of steadying breaths. Before her fingers could move past her belly button, her phone rang. “Crap,” she hissed.

“Hi, hello,” she answered.

“Hey, sorry, did I wake you?” Nathalie asked.

“No, nope, I’m awake.”

“Are you alright? You sound flustered.”

Faith was flustered. She was about to do something to herself for the first time, thinking about Nathalie, and Nathalie had called. How else was she supposed to feel?

“I’m fine.”

“Shit, did I freak you out with that picture?”

Faith smiled. She should have known Nathalie would worry about that. A burst of confidence washed over her. If Nathalie could put herself out there again, so could Faith.

---