Page 93 of Finding Molly Parsons

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Life felt closer to an even keel after Carmen’s heart-to-heart with Mateo. He brought Daniel to their house daily, which Carmen was grateful for. Getting to know Daniel better was a must. They might have been acquainted through pizza delivery, but that wasn’t enough to scope out if the man was good enough for her brother.

Carmen quickly decided he was. She’d never seen a man treat Mateo so well. Daniel indulged Mateo’s diva side, but knew how to reel him in when needed. They balanced each other out. Deep down, she knew they were going to last. Mateo had finally found his happily ever after.

As for Carmen’s love life, that had shifted too. It didn’t take too many therapy sessions for Carmen to understand how self-destructive she had been over the past few months. Longer if she were being honest.

That led to a monumental decision and one that scared the crap out of her. Carmen was going to date for real. Not just a hook-up or friends with benefits. No, she was going to bite the bullet and ask a woman out.

Fumbling with her phone, Carmen cursed her ridiculous nerves. “Just message her, you moron.” Easier said than done though. Her body was pre-wired to keep people at a distance. Changing that way of living wasn’t an easy fix. “Okay, just calm down. Send the message and go from there. No pressure.”

“Did you do it yet?” Faith asked from the other side of Carmen’s door.

“Not yet,” she whined.

“Just hit send, Carmen.” Faith replied. Carmen could hear the eye roll in her voice.

“Fuck it,” she grumbled, hitting send. “Done,” she called to Faith, who flung open her door excitedly.

“Really?”

“Yes, really,” Carmen laughed.

“Okay, what are you going to wear for your first date?”

“Faith, she hasn’t even replie—” the beep of her phone stopped Carmen mid-sentence.

“What did she say?” Faith practically screamed.

With a shaking thumb, Carmen swiped open the message. Rachel’s answer was a resounding yes. Relief flooded her system. “She said yes.”

“Yeah, she did!” Faith cried loudly, whooping and hollering.

Carmen couldn’t help but laugh at Faith’s over the top reaction. “Shit, I’ve got to go on a proper date now,” Carmen chuckled.

“You’re going to be great. You know Rachel. Don’t overthink it.”

“I’ll try not to.”

“Where are you taking her?” Crap, Carmen only got up to asking the detective for a date. She hadn’t even thought of what would happen if she said yes.

“Um… a bar?”

“Sure, but not just a bar you would usually go to. It has to stand out.”

“Okay, um… yeah, I know, there’s a new place I think she’d enjoy.”

“Great, now the outfit.” Carmen watched Faith scour her closet. She’s spending too much time with Mateo.

“What’s going on?” Mateo asked from the doorway, his finger pointing between Carmen sitting on the bed and Faith raiding her clothes.

“Rachel said yes,” Faith shouted from the closet.

“Hell yeah, she did,” Mateo called, entering Carmen’s room. Carmen sat back on her bed and relaxed. There was zero point in her trying to have an opinion on her clothes now Faith and Mateo were in full fashion mode.

Sure enough, half an hour later and after several wardrobe changes, Carmen stood in front of her floor mirror checking out the date clothes. She had to admit; they looked good.

“And once again, I am a genius,” Mateo sighed.

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