Page 18 of Embers in Our Past

Malloy looks away, focused on something in the distance, and nothing he’s saying makes any sense. Is he saying he has something for Rios? I don’t get it.

“Well, you see, Rios has four sisters, one of which is the youngest. Baylee’s in her last year of college. She was always that bratty little sister, and growing up, that’s always how I saw her. But something changed. When I was around her recently, I felt differently.Wefelt differently. And I think Rios noticed something.”

He’s fidgeting with his hands, and I can tell this conversation is only getting more uncomfortable for him. I put down my food and grab his hands. Nothing about my gesture is romantic—I’m holding onto him to show he’s got someone to lean on, and he continues.

“Marissa got ahold of Rios right when he and I were in a heated discussion about his sister. I guess she’s trying to play matchmaker with you and Clay. She thought she’d light a fire under your asses and called Rios to see if he could make Clay jealous. I don’t know the whole story, but she called when I was over at his place.

“He put me on the spot after he hung up with Marissa. I couldn’t say no because he wanted to prove a point to see if I would accept in front of his sister. The moment I told Rios I would go out with you; I saw Baylee’s eyes dim. It fucking gutted me. But I also don’t know life without Rios. I ended up accepting the date. Accepting the date with you was a dick move to Baylee, but the only way to prove to Rios I wasn’t making a move on his sister, you know?”

He hangs his head, and I can see he’s absolutely wrecked.

“You’re not a dick. You care for both of them. You have a heart. There’s love for them both in this situation. That’s evident,” I tell him. I was not expecting this crazy story though.

I start laughing. At first, it’s a soft chuckle, but then it starts to become uncontrollable laughter. Malloy must think I’m crying at first, so he pats my back, but then I’m doubling over, cackling so loud, it’s hard to contain myself. Tears are springing from my eyes.

“Are you laughing, Abby? What’s so funny right now? I just told you I’m out on a fake date with you and that my friendship is sort of a shit show, and all this with Baylee went down, and you’re laughing at me?” He seems sort of in shock, and I’m still laughing.

“Well,” I’m trying to catch my breath, “yeah, sort of.” I continue to laugh because this is sort of a disaster.

“I mean, I feel like I’m on an episode ofThe Bachelormixed with that old showPunked. Remember that show from years ago? I mean, this is sort of ridiculous. Look at us. We are sort of disasters.” I’m still laughing, wiping the tears from my eyes.

“Hey, I loveThe Bachelor. I watch it, along withLove is Blind, with the guys at my station. We take bets any chance we get on who’s going to win.”

I look up at him, and I swear he’s just a big teddy bear.

“Oh my gosh, Malloy. That’s it. You’re never getting rid of me. We’re friends for life now. I love both of those shows. I watch them religiously! Are you caught up for next week’sBachelor? Because I swear if he doesn’t give Lexie a rose on the next episode, I might eat an entire tub of chocolate ice cream!”

“How about when he left Lexie waiting until the very last second last week?” He throws his arms in the air.

In this moment, I realize I’ve gained a friend in Malloy. A friend is something I can handle and something I need.

I smile up at him. “I think we just became friends, Malloy.”

“Yeah, I think you’re right, Abby.”

“I didn’t expect you to take the news of a fake date so well. But I appreciate you being so kind to me. All of this was really weird for me. Things have been a little off with Rios ever since he assumed things between his sister and me.” He laughs, but it holds no humor.

“No. I need a friend. It’s been strange being back, even though it feels like home in Boston more than California ever has.”

This big guy looks like he could be all of five years old with the smile he gives me.

“Maybe you need to be honest with yourself though. If you really like her, you need to tell her. And then you need to tell Rios. Keeping it from him is only going to make it worse,” I tell him. I don’t know how to deal with something like this personally, but I can only imagine a secret like this will ruin a friendship more than help it.

“The thing is, I haven’t done anything. I just have a feeling. I know she and I have this pull. I know she feels it when she’s around me too. We haven’t acted on it, but it’s there. Obviously, it can be felt because Rios saw something between us, but I swear we didn’t do anything together. I won’t lie and say I didn’t think about it though. I wanted to. Man, did I want to. But it’s too late. She left last weekend, and we haven’t spoken since. The moment this date was planned, she packed her things and left. It’s probably for the best.”

From how devastated he looks, I can tell that none of it was “for the best.” He seems completely wrecked from what he’s telling me.

I squeeze his hand in mine. “Well, you can call me anytime. Hand me your phone.” And the moment he gives me his phone, I input my number and putBestiewith a heart next to it.

It will be nice to have a new friend to lean on nearby. It will be a new start for me too. I needed this. It might not have been what Marissa had planned for me, but it’s something my heart needed to start mending itself.

“I appreciate you listening, and I’m sorry this was the worst date ever. I just thought if I made this a shitty date, you’d think I was an ass and find me repulsive,” he says, shrugging his shoulders.

“Well, I don’t think I can find this repulsive,” I point to his muscular frame, “but the date wasn’t great.” I laugh. “I hope you’ll work on your dating game before taking your girl out.”

“Ha,ifI take her out, you mean.”

“Oh, you’ll take her out, Malloy! I’ll put money on that!” I sound more like my ex-husband and his brother than I’d like.

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