Page 106 of It's Always Been You
“Being nosy means that you sometimes learn things you would rather not know. You play, you pay, Mom.”
I laugh and lean back on the couch. “Thank you. All of you. I honestly don’t know what I would do without you. When I first met you, Gabe and I had just ended, and I never thought I would be happy again. But then I found Emma, and you guys found us a couple of days later, and all of a sudden, I had this whole family, and I loved you all so much. You brought me back to life in a way even my actual family couldn’t. I know not everyone gets to have family and friends like this. That what we have is rare and special and meant to be honored. And I guess I just want you to know that I’m so fucking grateful for it. I’m sorry I forgot that for a second.”
“We forgive you,” Julie says, voice rough with emotion for just a second before she smirks at me. “You can make it up to us by giving us more Gabe details and making them sexy.”
I eye Rachel. “I think I’ll pass on the sexy details for now, but I decided to sell my house.”
“Is that so?” Emma says, in herI knew itvoice.
“Does this mean you’re going to live together for real?” Hallie asks.
I nod, taking a sip of coffee. “Yeah. This house doesn’t feel like home anymore. I like being with Gabe. His place feels like mine, and I don’t want to be anywhere except where he is.”
“Fuck, Molly. That’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard.” Julie clasps a hand to her chest dramatically and we all laugh. Then she gestures to the ring on my finger. “Is this whole engagement thing still fake? Or have we taken a turn?”
I laugh to myself, thinking of our little conversation in the kitchen earlier. “It’s still fake for now. I mean, I would marry Gabe tomorrow, but he sure as shit better propose for real first. I waited for him for ten goddamn years. I deserve a real proposal.”
“Bet your ass you do,” Julie says, holding up a hand to high-five.
“Oh, you’ll get one,” Rachel says, smiling. “I saw that boy’s face when he looked at you. I’d bet you anything he’s already got something planned.”
I’m just about to respond when my phone beeps and I glance down out of habit, groaning when I see asshole Brad’s name. I open the text and scan it, my anger rising with every word.
“What the actual fuck,” I seethe.
“Uh, anything you want to share?” Julie asks.
“Asshole Brad,” I say through gritted teeth. “A rival lawyer who’s trying to steal my biggest client,” I explain to Rachel.
Hallie groans. “What did he do this time?”
I toss my phone on the table. “Well,” I start, every word laced with fury. “It seems that he convinced his uncle that today is the day they need to execute the family partnership papers. The ones that aren’t finished yet because, you know, my friend fucking died, and I needed an extra couple days. He decided he could finalize those very intricate corporate documents despite the fact that he has absolutely no prior experience and also is just all around fucking stupid. But his uncle is the ultimate man’s man, and if Brad says it’s time, then you better believe Uncle Harvey is going to believe him. And you also better believe that down the line when they find a mistake in the documents, which they absolutely will because, stupid asshole, it’s going to be all,Molly,how could you possibly have let this happen?God fucking dammit.”
I throw myself against the back of the couch, feeling my temper rise, pulsing beneath my skin.
Rachel studies me. “I assume this client and the asshole have done this kind of thing before?”
I let out a short, humorless laugh. “Only once a week or so for the last two months.”
“Plus, the time he cornered you in a restaurant and you ended up with his handprint on your arm. The reason for your whole fake engagement ruse in the first place,” Julie says.
“Huh.” Rachel sits back in her chair, expression contemplative.
I stare at her. “Huh what?”
She shrugs. “It’s just unlike you to take something like this lying down, is all. I mean, I get that he’s your biggest client, but you’re a brilliant lawyer and there are plenty of clients out there. Why haven’t you put this one in his place?”
I consider her words and suddenly, with complete and absolute clarity, I realize she’s right. Adrenaline floods my veins. I shoot up from the couch and start for the front door without saying a word.
“Uh, Molly?” Emma’s voice stops me in my tracks, and I spin back around.
“What?”
“Maybe change first.” Hallie gestures to the neon yellow leggings I’m wearing with a bright pinkThis is What a Feminist Looks Likesweatshirt while Julie smothers a laugh.
“Right. Clothes first, then taking down the asshole.”
This time, when I whip around and start walking towards the stairs, I run straight into Gabe, who’s on his way to the kitchen.
