Page 56 of The Wild Card
“Thanks for giving your stamp of approval. I don’t think the fake relationship is happening. The speed with which Molly vamoosed after his suggestion made it clear?—”
“When I didwhat?”
All three of our heads snap up at the sound of a new voice. Molly stands at the edge of the row of plants. I wonder how long she’s been there and what else she might have heard.
“Sorry.” Molly tugs at the loose threads at the hem of her cutoff jean shorts. “I’ve been looking for you, and someone inside said y’all might be out back. Also, I think there are some raccoons raiding your dumpster.”
James groans, letting go of Winnie, who hops up. “If we kept OC here instead of pampering him at home, we wouldn’t have a raccoon problem.”
“Good to see you again, Molly.” Winnie gives her a hug, which Molly returns, seeming a little surprised.
“Oh, um. You too.”
“James and I were just leaving. We’ll take care of the raccoons on the way out.”
“We?” James asks, getting to his feet with a half-smile on his face. “I’d like to see you take on a raccoon.”
“It’s happening, Boss. Practice in case I need to use these for someone else.” Winnie, imitating a boxer again, shoots me a pointed look.
“I’m fine.”
James pauses by my chair, giving my shoulder a hard squeeze bordering on painful. “I won’t do any punching, but please let me know if you need something. I’m going to take it personally if you keep this kind of thing to yourself again.” He releases me, only to take Winnie gently by the shoulders, steering her in the direction Molly came from. “Let’s go, little fighter. I can’t wait to see you challenge a trash panda.”
“Please take a video,” I call.
James offers me a thumbs-up as the two of them disappear down the alley, and Molly continues standing at the edge of the patio area. The same kind of vulnerability that had me jumping to say yes to all kinds of things makes me want to wrap her up in a hug.
But I don’t know where we stand now, so I simply point to one of the other chairs. “Feel free to sit. Stay a while. If you want.”
She sits but doesn’t lean back, instead sitting primly as close to the edge of the chair as possible without it folding up on her.
“Want a drink?” She shakes her head but still doesn’t speak. “I was wondering if you three headed back to Austin early.”
I thought you left me, I don’t say. Even in my head, that little voice sounds like a petulant child.
“Tomorrow. We’re leaving in the morning.”
The silence stretching between us is awkward. But it’s interrupted by a shrill scream from down the alley. It’s frightened, and it’s feminine and it clearly belongs to my brother. There’s a metal bang and then another scream. Winnie’s laughter filters down to us.
“Should we … do something?” Molly asks.
I grin. “Nope. Everything okay down there?” I call loudly.
“All good!” Winnie shouts back. “Other than James’s pride, which I think was mortally wounded when he screamed like a child over a sweet, little raccoon.”
I can’t hear James’s response, only a low voice muttering something before Winnie squeals and her giggles fade from the alley, once again leaving Molly and me in awkward silence.
When the bug zapper snaps another insect, Molly jumps, then laughs nervously. I’m about to ask if she’s okay when her gaze locks on mine.
She draws in a breath. “I think we should do it. I think we should do the whole fake dating thing.”
CHAPTER 12
Molly
Look—I’mnot usually a bold or brave person. Which might be hard to believe since to many people, acting or even putting yourself out there on social media is brave. Not to mention grabbing a guy I thought was a stranger to be my pretend boyfriend.
What I just suggested to Collin is also very bold.
