Page 24 of Molly

“Need a story, Mumma,” she whispers, her little eyes almost closed.

“I know, baby. I’ll get one,” I whisper back.

By the third page, she’s asleep, snoring lightly with her quilt tucked up under her little chin. I sit there for a minute, on the floor, watching her. I’m scared that spending all this time with Ryan is going to affect her. I love feeling like a woman, and not just a mother, but she’s my baby...

“Mol?” Penny whispers, making me jump a little.

I turn towards her voice and see her standing in the doorway. I hop up, creep out of the room, and close the door softly behind me.

“All tuckered out, huh?” Penny whispers as we both tip-toe down the hallway to the kitchen.

“Yeah, she was out like a light a couple pages in,” I reply.

When we step into the kitchen, she stops, and her eyes roam over me. “Wow, Mol, you look beautiful, girl.”

I smile. “Really?”

She nods enthusiastically. “Hell yeah.”

“Thank you, and thanks for coming to sit with Em while I’m out.”

She waves her hand at me. “You know I’m here anytime you need me, Mol. It’s not like I have a sexy boyfriend to play with.”

I roll my eyes at her. “You could have one if you wanted one, Pen, and we both know that.”

“So, what are you and Ryan up to tonight?” she asks, changing the subject completely.

“I’m not sure. He just said to come to his place for a surprise date.”

“Mmmm, mysterious.”

“Yeah, he’s a sweet guy.”

She hums, looking down at the peace lily I have sitting on the kitchen counter. I thought it’d be a good starter plant for Ryan, seeing he’s never had one before.

“Penny...”

She sighs and looks back up at me. “I just want you to be careful, Molly. I’ve known a lot of guys like Ryan. He may think he wants all of this now.” She gestures around the room. “But how do you know he won’t get bored?”

I shrug, trying to act like her words don’t affect me. “I guess I don't. But I like him too much to let that scare me off.”

She nods. “I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

You and me both, my friend.

I smile, lean forward, and kiss her on the cheek. “I know, Pen. I appreciate that. When you get to know him, I think you’ll like him.”

“Sure,” she says, jaw clenched, sounding anything butsure.

I grab my keys, the peace lily and my purse and head out the door, her words playing in my mind over and over the entire way to Ryan’s.

Fuck. What if he gets bored? With me? With this?

???

“You brought me a peace lily?” he asks, grinning so widely I can almost see his molars.

“Yeah, I thought you’d be less likely to kill this one. She’s pretty easy to take care of, but she’s a bit dramatic, so don’t freak out when she droops. It just means she needs some water.”

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