Page 54 of Molly

“Because you’re everything I’ve ever wanted, Molly. You and Emma, you’re fucking everything.”

I let his words sink in as I feel my eyelids droop. I fall asleep with them playing repeatedly in my mind, his arms tightly wrapped around me.

???

When I open my eyes, I realise I’m alone in bed. I look around, my mind still waking up. I hear Ryan’s voice carry from the other side of the house and crawl out from the cocoon I wrapped myself in. As I creep down the hall, I hear Emma giggle. It’s the first time I’ve heard her happy all day.

Ryan did that...

“Alright, little miss, pick up those crackers,” he says.

“But I don’t want to,” Emma whines.

“Well, I don’t want to do dishes, but they’ve got to be done.”

“Fineeeee,” she says. I chuckle to myself. I know that tone all too well.

As I walk into the kitchen, I realise the house is basically spotless. Ryan’s standing over the sink, elbow deep in suds, washing the pile of dishes that covered the counter earlier. Emma’s on all fours, picking up cracker crumbs she scattered around before our failed nap attempt, and the smell of eucalyptus wafts up my nose.

He cleaned the house...

Neither of them notices me standing there, so I use the opportunity to observe them together.

“Wyan, I’m hungwy.”

He chuckles. “I know, baby girl. I’ll grab you one of the sandwiches Aunty Penny made as soon as I’ve finished these plates.”

“Can we go to the park after lunch? You push me on the swing so high!”

“I’m sure that can be arranged, Em. You’ll have to eat all of your lunch, though.”

“Fine,” she huffs. After a minute of silence, her little head pops up again. “Wyan, you know you’re my best fwend?”

He stops midway through washing a plate and holds it there, suds dripping off it for a few seconds before lowering it. “You’re my best friend too, angel,” he says, emotion clogging his voice.

My heart swells, and my eyes blur with unshed tears.He’s her best friend... Fuck.She loves him.

I feel myself start to panic and step forward. I clear my throat, and Emma’s head pops up. “Mumma!” She yells, running to me and wrapping her arms around my legs.

Ryan turns, grabbing a tea towel to wipe his hands off. “Good nap, beautiful?”

I nod and walk towards him, wrapping my arms around his waist when I reach him, trying to calm myself down by breathing him in. “Thank you,” I whisper into his t-shirt.

“My pleasure,” he says, kissing the top of my head sweetly.

It’ll be fine. He won’t leave us. Even if he does, Emma will still have me...

28

MOLLY

“Yeah, Ma, yes, yes, I’ll ask. Ma, okay. I’ll call you back, yep. Love you.”

Ryan puts his phone on the kitchen counter and finally stops pacing back and forth.

I’ve just put Emma to bed and come back in to find him. It’s been just over three weeks since my little meltdown, and he rarely sleeps at his place anymore. Most of his stuff is now shoved into my drawers and wardrobe. I love it. It scares the shit out of me, but I love it. He only goes back to his place when he needs to work on a big sketch but doesn’t want to do it at the shop.

Ryan clears his throat and breaks me out of my head. “So, my ma really wants to meet you and Em.”

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