Page 8 of Molly

I have no idea how this whole wooing thing works, but I’m not afraid of a little hard work. She wants me to put in the time, the effort? No worries. Got plenty of both.

“See you tomorrow, gorgeous,” I call out before closing the door behind me.

???

MOLLY

I watch him leave. I know he probably won’t come back. I kind of hope he does. Part of me still wants him to prove that there’s more to him than meets the eye. The way he watches me... there’s something there. I just don’t think I can trust it.

The other part wishes I had the nerve to just fuck him out of my system. Honestly, I wouldn’t even know what to do with him. Sure, I’ve watched a lot of porn over the years. Women have needs too. I’ve had sex...that one time. I still wouldn’t even know where to even start with a man like Ryan.

Evie walks over, tea towel in hand, and bumps my shoulder with hers.

“Think he’ll be back tomorrow?” she asks, crossing her arms, nodding towards the closed door.

I shake my head. “Nah. Even if he does, he’ll tire soon enough. Men like that aren’t wired to wait. He’s got too many other options to get hung up on me for long.”

“I don’t know, he seems pretty interested.”

I shrug. “Doesn’t matter, I’m not.”

She snorts. “Yeah, okay.”

I hear giggling and turn my head towards the sound as Penny walks out from the staff room, Emma in her arms. She must have snuck back in with her while I wasn’t looking.

My girl looks at me with eyes identical to mine and smiles, showing off the gap in between her two front teeth. She looks more and more like me every day. Her hair comes down past her shoulders and has the same wave. The colour is a shade lighter than mine, but you can only tell in the sun.

I reach out and take my baby, kiss the faint freckles covering her nose, and snuggle her to my chest. I breathe her in, reminding myself why I don’t date men like Ryan. Why I don’t date at all. She needs stability. She needs to be my first priority, always. Honestly, between her and the cafe, I don’t even know how a relationship would fit in. No. We’re fine on our own. We don’t need a man in our life.No matter how delicious he may be...

My eyes dart back to the closed front door before I lean over to Evie, resting my head on her shoulder. Once he finds out I’ve got a two-year-old daughter, he’ll run straight for the hills. Right into the arms ofGreattitsor some other bimbo, I’m sure.

Won’t make much difference if I’m interested or not then, will it?

4

RYAN

“Ryan, this is a lot of effort to go to for a random chick who won’t even go out with you,” Beckett says, dropping the flashcards I made on the counter. He’s been quizzing me on plant names and their light requirements for the past forty-five minutes.

“She’ll go out with me. Don’t you worry,” I reply, getting up from the couch with a groan.

“Why are you going to so much trouble?” he asks suspiciously.

I laugh, duck my head, and rub the back of my neck. “I don’t know, man. I feel this... connection with her. She’s special.”

“Special?” he asks, smirking.

I flip him off. “Don’t make it weird. I like her. She just needs a little time to come around.”

“If you say so,” he replies, picking the cards back up and gesturing for me to sit back down.

I shake my head. “All good. I’m going to head over to Coffee Leaf now.”

Today’s the day. I feel it. She’s coming around.

“Ryan, seriously, why her?” Beckett asks, leaning over the counter.

I shrug. “Why not her?”

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