Page 80 of Molly

“I made you a coffee. Thought we should talk,” she says, her voice low. I nod and walk towards her, my stomach in knots.

Today has been the best day I've had in weeks. Molly let me come in to spend time with Emma. We played with her dolls and drew pictures while she made us lunch. We all ate together at the dining table, talking without actually saying anything important. She made it obvious that she didn't want to discuss us in front of Em, and I respected it.

She’s ready now, and I’m so fucking scared that I’ve misread the situation and that her letting me in today doesn't mean what I think it does. I’m terrified she’s going to take it all away again...

She sits on the couch, turning her body to face me, and I do the same. She stares at her hands for a while before looking over to the hall. “She missed you,” she whispers.

I feel my eyes burn. “I missed her, missed you. Both of you, so fucking much Mol…”

She nods, still looking away before swinging her head back to me, showing me her big beautiful green eyes, filled with tears. “I don’t know where to go from here, Ry…”

I move towards her slightly, placing my hand on the couch cushion between us. “Forgive me. Please. I know I fucked up, Mol. I never meant to hurt you, though. I tried to make it better. Jess and I had been friends so long... I had blinders on. I didn’t see it. As soon as I did, our friendship was over.”

She nods. “I know.”

I lean forward and take her hand in mine, rubbing my thumb along her palm. She sighs and whispers, “I don't want to be like this anymore... nothing feels right when you're not here. Every time Emma asks me where you are, my heart literally aches. I'm keeping her from you, and that kills me. I thought I was protecting her, but I don't know what I'm doing anymore. I don't know if I can protect either of us from you anymore.”

I lean forward and place my hand on her thigh. A smile pulls at the corner of her lips, and I let out a relieved breath. “She’s out of my life, baby.”

She shakes her head. “It’s not about her. It’s about us. I need to be able to trust you. Even if you think I’ll get upset, you need to talk to me. I can’t live my life hoping you’re being honest.”

“I get it, I do. I will never keep anything from you again. Since that night, I haven’t.” Molly pulls in a shaky breath, and I reach forward to cup her face, looking into her eyes, watching the tears stream down her face. “I messed up. I know I did, but you and Emma have always been number one in here.” I pound on my chest. “Always. Even when I didn't show you the way I should have. I love you both so much. Please, just let me back in, baby.”

The silence between us is so fucking loud. My chest is aching from the breath I’m holding, waiting for her to say something.

“Okay,” she says so quietly I almost miss it. If I wasn't watching her lips when she did, I would have. She leans forward, and I do the same.

She stops when her forehead touches mine. Her arms come around my neck, and her hand strokes the back of my neck. My emotions get the better of me, and I choke out a sob.

Fuck, this is really happening.

“Yeah?” I ask

She moves her hands to grip my jaw and looks into my eyes. A small smile pulls her lips up a little, and she nods. “Yeah.”

I wrap my arms around her, pulling her to my chest, breathing her in. The ache in my chest eases for the first time since she drove away from me.

“She messaged me.” My body tenses. “She asked me to talk. I said no, of course.”

I pull her from my chest, lean down and rest my forehead against hers. “I’m sorry, baby. Do you want me to do something? She’s blocked on my phone, but I can undo it and tell her not to contact you again?”

She shakes her head. “No, let's just forget about her, yeah?”

I groan dramatically. “Yes, please, let's.”

She giggles and runs her nose along mine. I tilt my head, moving so that my lips just about touch hers. “I love you, Molly. I missed you so fucking much.”

She smiles, and the sight of it makes my heart rate pick up. “I love you.”

46

MOLLY

TWO WEEKS LATER

I put the coffee down on the counter and smile at Rob. He’s been coming in basically every day since we opened.

“Putting that on card?” I ask.

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