Page 36 of Molly

ME: I’d like to see that.

MOLLY: Wish you were here.

ME: Me too, baby.

Just as I’m about to put my phone back in my pocket, it vibrates again.

JESS: Can’t wait to see you tomorrow, handsome.

ME: Best behaviour, babe.

JESS: ;)

God, I hope this lunch goes well.

17

MOLLY

“Aunty P, I’m hungwy,” Emma demands, banging her little fists on her high chair.

Penny, Emma, Evie, Beckett and I are all sitting at a table at Coffee Leaf, waiting for Ryan and Jess to arrive. I’m slightly annoyed that he’s the one that organised this and he’s late, but I’m excited to see him with Emma, so I don’t dwell on it. The fact that Jess is late, too, doesn’t really bother me. She can not come for all I care.

Penny has positioned us so that the only empty chairs for them to sit in are in-between us and next to Evie, at the end of the table. Sneaky bitch. I don’t think she thought about the fact that I would be sitting opposite Jess, though.

Penny and Beckett are sitting at the two end seats across from each other, playing with Em in her high chair. Penny looks at him with fucking stars in her eyes, and it’s the cutest thing ever. As far as I know, nothing’s happened between them yet, but I’d say by the sparks flying around the café that it’s only a matter of time.

“I know, baby girl. I’ll go get you a sandwich, okay?” Penny coos back at Emma.

Just as I’m about to offer to do it, the door chimes and Ryan and Jess walk in together. The table goes silent, and all eyes watch them. She’s got her hand on his arm, smiling up at him like a lunatic.

This bitch.

In his defence, he doesn’t seem to be paying her any attention. His eyes are locked on Emma. I look down and see that he’s got a pink fluffy stuffed dog in one hand, and I can’t stop the grin that pulls at my lips.

As they get closer, I stand to greet him, and he shakes Jess off to come to my side.

“Hi, beautiful,” he whispers before ducking down to give me a quick kiss.

“Hey, honey.”

Ryan greets everyone else and apologises for being late. He introduces Jess to Penny and Evie and explains that her car had an issue, so he had to stop and pick her up on the way. Penny looks at me, and I roll my eyes back.Of course, it did.

“Good to see you, Penny,” he says, coming to take his seat next to me.

Jess sits next to Evie with a sour look on her face when she realises it’s the only spot available.

“You too,” Penny replies. She’s wary of Ryan now. She was supportive, to begin with, but after the latest Jess drama, she’s taken a step back and decided to remain neutral for now.

He holds the stuffed dog in both hands and looks from me to Emma a few times before I realise I haven’t introduced them.

“Emma, baby. This is Ryan. You want to say hello?”

She looks at me and then at him, curiosity written all over her little face before she grins and waves at him, “Hi, Wyan.”Stop it, that’s too cute.

“Hi, Emma, it’s so good to meet ya, little one. You look just like your mumma, you know?”

“Mumma pretty.” She grins.

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