Page 52 of Molly

I spend the rest of the night showing her that my heart fucking beats for her and her alone.

26

RYAN

I push open the door to Coffee Leaf and look around in search of Molly. I can’t see her anywhere, so I make my way to the front counter. I lean down, resting my forearms next to the doughnut display case, and spot Penny walking out of the staff room. Beckett follows behind her with a smug grin spread across his face.

Well,well,well.

I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket and pull it out to make sure it’s not Molly.JESSlights up my screen. Ugh. She’s been calling at least five times a day. I ignore all of them.

As I hitignoreand put my phone back into my pocket, Penny spots me, and her face goes bright red. She looks behind her at Beckett, and he winks at her before rounding the counter.

“Ry,” he says, nodding to me as he makes his way to the front door. He still hasn’t gotten past our little spat.

I turn my attention back to Penny, deciding to deal with him later and realise her fly’s undone. I look down and she gets the hint. She clears her throat and zips it up before coming closer.

“Hey, Pen. Molly here? I haven’t heard from her all day. Tried to call her, message her, nothing.”

She shakes her head, grabs a tea towel, and starts wiping it across the counter, avoiding eye contact. “She’s off today. Said she needed to get her house in order.”

“Get her house in order? Like clean?”

She shrugs. “Didn’t ask. She spends too much time here, anyway.”

I nod. That’s true. “Can you whip me up a couple of coffees and some sandwiches, please? My last two clients rescheduled, so I’m free for the afternoon. I’ll pop over and help her.”

“If she wanted you to come, don’t you think she would have asked?” she says, a slight bite to her tone.

I know Penny isn’t my biggest fan. Time isn’t making a difference.

“Penny, what’s your issue with me?” I ask, surprising us both.

She pulls her shoulders back and crosses her arms in front of her chest, the tea towel still firmly gripped in one hand. “I don’t trust you.”

“Why?” I ask.

She shrugs. “You lie. Hide things. You sneak around behind Molly's back when it comes to Jess, even though your relationship isplatonic.” She uses air quotations and rolls her eyes. “You’re not trustworthy. That’s a fact.”

I clear my throat and lower my voice to just above a whisper. “I’d never cheat on Molly. Her and Emma mean everything to me. I haven’t spoken to Jess since that night at the pub.”

She scoffs. “So, what? Beckett calling you out on your shit made you realise what a tool you are?”

“Penny...”

“She may buy that bullshit, Ryan. I don’t. You’re either blind, or you’re a wanker. Either way, I don’t respect you. It’s that simple. Molly likes you, so I’ll be pleasant when we’re around her. That’s the best you’re going to get.”

I’m a little speechless, to be honest. That was one hell of a verbal beat down, even though she didn’t really say much. I go to respond, but she puts her hand up to silence me. She starts rushing around, making coffee and bagging up some sandwiches. A few minutes later, she dumps two takeaway cups and a brown paper bag in front of me and spins on her heel, disappearing back into the staff room.

Yeah, we’re going to be great friends, her and I.

???

“Mol, you home, baby?” I call out after knocking for the second time.

I stand there for another couple of minutes before deciding to try the doorknob. It opens, and even though I’m glad it did, my brain is already planning a lecture to spring on her for leaving the house unlocked.

I stick my head inside and call out, “Mol, you here?”

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