Page 65 of Molly

“Nothing, all good.”

“Molly said Penny’s pissed. That got anything to do with you?”

He sighs and drops his head.

“You want to talk about it?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “Nothing to talk about.”

“Beck, mate, just tell me. What happened? You have a fight?”

To my surprise, he comes and sits down on the couch next to Emma. He puts his face in his hands and mumbles out, “I fucked up.”

Emma gasps dramatically and says, “You said a nawty word, Beck.”

I smother a laugh, move around the coffee table, and sit down, resting my forearms on my knees so that I’m at eye level with him. “With Penny?” I ask.

He nods, looking over at Emma, who is now back to admiring the artwork hanging on the wall.

“What did you do?” I ask.

He shakes his head and stands up. “Doesn’t matter now.”

I look up as the door opens and see Jess.Fuck me, this chick doesn't give up.I turn my head to Beckett, look at Emma, and then back at him. He takes the hint, pulls her into his arms, and walks down the hallway, shooting a glare at Jess on his way.

I watch them go, and once they're out of earshot, I spin around. “Jess, what are you doing here?”

She huffs. “Well, you won't return my messages or calls. Beckett won't let me talk to you when I stop by for lunch. You're never home when I come past. What else was I supposed to do?”

I grin sarcastically. “Take a hint?”

She rolls her eyes. “Ryan, stop fucking around. You're pissy. Fine. I insulted your little girlfriend. So what? We've been friends too long to let her come between us.”

I shake my head, grin still in place. “I told you, this shit is done with. I tried, I did. But you went too far. We aren't friends. We aren't anything.”

“Stop saying that. You’re upset. You don’t mean it,” she snaps.

I nod. “I do. Leave.”

Her face turns red, and she bites her lip. “Because of her?"

“No. Because of you.” I reply calmly.

A single tear streams down her face. It doesn't affect me in the least. “You'll come crawling back when she fucking leaves you, Ryan. You'll see,” she hisses through her teeth.

I raise an eyebrow and nod to the door. She stomps her foot like a child before spinning around, tearing the door open, and storming off. Relief washes over me as I watch her go.

I hear Emma’s little voice carry down the hallway. I keep my eyes on the front door and call out, “Em, you want to go to the playground, baby girl?”

She squeals, and then her tiny footsteps echo down the hall. She runs at me in a full sprint and wraps her arms around my legs. “Pway gound, pway gound!”

Her excitement is infectious, and I can’t help but smile down at her.

Beckett catches my eye. He's standing at the front counter, watching us. “You all good, brother?” he asks.

I nod. “Yeah.”

“Good, have fun at the playground,” he says, turning to walk away.

---