Page 73 of Molly

Just as Jess goes to open her mouth, my bedroom door swings open. Molly stands there, frozen. Her eyes bounce from me to Jess. Naked. In my bed.

Fuck.

???

NOW

I stand there for what feels like hours. She can’t mean that. We can’t be done. She’ll cool off, we’ll work it out. We have to...

A thud from inside the house snaps me back to the present. To Jess.

I turn, throwing open the door, and storm down the hall, still in only a towel. As I get to the kitchen, I see her. The stupid bitch is sitting on a barstool, holding a cup of coffee, waiting for me. When she sees me, she stands and cautiously moves towards me. At least she’s wearing clothes now.

“Ry, look, I know you’re shocked, but I needed to show you how I feel. We’ve been friends for a long time, but you have to know that I love you. I didn’t realise it fully until you said things were getting serious with Molly. I know it’s bad timing, but c’mon...”

I stare at her, watching her mouth move but not hearing the words come out. I manage to pick up something about Melbourne, something about moving, and then something about me, and my brain clicks it together.

I raise my hand, and she goes silent. “Say that again,” I snap

“I moved here to be with you, Ry,” she says, tears building in her eyes.

I see red. “I didn’t ask you to do that shit, Jess! If you moved here to be with me, that’s on you. You’re shit out of luck cos I don’t fucking want you. Do you get that? I have always seen you as a friend. I haveneverthought about you in any other way. I cut you off without a second thought when I realised our friendship was hurting Molly. You. Mean.Nothing. To. Me. Anymore.”

I watch as she buries her face in her hands and starts bawling. Sobs wrack through her body, and I feel nothing. Cry me a fucking river. I couldn’t care less. I don’t give a single fuck about her anymore. Not after what she’s done to Molly, to me, to my family.

“While you’re here, let’s discuss your crazy ass telling Molly you spent the night here the other day. How the fuck did you even know I slept at the shop that night? Are you fucking following me? You that fucking crazy now, Jess?”

“I thought,” she hiccups. “I thought you wanted me, Ryan. We’ve always been so close. You’ve never put a woman before me other than her. I knew if she thought I was here... I needed you to see me without her in the picture. I didn’t know you slept at the shop. I didn’t even say when I got the t-shirt. She just assumed. That’s how little you mean to her, Ryan! Why can’t you see that? I love you. I love you so much. Way more than she does. We’ve got so much history. Why can’t you see how good we’d be together?”

This bitch is beyond delusional. And my relationship got fucked up by a goddamn coincidence. Or by me being the world’s biggest idiot. Either one.Fucksakes.

I put my hands flat on the kitchen counter and stare down at it. I grind my jaw back and forth before deciding that there’s nothing else to say. There's no point yelling anymore. She just needs to go. “Get your shit and leave.”

She gasps and looks up at me. “Please, Ryan, just-”

I laugh, but it’s humourless. “Get. The. Fuck. Out. Of. My. House.” I make sure to enunciate so that she understands.

She whimpers, but it seems to have done the trick because she scurries off the stool towards my bedroom, reappearing a minute later with her keys in hand, and a defeated look on her face.

“Leave the spare key you used to get in here, too,” I say, my tone void of emotion.

I keep my eyes focused on the kitchen counter as she drops the key next to my hand and rushes past me. I let out a sigh of relief when I hear the front door close behind her. I need to change those locks in case she’s cut one. I wouldn’t put it past her. Fucking psycho.

41

MOLLY

I’m sitting on the couch, re-reading his messages, trying not to start crying again. I’m a fucking mess, to say the least. It’s been twenty-four hours, and I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck.

RYAN: Please just let me talk to you, Mol. I need to explain. Just give me five minutes, please. I’m sorry. I love you.

RYAN: I know I hurt you, baby. I know I’ve broken your trust, but I promise you, nothing happened. I came out of the shower, and she was there. I’ll never see her again, I swear. I’m sorry. I love you.

RYAN: Please tell Emma I love her, that I’ll see her soon. I hope I’ll see her soon... I love you. Both of you. I’m sorry, Molly.

RYAN: Goodnight, baby. I love you. I’m so sorry.

RYAN: Good morning, beautiful. I dreamt of you. I always dream of you. I’m sorry. I love you.

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