Page 83 of Molly

His chest warms my back, and his hand reaches around me to rest on my hip. “You okay, baby?”

I nod, dropping my head back to his chest. “Yeah, honey. I’m fine.”

“I love you, Mol,” he whispers into my ear.

I feel a sense of peace wash over me as I stare at the closed door. “I love you,” I whisper back, closing my eyes, basking in the glow.

47

MOLLY

It’s been over three months since we got back together, and today, we’re celebrating my little girl’s third birthday. We covered the backyard with pink balloons, streamers and confetti, and there’s a giant pink trampoline set up in the middle of the lawn. Ryan rocked up with it last night and put it together in the dark while I held the flashlight.

Funtimes.

It’s the first day of winter, but thankfully the sun is shining. Penny, Evie, Beckett, Ryan and his whole family are here. Penny and Beckett keep a safe distance from each other, but I see their eyes wander to one another every so often. Penny won’t talk about their relationship. She swears it’s over, but he still always seems to be wherever she is, watching her, loving her from afar. Ryan and I try not to discuss it. I’m a lifetime member of Team Penny, and he’s Beckett’s best friend.

We’re really happy. No more secrets or lies. We are both open and honest about how we’re feeling, and so far, it’s working well. My heart feels full again.

“You think they’ll ever work it out?” Evie asks.

“Pen and Beckett?”

She nods.

“Honestly? I’ve got no idea. Penny’s stubborn, you know that, and what he did wasn’t a small thing, not to her.”

“Yeah. I still can’t believe he did it. He looks at her like she makes the world spin, Mol,” she says.

I sigh. “Yeah, he does.”

“I like him for her. They cancel each other out so well.”

I nod. “Me too, but knowing Pen, I don’t know if it’s something she’ll move on from. She can hold a grudge better than anyone I know.”

Evie chuckles and shakes her head. “Ain’t that the truth.”

I look around, trying to spot Penny, and to my surprise, she’s with Beckett. They’re huddled together by the back door, in the middle of what looks like a very heated discussion. Jesus, I hope they don’t have it out right here in the middle of Emma’s party...

I turn around, deciding to ignore their little tiff and start fussing around with the food we put out. I hear Emma giggling, and look over at her jumping up and down on the trampoline with Jake. My heart aches. I can’t believe she’s three. Can’t believe the tiny baby I held in my arms only a few years ago is a little girl now. She’s so independent, so clever, and funny. I’m so proud of the little person she’s grown into, but fuck, what I’d give to be able to slow the clock down, have her stay little for a while longer...

Ryan’s parents cheer the kids on while they play, and their laughter makes me smile. We see them most weekends now, and Em calls them Nan and Pop. It’s adorable.

Lauren must have snuck off into the house to pump baby Grace, because she’s nowhere to be seen. The joys of having a newborn. They’re adorable, but fuck, they’re hard work. We've become good friends. She’s hilarious and so sweet. Jake and Emma are best buds, and I’m loving having another mum around. Penny and Evie try their best, but sometimes you just need amum-friendto complain to.

“Emma doesn’t take her eyes off him, does she?” Penny asks, coming up beside me, looking between Emma and Ryan.

I grin. “No. They’re attached at the hip. He’s permanently cleared his schedule for most afternoons, so as much as you want to, you can’t have her back,” I say, laughing. “She’s so obsessed with him.”

“Just like her mumma then, hey?” She winks.

I roll my eyes. “I’m not obsessed.”

“I disagree.”

I bump her shoulder with mine playfully and ask, “You and Beck okay?”

“What do you mean?” she asks, playing dumb.

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