The bingo gods did not shine on them, but she still considered it a success because she did not once think of someone to set him up with.
Chapter Sixteen
“Take a breath, and another.” —Marie, North Carolina, United States
Gavin
This wasn’t real.
Gavin had no illusions about the role he needed to play for Molly’s web show. He’d seen her clicks and views skyrocket on her MyTube channel, so he figured she did okay in the dollars department. That’s why it didn’t make sense that she’d gone for the patch repairs for her car. The only thing he could figure was the price tag of stunt camp, which cost an amount that had made him gulp. Hard.
Since she wouldn’t take his money to fix her car, he knew she probably wouldn’t let him pay for Ollie’s stunt camp either. Not being slow on the uptake, he hadn’t offered. One plus two equaled…he had to do what he could to ensure she won this competition.
Thankfully, Agnes and Charlie made it easy. They joined the two of them for the beginning of the deconstruction of bingo night.
Unfortunately, Peter and Chris were not making it easy. Their latest video was actually taken directly after the date…while they were babysitting Peter’s three-month-old nephew and introducing their new puppy to their home. Even Gavin understood that babies plus puppies equaled lots of upvotes.
To counter, Molly was doing this episode live and unfiltered. She swore that made for better views. Viewers loved watching for the unexpected.
“Oh, hey!” Molly gave her signature start-the-broadcast-hand-wave-slash-peace-sign. “It’s Molly.” She pointed to herself, like she always did at this point in her show. “I have something really fun today.” Her lips tucked under as she paused for a dramatic moment to let that news sink in. “I am here with a new friend. Actually—” She sucked her cheeks in like she was intentionally making a fish face. Totally on-brand for her online persona.
He’d seen her do this on all the videos—the endearing silliness that was just so unbelievably watchable. But he’d never seen it up close and in person before. She was totally into the character of Molly, who gave dating tips and sass-filled advice.
The persona of Molly was fun. Flirty. Not afraid to be silly.
Wonderful and engaging and someone everyone could relate to. Someone the women who watched her show wanted to be, and the men wanted to take to bed.
Yes, he knew this from firsthand experience as a man. Not that he’d ever actually considered acting on it.
He’d always enjoyed watching her show. But now, here in this moment, he was quickly understanding that this Molly was not the entirety of who she was as a full package. Molly was—much to her dismay, he’d bet—pretty vulnerable.
He’d not picked up on it terribly often before bingo night. But flipping back through the memories of the times he’d been in the same space with her, she tossed up smoke and mirrors everywhere she went. Still, that little chunk of deep-down authenticity seeped out. And while she threw around the smoke and put up the mirrors, she also tore herself down a tiny chip of brick at a time.
The real Molly was afraid. He wasn’t sure exactly why she was fearful. He had a hunch she didn’t know either.
But there it was, deep down in the microscopic self-deprecation. Things no one would notice unless they were really looking.
For whatever reason, Gavin found himself looking. And looking twice.
He wasn’t quite sure what to do with what he uncovered. So he did nothing while he figured it out. Played it safe. Collected all the data before making a decision or maneuver. Just like all the best business deals.
“Gavin here is not just a friend.” She went on, upbeat and over-the-top excited. She tilted forward toward the laptop camera she used to record the show. “He’s myboyfriend.”
That was his cue. Gavin gave a small hello-salute he’d practiced in the mirror more times than he’d care to actually admit to anyone—including himself.
Molly waved her hands like c’mere. “Meet…Gavin.”
Persona-Molly wrapped her arm around Gavin’s shoulder and pulled him to her, pressing a smacking kiss against his cheek.
Totally taking his breath away. Absolutely knocking him off his rocker.
Though he liked this woman, this persona Molly used, he wanted the other Molly back. The authentic Molly.
The shock of his realization rendered him unable to do anything but stare awestruck at this woman who was more at home playing pretend than she was being herself.
She segued right into the bingo date night.
“Don’t care for bingo,” Charlie announced, Agnes tucked tight against his side. “Won’t do that again.”
