Andhe’d taken her advice?
“You look like I just told you that there’s no more wedding cake,” he said. “Is it bad that I tune in?”
“How many?” she asked, regaining some control over her lips and the ability to move them. “Episodes?”
He glanced back to the dance floor, then to her. “Seriously?”
“How many?” she asked again. “Seriously.”
“Uh…” He scratched at his collar, finally loosening the tie with the edge of his fingertip and unbuttoning the top button.
She did not appreciate how his now-exposed Adam’s apple bobbed because it seemed to be taunting her. Her advice was for normal people in the dating world. Not Gavin.
“All of them,” he said after a long pause, covering his mouth with his palm as he spoke.
“I’ve been making episodes for years.” She leveled a stare at him. “You’ve seen them all?”
He nodded. Lifted a shoulder. “You give excellent advice.”
“You watched my show even when you were with Dakota?” she asked, because there was no way Dakota watched it.
He paled just a touch at the mention of his ex-fiancée.
Damn, that was low. She mentally smacked herself.
“I’m sorry,” she said quickly. “I’m so sorry.”
It’d been a while since he broke up with his fiancée, but Molly was sure the death of that relationship still smarted. Heck, her last serious relationship ended over eight years ago and she still ached when she thought of how it all crumbled. Thought of how she’d ended up alone and pregnant and suing the shit out of her ex for child support. Child support for a child they’d both actively tried to bring into the world.
An ex who took a sledgehammer to her heart.
That part she could forgive.
Leaving Ollie? She could never.
“I was out of line.” She shook her head and wished the ground would swallow her. “I’m really, really sorry.”
“It’s okay. I hadn’t thought of Dakota all day.” He grimaced. “I haven’t thought of her in a while, actually.”
Molly hadn’t cared for Dakota—mostly because Dakota always looked funny at Rachel. Like Rachel had what she wanted, and Dakota would do whatever it took to take it.
Which was funny, because Rachel did not want Gavin and was actually happy that he’d met someone else.
But it was best friend code that when someone looked that way at your bestie, you got defensive on their behalf. Therefore, Molly never warmed to Dakota.
That worked out though, since she and Gavin had ended the engagement.
“Dakota and I were dating,” Gavin said, slowly. “So watching yourdatingshow made sense. I took your advice, and I’m nearly certain that’s why it lasted as long as it did. So maybe I should thank you.” He paused, clearly deep in thought. “Or maybe not, since it lasted as long as it did.” His attempt at levity fell flat. He reached for his tumbler and whatever golden liquid remained in the bottom, taking a solid gulp.
Molly had really stuffed her ballet flat in her gullet. She should leave, except this was her seat. And if she moved somewhere else, it would probably rub salt—the coarse Himalayan kind—in the wound she’d inadvertently opened.
First rule when engaging with Gavin: don’t actually touch him.
Yet, she still reached out to his arm, giving him a totally platonic stroke. “Breakups suck.”
“Yeah. They do.” He nodded, lifting his hand to hers, which totally negated her platonic efforts because her skin touching fabric was fine. Skin on skin? Yeah, that sparkler she’d hoped for with Dan suddenly lit right the hell up. Flames and sparks flipping all over the place, ready to burn down her heart.
Maybe she could close her eyes and pretend this wasn’t Gavin? Or ask that he put a bag on his head? Or something?
