late with work and all.” Or so she figured. “Sometimes it happens.” Also, he hadn’t texted her back, so she didn’t
really know.
“Heads up,” Peter said, eyeing his husband and then Molly. “Chris here is a master bullshit detector. You shouldn’t even try with him.”
“It’s true. I listen to people all day for a living. I’m like a Jedi Master for sniffing out relationship trouble.”
“You think I have relationship trouble?” She did. She was also curious about what gave her away.
“I do.” Chris nodded. “How?” Molly asked.
“It’s hard to describe.” Chris looked her over. “More like a feeling. Not so much anything you did or didn’t do.”
“He’s like a relationship intuitive,” Peter said, giving Chris a look like Gavin had given Molly. A look of pride mixed with desire.
“He gives me too much credit.” Chris took a pull of his Coors. “Do you feel like talking about what’s really happening?”
Not particularly. “I messed up, that’s about it. I messed up and now I want to fix it.”
“How big of a mess-up are we talking?” Peter asked. “Little bit or lotsa bit?”
“I don’t know.” Molly sipped at her wine because what else should she do? “I thought I was doing the right thing for him. It turns out that by trying to do the right thing, I did the wrong one. It’s complicated and nothing makes sense.”
“Did you tell him this?” Chris asked, suddenly taking the conversation more seriously than two minutes before.
“He’s not responding.” Molly pulled her lips between her teeth. “But our kids are friends and they’ll stay friends and his ex-wife is my best friend, so we’re definitely going
to end up seeing each other eventually. Especially since my best friend—that’s Rachel—married his brother. So it’s all complicated. And stuff.” Oh look, she had more wine.
She dreaded looking up, but she sort of had to. She couldn’t stare at the carpet forever. Could she? She could try, but that would also be rude.
“So, breaking that down,” Chris said, setting his Coors on the windowsill behind him. He stopped. Then he started again. Then stopped.
“Right, so I think you just broke Chris’s brain.” Peter rubbed circles on Chris’s back. “I watched your web show. Love the dating tips. They’re all very in tune with the dating climate.”
“Thanks,” Molly said. “I appreciate that. Also, Chris, sorry for breaking you.”
“Oh, it’s fine.” He tilted his head to the side as he studied her from apparently a new perspective. “I’m just trying to unravel that whole thing in my head. I love a good puzzle.”
“Sometimes I find it’s best not to unravel things like this.” Molly made her eyes obnoxiously big and then sipped a touch more wine. She should probably stop now.
“Well, the plot just thickened,” Peter said, glancing behind Molly. “I am all on board to watch this one.”
Molly didn’t have to turn around to know Gavin was there. Of course he came. He cared about her, and he wouldn’t want to let her down.
She should really turn around, go to him. Yet, she couldn’t quite get herself to move. Couldn’t will her muscles into action. Hell, she was hardly breathing and there was a real risk she might pass out.
“Breathe,” Peter said. “Molly. Breathe.”
She did as he said. Because, really, she didn’t need to pass out and end up with stitches. They’d probably be on her scalp, and stitches with curly hair was total mess. Ask her how she knew?
“Molly.” Gavin moved beside her, pulling her against his side.
She’d gone the little black dress route this evening. Flats because she’d learned her stiletto lesson the night of the gala.
Gavin had shaved at some point in the day—looked like it was later, since he had no shadow at all. His navy suit fit perfectly, and he looked ready for anything. He also had a small box under his arm. Not like a necklace, more like something from Nordstrom. Or what her mother would send Ollie dress shirts in at the holidays. That size.
“Gavin.” So his name was totally breathy, and she was having a hard time breathing. But she was really working on it. “I’m so glad you came.”
