“What if he doesn’t reach out to me? Do I reach out to him? I don’t know these things.”
“Let’s take it one day at a time. Josh, he might have pursued me more than I did him but he saw what we could have. Some people need that more than others. Just remember, he’s a single father and managing a bar. His hours and life aren’t nine-to-five weekdays like yours.”
“Which I’m glad I’m talking to you, because you know that with your job and Josh’s. It makes me feel so much better.”
“That’s what older sisters are for.”
“I’m glad I’ve got you in my life.”
“I’m glad to be in your life,” Ruby said.
She hung up and then took a shower. When she came out, her phone was ringing and she thought for sure it was Dean.
Or maybe she hoped it.
Nope, it was her mother.
Like all the rotten luck.
But she’d been pushing her off and answered it.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Molly, how have you been?”
“Good, busy.”
“Are things slowing down with work? How about dinner sometime?”
She closed her eyes and held back a groan.
She hated to lie. And maybe if she did this now, she could have some peace to work things out with this Dean situation.
Since it was so new, it’d be easy to not have it come up.
“You know, if you’re around tonight, I’m available.”
“That’s great,” her mother said. “Make sure you dress nicely. Maybe you’ll see some nice guy and we can strike up a conversation there.”
She ground her teeth, but wouldn’t say anything else about that.
“I’m going to dress the way I want.”
Which wasn’t going to be her normal frumpy self, but not the new Molly either.
She was just going to be her.
14
HAVE HIS BACK
Dean stumbled into his kitchen the next morning to see his sister putting dishes away. “What are you doing?” Geez, why was she up so freaking early?
“Cleaning up. I thought you were neater than this.”
“I am neat, Willow,” he said, going to the coffee pot. Thankfully, it was on and full. He needed it desperately after having to cover the bar last night last minute.
He hated that he had to call Carly to cover, but Sheila was sick and Rob was out of town for the day.
