Page 28 of As It Was (Strawberry Springs #1)

“It’s nice to run into you, Mr. ...” She trailed off.

“Don’t remember me, huh?” He huffed. “Hugh Jeffries. Also known as the town grump. Well, at least I was until this guy came along.” He jerked a finger in Cain’s direction. “At least I socialize.”

“What do you think he’s doing now?” she asked.

Hugh harrumphed. “Still working on believing what I’m seeing. Pigs really do fly.” He held up his flask, presumably full of whiskey.

My hand curled around her elbow. “Come on. Let’s get this night over with.”

“You could at least sound excited.”

“Not on your life,” I muttered.

We walked into the bar without another word. Lucas’s band was playing country music, though with the rock twist he was known for. Most of the time, he was traveling to see Gabriel or playing in Nashville, so it was rare to see him back in town.

In high school, Lucas, Gabriel, and Jade had all been incredibly close. But then some sort of falling out had happened. Jade still talked to Lucas, but not Gabriel, and she’d become friends with Grace in Gabriel’s absence.

Jade’s pink hair was noticeable in the crowd. As well as more people from high school that I hadn’t talked to since.

Most of them either ignored me or hated me. That didn’t bode well for the evening.

Mollie’s eyes were wide as she took it all in.

“That’s Lucas up there,” I said into her ear. “He’s friends with Jade and Gabriel, who left some time ago.”

“Jade had a thing with Gabriel!” she yelled.

“Keep your voice down.”

“Sorry,” she said. “But I do know some gossip.”

“Good. Then you’ll have fun being a part of it.”

Mollie rolled her eyes before they landed back on Lucas. He was good-looking. Tall with blond hair. As far as I knew, he was a decent guy. He was someone I could see her with.

Lucas and I had never had an issue, but I’d never hated him more than when the thought of him and Mollie crossed my mind.

And with the way she stared, it might not have been all in my head.

“Let’s go talk to Mark,” I said, and grabbed her arm to get her to the bar. People turned as we walked, and I stared only at my destination, refusing to face the shock that had to be on their faces.

We made it to the bar, where the owner, Mark, was passing out drinks—mostly beers—to the people waiting. When he turned to us, he did a double take.

“What can I—holy shit . Cain?”

“Yep,” I said.

“And ...” His eyes slid next to me. “Wait, you’re Mollie.”

“Hi,” she said brightly. “Nice to meet you.”

“I’ve seen people talking about you in the Facebook group,” he said, shaking her hand. “I’m Mark. The owner of this fine place. First drink’s on the house.”

“Oh, um, what do you recommend?”

“Hm, for a gal like you? Maybe a cosmo?”

“Can I get it without alcohol please?” she asked.

“Sure,” he replied. “Cain, what about you?”

“Water,” I said, and I caught another stray elbow from Mollie. Her pointed look was clear. “Please.”

Mark turned and got our glasses.

“Do you always physically attack the man you’re dragging to bars?” I asked as I rubbed my ribs.

“Only the ones who have no manners.”

“I opened your car door.”

“Next time, do it with a smile.”

“So,” Mark said as he put our drinks down. “Mollie, how are you liking it so far?”

“It’s great here! Other than one individual”—she pointed at me— “everyone’s been nice.”

Mark laughed. “Yeah, he’s like that.”

I tensed. He was really going to say it right in front of me? Mollie caught it.

“Luckily he’s not all bad,” she added.

“Sure.” Mark shrugged. “Already got her coming to your defense, huh?”

“Someone has to,” she said, giving me an out. I was grateful for it.

But I wondered if she already regretted bringing me here.

Mark watched us with a smile. I knew that look. He was already planning a Facebook post about this.

And I could see it now. Everyone would say she’s too good for me, that I had stolen her somehow from the hordes of other available men in town who could do better.

Like Lucas, for example .

Mollie’s gaze had turned to the band, and she was smiling while looking at him.

God, I fucking hated this bar.

“This place is so cool. I hear that’s a local artist.”

“Not so much anymore,” Mark said. “He moved out a year ago.”

“I’m sure it’s tough when someone leaves.”

“Eh, he and Gabriel were always meant for bigger and better things. We felt worse for Jade, though. She’d rather die than admit it, but she had a crush on Gabriel.”

“She doesn’t need to admit it for people to know,” Mollie said.

“Oh, we know all about that.” Mark’s eyes flashed to me. “Have you met Lucas yet? They’re finishing up a set.”

“I’ll go say hi in a few.” She smiled before taking a sip, and I tried not to let my annoyance get the better of me.

I finished my water before sliding it to Mark. Mollie was still working on her drink, searching for familiar faces.

Jade finally saw her and nearly bowled over the crowd to get to us.

“You made it!” she called, pulling Mollie into a tight hug. Then she saw me. “ And you got Cain here. Did you take what I said as a challenge?”

“More like inspiration. He needs to get out.”

Jade’s eyes slid over to me. “That I can agree on. How are you? I haven’t seen you in the shop in a while.”

“I’m good,” I said. “Happy to be out of the house.”

The words came out stilted and were far from believable.

“You sure sound like it.” She laughed and turned to the stage. “They’ve got a few songs to play still. Wanna join me on the dance floor?”

“No,” I said immediately.

“Absolutely!” Mollie replied .

Jade laughed and dragged her off. I stayed by the bar. I wasn’t sure where to look, but my eyes landed on Mollie anyway as the song started up.

She was following Jade, gearing up to dance. When the song reached its peak, she was fully moving without a care in the world.

Her smile was so much like Bennie’s. Bright. Happy. Unburdened by the issues that mine had.

And despite it all, I couldn’t help but return it.

Another glass slid in front of me, and I turned to see Mark. The song ended, replaced by something slightly quieter.

“You were smiling at her. I saw it.”

“I wasn’t,” I replied. “I don’t smile.”

“You used to only smile at one person. Your kid. Now, we all need to add her to the list.” He winked and walked off to serve someone else.

I had a sickly feeling in my stomach. I didn’t want to agree with Mark.

But I’d been wanting to smile at Mollie for a long fucking time.

I watched her dance for a few songs before her eyes caught mine. She was running over to me the second they did.

“That was fun!” She grabbed my arm. “You should join.”

“ What? ”

“It’ll make you look good! And I don’t like dancing alone.”

I was shell-shocked. Completely baffled. That was the only explanation for the way I followed her.

The last time I’d danced was long before Eric came into the picture, so I had no idea what to do. Mollie didn’t have such reservations, and her iron grip on my hands made it so I moved with her. The music was upbeat and most of the people around us were drunk.

The ones that weren’t were staring at us .

Hard.

“Stop worrying about them!” she yelled in my direction. “Just have fun!”

I wasn’t sure how to do that, but she spun, and my hand went with hers, turning it into a twirl. She laughed and did it the other direction, enjoying it just as much.

Slowly, and almost painfully, I started moving. Lucas’s band was infectious, and so was she.

I focused on her, only her, and finally let go for the first time in a long time.

We danced for three songs, slowly growing closer. By the time it was over, we didn’t have an inch between us.

The music ended as the band finished up the set. I caught on to how close we were and stepped back.

“You should go say hi to Lucas,” I said before I could stop myself.

She blinked. “B-but?—”

I walked off before she could say anything else, desperately needing space from her signature scent. When I came back, she would be talking to another man. Someone she probably would have far more in common with.

And I would be okay with that.

Or that’s what I told myself. Even seeing her walk toward him filled me with rage I couldn’t explain, and I had no idea how to stop it.

I found my place at the bar once again. I should have been thrilled that I was alone and that she was with someone else. But I wasn’t.

I regretted my decision the first time she fucking smiled at him.

I had no idea what they were even talking about, but her smile was the only thing I could see from across the room.

Lucas was into her, without a shadow of a doubt.

He had always leaned toward the women he planned to ask out, and he was no different even years later.

Mollie seemed to soak it up. She nodded along with what he was saying, talking back with enthusiasm that I wanted but didn’t deserve.

“Jealous?” a voice asked from behind me.

“No,” I said to Mark without even looking at him.

“You could be over there with her, you know.”

Yeah, I could be. But being close to that would only fan the flame I felt deep in my gut. I looked away. By the time I looked back, she was walking toward me.

“What are you doing here?”

“Lucas just asked me out.”

My molars clenched. Why the hell was she telling me? “Have fun.”

I ground it out before walking away. It was tempting to leave. Lucas could drive her home for all I cared. But what I needed to do was get out of her sight so I could cool off.

“Cain!” she hissed as she followed.

“Go back to Lucas, princess. Send me a text if you leave with him.”

We were walking down the hallway to the bathroom when she grabbed my arm hard enough to stop me.

“Stop,” she nearly yelled. “Hang on. Why are you walking away?”

“Because I want to.” The words came out harder than I meant them to, and her eyes widened.

“What the hell is wrong with you?”

“What the hell is wrong with you ? Why are you talking to me when you have a man waiting?”

“Wait—”

“No, Mollie.” I wrenched my arm out of her grip. “I need a minute alone. ”

“Then take me with you.”

“No. It needs to be from you.”

Her jaw fell. “What did I do?”

“Just go back out there.”

“No,” she said, stepping closer. “We’ve been getting along for weeks. You can’t suddenly act like a caveman and expect me to let you get away with it!”

“I won’t act like one if you walk away,” I hissed back. I wanted to raise my voice, but I knew that if anyone heard a word of what I was saying, I would be in trouble.

“Not until I understand.” Now she was even closer, invading all of my senses. All I could see was her . All I could smell was her .

And all I wanted to taste was her .

“Walk away.”

“No,” she said. “I’m not leaving until you tell me what’s going on.”

I couldn’t think straight, and I knew I’d regret the words I would say next. “You wanna know what’s going on? You’re driving me up a wall, Mollie. With your damn dress and whatever the fuck you use to smell like that—I can’t fucking think.”

“W-well, fuck you. Get over it.”

“I can’t .”

She stepped closer , dammit. “You’re going to, because whether you like it or not, you’re fucking stuck with me.”

“You never back down, do you?”

“Not with you.”

“You’re gonna regret this.”

She angled her head, glossy lips forming a smile. “Try me.”

And that was when my control went out the window, and I grabbed her by the jaw and crashed my lips onto hers.