Page 25 of October (New Orleans #10)

“W hen will you be coming back?” Molly asked.

“I think tomorrow, actually,” Juliet replied.

“Really?”

“Yeah, the class is ahead of schedule. It’s a small group, only ten of them this time, and instead of it taking the whole week, I think if we stay on track today, I’ll actually get to drive home to see my girlfriend and my dog sooner than I thought. I really need that. I miss them both.”

“And your best friend, too?” Molly asked hopefully as she sat in her car.

“Of course, I miss you, Molls. But it’s different… I got used to falling asleep next to Gwen, and Carly would climb in with us, so it feels weird sleeping in this mushy hotel room bed without Gwen, you know? I love you, but I don’t want to sleep with you.”

Molly laughed and said, “I get it. And you’ve said that before; no need to keep repeating how much you don’t want to sleep with me. I love you, too. I’d fall asleep next to Carly, though. When can I borrow her?”

“Does Finley like dogs?”

“Why are you asking me that?” Molly looked around the parking garage as if Finley would be arriving any moment and would hear their conversation.

“I’m just curious.”

“Yes, she does. She’s thinking about adopting one, actually,” she said.

“She is?”

“Yeah. And so am I, honestly.”

“You’re going to get a dog? Since when?” Juliet asked.

“Finley took me to this puppy party thing on our first date, and there was this little corgi who was so sweet. I think I fell in love with her a little bit. She didn’t seem to care about what any of the other dogs were doing and was just herself the whole time.

She fell asleep on Finley.” Molly chuckled.

“Is that the one Finley wants? Will she fight you for her?”

“No,” she said. “Fin wants to rescue an older dog, but she’s still thinking about it. The one I want is a puppy, and they’re more popular, so she might be scooped up soon.”

“And you’re sure?”

“I talked to Finley about it last night, and yeah, I think I am. I think I need her in a way. She’s like my opposite in dog form.”

Juliet laughed and asked, “What?”

“She doesn’t care what anyone thinks about her.”

“Oh,” Juliet replied. “Got it. You’re hoping she’ll teach you a few things about not giving any fucks about what other people think of you?”

“Maybe. Too much pressure to put on a puppy?”

“Probably,” Juliet answered.

“I think I’m going to do it, Jules. I have the number for the woman I need to contact. I don’t know how much longer Wells will be available.”

“Wells?”

“A lesbian named her,” she offered in explanation. “Anyway, you’re almost halfway through your crazy travel, and then, it’s home pretty much for good. How are you holding up?”

“I’m okay. I miss being home. This bed really is too soft for me, and my back hurts, which won’t be fun for the drive home.”

“But you have a girlfriend willing to give you an all-body massage when you get there.”

“Yes, something to look forward to,” Juliet said. “But I want to hear more about Finley.”

Molly smiled and said, “We talked for almost two hours last night. It was amazing.”

“Yeah? So, it’s going well?”

“I think so. I’m trying to keep in mind that she likes me and I’m not holding her hostage on dates, but it’s still really weird to me that she would choose someone who made mac and cheese from the box and added hot dogs to it for dinner last night when she could have anyone else.”

Juliet laughed and said, “She does like you, Molls. I could see it that day at the game.”

“She bought me a jersey,” Molly offered.

“I know. How many times have you worn it since?”

“Only every night to bed. It smells like her a little because we sat next to each other. Maybe I’m just imagining it, but it does.”

Juliet laughed harder and replied, “I get that. Gwen gave me a T-shirt of hers to bring with me, and I’ve worn it to bed every night, too.”

“Gwen is your actual girlfriend, though.”

“Finley could be yours soon. When are you going out again?”

“Tonight, I think. We haven’t officially planned anything yet; we just said it yesterday. I asked her out for last night, but she said she had plans, so I figured I’d check today to see if we’re still on for tonight, at least.”

“What plans?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t ask. Maybe some nerdy computer building thing. Do they have competitions for that?”

“I have no idea,” Juliet said through her laughter.

“Well, I need to get inside, anyway. I’m going to be late for my meeting if I don’t head in now. I’m glad you’ll be home early, though, Jules.”

“Me too. Let’s plan to hang out, okay?”

“Yes, please,” she said, hoping that didn’t come off as too needy.

“Hey, you know you’re important to me, right? I know I’ve been busy with Gwen recently and traveling, but you–”

“I know, Jules. It’s just life, you know? And I need to get myself one so that I’m not relying on my friends to give me one. I’ve been doing better. I even went to the bar that night and met Ava. Oh, shit! Ava!” She clasped her hand over her mouth.

“I forgot all about her,” Juliet said.

“Me too. Fuck! Fuck! What am I supposed to do? She texted me the other day, and I saw it, but Finley was there, and I didn’t reply. Now, it’s been days. She probably thinks I’m ghosting her or something.”

“Just text her back and tell her you’ve been busy.”

“I have been with someone who isn’t her.”

“You went on one casual date, Molly. She’s not thinking about a wedding or anything. Just text her and tell her you will message again when things calm down.”

“But I like Finley. I want things to work out with her.”

“I know. You can tell her that , if you want.”

“Why did I finally give it a shot with someone else, and then, Finley tells me she’s interested?”

“The universe is conspiring against you?”

“Yes, that’s what it feels like. I don’t want Ava to think I’m a bad person.”

“Then, text her and tell her the truth.”

“That I forgot about her because Finley made out with me in the server room, and I almost let her do other things to me, too?”

“What?!”

“Don’t yell in my ear, Juliet,” Molly said. “And yes, you heard right.” She smirked. “It was amazing.”

“You made out with her?”

“Yes. And I want to do it again tonight.”

“Then, get into the office and make those plans. I’m proud of you, Molls,” Juliet said. “You used to not be able to say a full sentence around the woman, and now, you’re thinking about having sex with her in the server room.”

“Growth takes time, I guess,” Molly replied in jest but turned serious.

“I think of my dad sometimes, you know? When I feel those issues coming to the surface, I think about him. I know he hardly left the house, and I don’t have that problem, but sometimes, just thinking about talking to someone like Finley is hard for me.

Just sitting in that bar that night for more than ten minutes, I would’ve been proud of myself.

Logan and Rory were there and made it easier, but it was still a big step for me.

You weren’t there, and normally, I would’ve just stayed home. ”

“Molly, you’re making out with the woman you’ve been in love with for a long time. I’d say you’re taking some pretty big, scary steps right now. That’s a big deal, and I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks,” she said, feeling a bit sheepish because her friend shouldn’t have to be proud of her for kissing a woman she liked.

They hung up a minute later after Molly checked the time again, and before getting out of the car, she sent Ava a quick text saying that she’d gotten busy with things, but she would check in with her later.

She hoped that would be good enough for now, at least. She sat in the car another moment, staring at the concrete wall in front of her with the sign on it that read, ‘Parking for Employees Only,’ and thought about her dad again.

She had never considered herself to be someone like him, really.

She had always thought of herself as just shy or introverted more than anything, but after she lost him, Molly had started to wonder.

She could identify times in her life where she’d been overwhelmed simply standing in line at the grocery store, where there was no one behind her and she was next up.

There were times when she and Juliet had gone to a bar, and she had been fine until Juliet went to the bathroom and she’d been on her own.

There were other times when Molly insisted they go out to celebrate something, though, and she had been proud of herself for suggesting that and making the effort to be social or meet new people.

It didn’t hit her all the time, but sometimes, she wondered why people even wanted to hang out with her.

She was boring and ate like a kid most days.

She could make it through a football game in a giant stadium without issues and go on a tour around the city, and things were fine, but then, she would have a morning like this one, where she was doubting herself.

They’d had a great call the previous night, but even she could tell that something had been off with Finley.

She’d been funny and sweet, as always, and they had talked about Molly adopting Wells, but then, Finley had gotten quiet, and Molly had chalked it up to being tired, but it seemed like maybe there was more to it than that.

As amazing as their call had been, she still thought about that as she climbed out of her car and headed into the office.

She stopped when she saw India standing just outside the garage that ended about twenty feet before the office building door, and she didn’t know what to do.

There was another exit, but she’d have to walk all the way around the garage and then into the front door just to get inside, and that would make her late for her first meeting.

She also didn’t think she could face India this morning after what she’d seen yesterday.

“I know. I know,” India spoke into the phone. “I just think it’s silly. She’s dating someone else.”

Molly’s eyes widened, and she looked around, trying to plan her exit. She could jump behind the concrete pillar next to her should India turn around, but that would look ridiculous if she got caught.

“I still think we’re supposed to be together. I can’t help it. Maybe I’m crazy, but it’s Finley, you know?” India paused. “I went over there last night and–” India stopped to listen again.

Molly swallowed hard and felt the all-too-familiar stomach roiling sensation she felt whenever she thought about India and Finley kissing in this very parking garage.

India had been at Finley’s. Finley’s plans the previous night had involved her ex-girlfriend, not taking apart or building computers like Molly had assumed.

“No, but I don’t understand why we can’t just have a conversation and then do what we used to do.

” India paused. “I know. I just miss her. I… I know. I know.” Pause.

“Shit. I need to get inside. I have a meeting. Want to talk later so I can vent some more? I think I need it.” India waited for a reply. “Great. I’ll text you later.”

Molly stood frozen in place, unable to move, but if India turned even slightly, she would spot her, and she’d be able to put together that Molly had been listening in on her phone call.

Fortunately, India turned the other way and walked inside, letting the door close on its own behind her, while Molly still stood there, not knowing what to do.

Finley’s mood during their call last night suddenly made sense now.

Having no time to sulk, though, because she had two minutes to get to her first meeting, Molly forced her feet to move and walked inside.

India, thankfully, had already gotten into an elevator by that point, so Molly could avoid that awkward moment and wait for her own ride upstairs.

She arrived at her desk in time to drop her stuff and hurry off to her meeting.

Unable to focus on what Stacey was saying, she doodled mindlessly in a notebook and waited for the meeting to end so that she could get out of this room, fake sick, and head home to work from there for the rest of the day.

She even coughed a few times and cleared her throat to make it seem like it was hurting.

To really sell it, at a lull in the conversation, she asked if anyone had a cough drop and hated that she’d done it a second later when someone handed her the only one they had in their bag, a honey lemon one, which meant it was a cough drop that actually tasted like a cough drop and not one that tasted like candy and probably didn’t work.

She had no choice but to pop it into her mouth, though, and after the meeting was over, she spat it out into a trash can once she made sure that no one could see her.

When she returned to her desk and saw Finley sitting at her own, facing away from her, Molly wished she had Juliet to grab her things for her so that she could just go home and text her later.

Instead, she forced herself to be mature and deal with this by promptly sitting down at her desk and not saying anything.

She avoided Finley’s gaze and hello for the next hour and then got up to go to the bathroom.

In there, she splashed water on her face and stared into the mirror.

When the door opened, she worried it would either be Finley or India, and the thought of it being either of them was too much.

Her heart was racing too fast, and she needed to calm down.

“Hey,” Stacey said when she walked in. “You okay? You look a little pale.”

“I might throw up. I don’t know.”

Molly, it turned out, didn’t need to fake sick at all because she actually felt sick.

“Do you need to go home? You were coughing in the meeting,” Stacey noted.

“I don’t know. Maybe. I’m trying to see if it’ll pass.”

“Maybe you just ate something you shouldn’t have?”

“Maybe,” she said, knowing that had nothing to do with it.

“I’m going to use the bathroom, but if you need to go, just head home, okay?”

“Thank you,” she replied.

When Stacey disappeared into a stall, Molly looked at herself in the mirror again and hated how bad she looked now.

She had no choice, though. Even if she was going to go home, she still needed to get her purse, where her car keys, wallet, and cell phone were, and that purse happened to be on the floor under her desk, next to Finley’s.