Page 9 of October (New Orleans #10)

When they walked down their row, Molly noticed that Rusty and Emily went in first, with Emily sitting at the end of their group.

She and Finley followed them in, with Juliet sitting next to Molly and Gwen on the other end.

They situated their food, and Molly took in the stadium she’d never been to but had always wanted to see.

Her father had had social anxiety disorder and worked from home to help manage it.

He’d never have been able to attend a game live, so she and her mother hadn’t gone in solidarity.

Molly reached for her phone and snapped a picture.

She’d share it with her mother later. Since her father had passed away a few years ago, Molly didn’t think he’d mind her attending a game live at all.

In fact, he was likely looking down on her now and smiling because his kid was at a game.

“Are you okay?” Finley asked.

Molly turned to her, putting her phone in her lap, and said, “Yeah. Why?”

“You just look a little choked up.”

“Oh, no. I think my eyes are just watering a little.”

“Spicy jalapenos?” Finley guessed.

Molly laughed and replied, “No. Shut up and give me a nacho.”

She then stole one and took a bite as if to prove that she could handle silly jalapenos, and when she finished it, Finley just shook her head. Molly turned to see Juliet staring at her.

“What?” she asked.

“You seem different,” Juliet whispered.

“What do you mean?”

“With…” Juliet nodded toward Finley slightly. “You’re not nervous.”

“Oh, trust me, I am ,” she said. “But I think it’s getting better.”

“Really? That’s good,” Juliet said with a smile.

“So, I’m starving. I think I’m going to grab something for us to eat,” Gwen said, leaning over. “Babe?”

“Yes. We should’ve gotten it while we were out there. Let’s go,” Juliet prompted.

They stood and left the row. Molly turned her attention to the way-too-large hot dog and took her first bite, trying to at least not make a big mess. When she turned, she saw Finley smiling at her.

“Good?”

“Yes,” she said with her mouth still full. “Sorry.”

Finley laughed and replied, “I’m not sure there’s a good way to eat a hot dog without making a mess.” She then took a big bite of her own and got ketchup, mustard, and relish all over her mouth. “See?”

Molly laughed again and continued chewing while they watched the warm-ups.

Soon, Juliet and Gwen returned with their own food, and it felt very much like a triple date to Molly, which concerned her because this wasn’t a triple date. Yes, there were two couples with them, but she and Finley weren’t even on a date.

By the time the game actually started, Molly was trying to think about Ava and not Finley. Ava was the woman she’d be going out with again. Finley was the person she worked with, who had a few extra tickets to a football game.

“Oh, come on. Pass interference!” Molly yelled before she flopped back into her chair.

Then, the flag flew, and the call came in that it was, indeed, an offensive pass interference against Tampa Bay.

“How did you–” Finley began.

“I… taught her a few things,” Juliet answered for her. “When I knew we were coming to the game.”

“Oh,” Finley said.

Molly turned to Juliet and whispered, “Thank you.”

“You get one ,” Juliet whispered back. “Just tell her.”

The game went on for two quarters, and New Orleans was up by seven at the half.

Molly was trying not to appear excited, but what she had seen so far had her believing that the team would win.

After scoring a last-second touchdown, they had the momentum going into halftime, and they had more passing yards and more rushing yards than Tampa Bay.

They also had fewer penalties. In Molly’s opinion, that was the trifecta.

On top of that, they had the home crowd behind them.

Well, most of it. Emily was still cheering for her favorite team, and Rusty was shaking his head and laughing at her.

“So, having fun?” Finley asked.

“Yeah, I am,” she replied.

“Do you… I mean, I know Juliet taught you some stuff, but I can maybe teach you a few things in the second half, if you want, so you understand more about what’s going on. It might make it better for you.”

“Finley?”

“Yeah?”

“I just told you that I’m having a good time, and I am. I’m having a great time. Thank you for the ticket.”

“Really? I worried you’d be bored.”

“No, I am anything but bored. But I could use some of those garlic fries now. Just a few. I’m full from the hot dog and half of your nachos.”

“Let’s go, then,” Finley said, laughing a little.

As they walked through the packed aisle, forcing people to shove their legs under their chairs to make room for them, Molly thought about how a week ago, she’d barely been able to hold a conversation with Finley.

Finley would walk up to her desk, run her hand through her hair, and Molly couldn’t find words.

Now, Finley sitting next to her and not appearing from behind out of nowhere seemed to be helping her nerves.

Of course, that might have to do with the fact that Molly had made the decision to go out with Ava and to do it again.

It was freeing somehow, knowing that she was at least trying.

“Extra garlic on those fries?” Finley asked when they got to the line.

“Why not?” she replied.