How Sweet It Is (10 page)

“He’s going to pause here on his way back to the kitchen. I can see the vision more clearly now.”

But he didn’t.

In fact, their waiter didn’t shoot them so much as a glance for the next fifteen minutes, because he was probably as freaked out as Molly was. Luckily, to fill the gap, Diane proceeded to forecast all sorts of exciting things that were definitely going to happen to Molly in the coming months including taking a trip, spending quality time with a loved one, and falling in love most unexpectedly. All fairly generic, though probable mentions. Well, except the love one. Turns out that one wasn’t probable at all.

Molly stood, feigning reluctance. “Well, this has been fun, but I think I better get going.”

“So soon? I haven’t even shown you my crystals yet.”

“Oh no. That is a shame, but I’m not feeling so great.” Not a total lie. Her mood had taken a nose-dive and she was desperately in need of a large bowl of chocolate ice cream and her cozy gray sweatpants so she could feel appropriately pathetic about her new job, mayor of Loserville.

Diane took a step in. “Well, can I get your number? This has been just great. One of the best dates I’ve had in a while.”

Molly sighed through her smile.

*

Rover made three lazy laps around the fishbowl. Molly watched hopelessly, her face resting in her palm next to the glass. She was back from her date. It was just after ten and she was now home alone on a Friday night, the way she’d be for the rest of her pitiful life.

A spinster.

“Well, at least we have each other,” she said solemnly to Rover, who chose that exact moment to swim away from her to the other side of the bowl. “Traitor,” she mumbled, pushing herself up and wandering aimlessly into the kitchen. There was ice cream in there and copious amounts of it too.

Her thoughts drifted to where they usually did when she needed to feel better about things. “What’d you think of my date, Cass? I imagine you got a few laughs out of that. You have to give her points for originality.” She stared at the carton in front of her. Cassie used to scoop the ice cream for her when she was depressed. And now she was older than Cassie ever would be. Sobering.

She missed her old life. When she had someone to come home to, discuss her day with, and to pick her up when she was low and laugh with when she wasn’t. Life had been good then. Yes, they’d had their share of problems and there had been some arguments about the future and kids, but eventually they’d have figured it all out…if it weren’t for the crash.

She believed that. Just as she believed they were robbed of what should have been their life together.

Molly took a bite of the double chocolate crunch, blinking back the tears in her eyes for only a minute before giving in and letting them fall in a ridiculous cascade down her face. Great. Now she was pathetic
and
emotional. Such a catch. With a lump in her throat, she continued eating her ice cream. Hell, maybe she’d gain another six pounds.

But you know what? That wasn’t right. She set down her spoon with purpose. It wasn’t fair to sell herself short and call it quits on any kind of meaningful existence because of a couple of horrible dates.

She decided to look at things another way.

She needed to get out there and have some fun. Take control of things. And damn it, she was going to start right now. She scanned the room for the remote control to her stereo system and stalked over to it on a mission now.

A flick of her wrist brought the living room to life with the vibrant sounds of some artist on the radio she’d never heard of. But the music was fast. It was loud. It was current, and she danced. She danced with a wild abandon she’d never felt before, moving across the room in a flurry, bopping her head, arms in the air, the music moving through her.

And it was good.

She felt alive, vibrant…dizzy. Whoa, okay, so maybe one too many turns around the sofa. Perhaps if she stood here for a moment, the room would stop spinning and that ringing would quiet down. That’s when it registered that it was her phone that was ringing. Yes, definitely her phone. She located it just in time, glancing quickly at the readout before answering.

“Hey, Jordan.”

“Oh, hey. Wasn’t expecting you to answer. I was just planning on leaving a voice mail.” And then in a hushed voice, “Oh, and sorry if I’m interrupting your half-date.”

Molly looked around her empty kitchen. “Nope. No interruption happening here. Just maniacal dancing. What’s up?”

“Um…just wanted to make sure you thought the shutters came out okay. I finished them up earlier. So when you get home, check them out and let me know.”

It had been dark when she’d returned home, but how had she missed this? “Hang on. Let me take a look.” She scurried down her front porch and across the sidewalk a bit. The luminous moon lit up the front of the house nicely. She took a breath. “Oh, Jordan, they’re gorgeous.” She placed her hand over her heart because they were. The fresh blue offered a perfect contrast to the white stone. It was amazing what just a small pick-me-up had done for her little house. Gone was the chipped paint and limp structure. The shutters were good as new, and Molly laughed at the obvious metaphor for her life. The shutters, as crazy as it seemed, gave her hope.

“So you’re happy? I’ve earned my keep?”

“And more. Thank you. I needed this.”

A pause. “Hey, you okay?”

Molly nodded into the phone. “I will be. Kind of a crazy night.”

“In what way?”

She sighed. “Let’s see, there was supernatural suspense, an overindulgence in ice cream, a self-involved fish, the crazy dancing previously mentioned. Oh, and I cried. I shouldn’t forget the pathetic crying. Yeah, that about covers it.”

“I’m coming over.”

“No, you’re not. I’m back together again. Promise. You do not need to come over.”

“Yes, I do. There’s ice cream.”

Molly couldn’t contain her smile, suddenly feeling not so alone. “There is ice cream.”

*

Jordan knocked on Molly’s door ten minutes later. The nearly full moon poured light across the porch and the word “welcome” glowed brightly from the doormat. It was a peaceful night on the sleepy street, and the shadows the moon created played softly in the trees.

She’d spent the evening shooting the breeze at The Owl Tree with the bartender, Little Bobby, her closest buddy from high school. Little Bobby, six feet three inches and two hundred and ten pounds, wasn’t really little at all, but he was named after his father and the town had to differentiate. She’d been having a good time catching up with many of the locals and could have stayed there most of the night if it hadn’t been for the obvious emotion in Molly’s voice.

It was clear she could use a friend, and Jordan didn’t like the idea of her alone and depressed. So she’d dropped a ten on the bar for Little Bobby and abandoned the second half of her beer.

It was only a few moments before Molly appeared at the door. She was smiling, but the semi-red eyes indicated that all was not as well as she tried to play off. She wore gray yoga pants, a light blue T-shirt, and had pulled her hair up into a ponytail.

“You didn’t have to come, you know. I’m sure you were wrapped up in something way more exciting and I’ve gone and ruined it.”

Jordan followed her in. “I think your idea of my life is a lot more exciting than the actual reality of it.”

“You’re trying to make me feel better.”

“A little. But it also happens to be true. So why the rough night? I take it the date didn’t go so well.”

“If you like lunatics it did.”

“Oh no.”

“Oh yes.”

“Tell me about it now or later?”

“Definitely later.”

“Done. But I feel strongly that we should take advantage of this opportunity.”

Molly plopped onto the couch and pulled her feet underneath her in the most adorable move. “What opportunity is that?”

“The feel-sorry-for-ourselves, veg-out-on-the-couch opportunity, of course. They don’t come along all that often. I’m boldly suggesting a movie. I love movies.”

“I’m aware. People pay you to make them.”

“Oh, you noticed. Can I check out your collection?”

“I’m not sure I could stop you.” But she was smiling so Jordan pressed on to the shelf lined with DVDs and perused. “You actually have quite an impressive little group here. I never would have guessed.”

“I feel there’s a veiled insult in there somewhere.”

“Not true.” She held up the case for
The Godfather
. “Did you know Sofia Coppola appeared in this film as Michael’s baby daughter in the christening scene?”

“I do now, movie person.”

“Hey, are you feeling dark and violent or sweet and heartwarming?”

“I’m feeling dark and violent, so maybe sweet and heartwarming as a counteragent?”

“Great idea.” She selected a DVD. “Eighties gold. Do you approve?”

Molly sat up straighter to read the title. “
Say Anything
. Perfect.”

They settled in on the couch and watched as everyman Lloyd Dobler did his damndest to woo the smart girl in school. At several points, Jordan stole glances at Molly who seemed lost in the story, laughing and sighing appropriately at all the classic moments. As the credits scrolled, Molly pushed herself up into a sitting position, a dreamy expression on her face. “Can I just say that I love that movie?
That’s
how it’s supposed to be. Organic. You meet someone, fall for them, and do anything and everything to make it work, against all the odds and then…you know, live happily ever after.”

Jordan smiled, enjoying the light that had sparked into Molly’s eyes. “That’s the idea.”

Molly lifted the remote and turned off the TV. She stared pensively at the blank screen before turning back to Jordan. “But it never works out that way, you know? And I want it to. I want the movie.”

“What was your favorite part?

Molly thought a moment. “I love that no one would have ever put them together. But they fit. In spite of the obstacles tossed in their way. Now you.”

“Um, the big gesture. Radio in the air, heart on his sleeve, vulnerable as hell. It gets me every time.” Because no one had ever done anything like that for her.

Molly stared. “I love how big a softie you are. Everyone thinks you’re so tough, throwing elbows on the soccer field.”

“That was only twice.”

“But you’re a complete romantic, you know that?”

Jordan looked skyward in jest. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

They laughed and then the room fell silent. “It makes me think of Cass and me. That movie. They’re young, in love. Everything’s easy.”

Jordan’s stomach tightened and the words tumbled out of her mouth before she could stop them. “But it wasn’t always perfect. Between the two of you.”

Molly’s eyes widened slightly. “No, it wasn’t. But it was love. We were in love. And now…”

“You look sad again.”

She raised a shoulder. “I just think I’ll never have that again. No one will ever love me in the same way.”

“Don’t say that.”

“Well, it’s true. I want to be with someone who lights up when I walk in the room, who wants to stay at home and cook pizza together and get in water balloon fights on the Fourth of July. But that person doesn’t exist for me. At least not anymore.” The emotion in her eyes was raw now, and Jordan, damn it, hated that.

“Hey,” she said quietly, needing to do something, anything to help. “Come here.” She moved to Molly who fell easily against her and held on, finally letting go of her emotion.

They stood like that for several long moments before Molly stepped back, slowly brushed away the stray tears, and took a calming breath. “Well, that was…completely indulgent.”

“No, it wasn’t. And you’ll find love again. Just as soon as the time is right.”

But that seemed to just garner another look of hopelessness. “It’s worse than you think. I have two gray hairs and I’ve gained six pounds. Did you hear that?
Six pounds
.”

“I’m going to level with you, Molly. You’ve never looked so good.” Damn it, it was the truth. She was positively stunning and sexy for days, as much as Jordan wished to God she wasn’t.

“Don’t look at me like that. I don’t need your pity looks.”

But all Jordan could do was look at Molly. At how soft and thick her hair looked, at her incredibly long eyelashes, and then there was the generosity of her mouth. She wasn’t sure what pushed her into action, but in that moment there had seemed like no other action to take. Before Jordan fully realized what she was doing, she leaned in and captured that mouth with her own.

And the result was so achingly wonderful that she lost herself.

It was a simple kiss and the warm press of her lips against Molly’s only lasted a moment, but it was enough to push her into a haze of longing. As she pulled away, she found herself looking into Molly’s eyes and the tiny traces of gold that danced in the brown.

*

Hold the phone. Jordan had just kissed her.

As Molly stood in her living room, staring in utter surprise into vibrant blue eyes, that was the only thought her mind was capable of producing.
Jordan had kissed her.

And though her intellect wasn’t exactly working at the moment, her body seemed to be firing on all cylinders and had definite ideas on the topic, as the next thing she knew, she slid her hands into Jordan’s long, dark hair and pulled her back in, meeting her mouth eagerly, searchingly and then some.

It was explosive. That was the word for it, explosive in so many ways.

Jordan responded immediately, her hands moving to Molly’s waist and then pulling her in firmly. Once her lips parted, Jordan eased her tongue into the warmth of her mouth and she felt the results everywhere. Her heart raced and a dull ache moved from her center downward with alarming speed.

It wasn’t enough.

She aggressively walked Jordan backward toward the sofa, breaking the kiss for only a heartbeat as she eased Jordan into a seated position and followed her down, straddling her lap and settling her mouth decidedly on Jordan’s once again. It was a runaway train that continued to pick up speed, and she couldn’t help but let it roll on. It was crazy, breathless, and Molly lost track of everything.