Page 18 of Rekindled

5

The chirping of the birds outside Molly’s window woke her up. Molly stretched her arms above her head as she yawned. She turned on her side, wanting to check the time. Her eyelashes fluttered for a few seconds before her eyes focused on the clock. 9:00 a.m.

Her need for coffee overtook her desire to stay in bed. She slung her legs over the side of her twin bed—still covered in hues of teals and black, her favorite colors from a decade ago.

She glanced around the room for a moment, and had to remind herself it wasn’t the late 2000s. Posters ofKaty Perry, Hannah Montana, and Maroon 5lined her walls.She walked over and lightly touched the row of headbands—a huge trend when she was in high school—and picked up a big black-bowed one and popped it on her head. She moved her head back and forth.

She let out a small laugh, remembering how hard she had tried to fit in during high school, and how little good it did her.

Her phone buzzed from across the room and she rushed over to her nightstand and picked it up. She read the incoming text.

Can you join me for lunch?

I wanted to apologize for last night.

The text read from Spencer.

Though she didn’t think Spencer needed to apologize for anything on his end, she did think she could continue to question him about his job. She hadn’t gotten to all the questions she would have liked, and figured another chance would be beneficial.

Sure, I can meet you today at 11:30.

Do you want to meet at the restaurant at Meadows Inn?

There were three dots for a couple of seconds before his response showed up.

Sounds good. See you then.

Molly left her room and padded down the hallway to the guest room. She knocked on the door, and after a brief moment of silence, she heard Rick say in an irritated voice from the other side, “Who is it?”

“It’s me, Molly,” she replied, trying to keep her voice light. She didn’t want to make things worse from last night.

After they got back to her parents’ place, Rick immediately went to his room, claiming he had a headache. Molly suspected it had to do more with the fact that he was angry over what happened, and didn’t want to be around her.

“May I come in?”

“I guess.”

She turned the knob and pushed the door open. Rick was standing up and pulling on a t-shirt over his sweats.

Molly took a deep breath and brought up lunch. “I just got a text from Spencer Conrad. He invited me to lunch to apologize for what happened at dinner last night.”

“You’re not going, right?” Rick said as he picked up his reading glasses, and put them on before grabbing a surgical book off his nightstand.

“Actually, I was thinking I should.”

“Can’t you just investigate him via his friends and co-workers?” Rick asked. “He’s a bit of a jerk, so I don’t know why you would want to spend any more time with him.”

“It’s not about wanting to spend time with him,” Molly defended. “I really didn’t get a chance to ask all the questions I needed.”

“Look, I’m trying to be nice here, but I don’t want you to go. There, I said it.”

“I understand you don’t like him, and you don’t get along, but this affects my career.”

Rick set the book back down and crossed his arms. “I don’t see why you’re so worried about your job anyway. It’s not going to matter down the road since I make enough money that you won’t need to work. Besides, once we have kids, you’ll need to stay home anyway.”

“What are you talking about?” Molly asked in confusion. “My career is important to me, and since when have we decided we’re getting married and having kids?”

“I just assumed that was what you wanted. I’m getting older and am ready for the next step in my life—starting a family. I thought that was going to be with you.”

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