Page 52 of Molly: Part One
Chapter 14
Molly
I’ve spent the last two nights sleeping on the sofa at the office then I put myself through two hours of flinging my body around a pole with Megan. Whoever said pole dancing was hard work underestimated it massively. That said though, I can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard I thought I was going to piss myself.
It turns out Megan is pretty good at holding her body weight up on a pole, I on the other hand spent longer on my arse than hanging from the pole. I was undecided as to whether to go home tonight or not earlier, but after those torturous two hours my roll top bath was calling so I bit the bullet and went home. Ryan wasn’t there; I guess he was still on his binge-drinking episode.
I am now laid out in the hot bath full of bubbles soothing my aching muscles. All of a sudden I hear the front door bang shut then a couple of seconds later I hear a soft knock on the bathroom door.
“Molly, are you in there?” Wow, he didn’t waste anytime coming to find me.
“Molly?” his voice comes out as a desperate plea.
“Yes, I’m in here. What do you want I’m in the bath?” I don’t mean to sound grumpy but he’s ruining my relaxing.
“Molly, please can I come in?”
“Are you serious?” I ask starting to get pissed off.
“Molly, my granddad has died, please.” I hear a thud on the door and can only imagine it was his head.
“Shit,” I quickly look down to make sure I’m covered in bubbles before I reply. “Yes, yes come in.”
I watch as the door opens and a very distraught looking Ryan walks in and sits himself on the closed toilet at the end of the bath. He slumps his body forward and puts his head in his hands.
“I’m so sorry Ry. I know how much your granddad meant to you.”
Ryan has told me countless times about how it was his granddad that got him into all sorts of sports. He used to spend all his weekends and holidays with him watching whatever was on the TV at the time and his granddad would explain the rules of each sport to him. When he got old enough to start playing all the different sports, his granddad was Ryan’s biggest supporter. He was always at the side of the football and rugby pitch, in the stands of the cricket ground, just to name a few. I can only imagine how he must be feeling now.
I move myself in the bath so I’m on my stomach with my head at the end Ryan is sat so I can reach out to comfort him, he’s away with the fairies so I don’t need to worry about flashing him. I place my soggy hand on his forearm, which makes him turn his head to look at me. My breath catches slightly at the pain I see in his eyes. After Hannah died I hoped I wouldn’t ever have to see that look in his eyes again, but there it is.
“I’m so sorry for everything Molly. I was an idiot. I’m so glad you’re back.”
“Indeed you were and I’m sorry too. Even if I wasn’t back, you could have come to me, I’m always here for you if you need me.”
“Please will you come to Liverpool with me. I promised Mum I’d get up there as soon as I could.”
“Er, your parents aren’t going to be happy about me being with you. Are you sure you don’t just want to go on your own?”
“No, I need you with me, please Molly. My parents will be too distracted by what’s going on to notice you.” His eyes are begging for me to agree.
“Okay Ryan. I’ll do it for you. I’ll get out now and pack some stuff, you go and do the same.”
He nods and gets up to leave but stops at the door. “You know, if there was one way to soften the blow of this news it’s coming in to find you naked and wet.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “And there I was thinking you were too distraught to notice. I really should know better.”
“I’m never too distracted when it comes to you,” he says then immediately leaves the room and I hear him head upstairs.
I try not to think about his comment as I get myself ready to leave.
A few hours later and we are pulling on to Ryan’s parents drive in Liverpool. After a long argument I eventually persuaded Ryan to let me drive. I didn’t really feel like he was in any fit state so I put my foot down firmly, that and I hid his keys!
His mum comes to the door to meet him, I watch as Ryan engulfs her in a hug when he gets to her. I can tell by the movement in her shoulders that she is crying. I stay sat in the car and give them a moment.
Eventually she moves away and gestures for him to follow her inside, he puts his hand up to me and waves me in. I quickly exit the car and follow behind them into the house. I watch Mrs Evans and Ryan turn into the living room to join his dad. I stay in the doorway slightly out of sight to give the family some space. I hear some banging coming from the kitchen so head down there in the hope that Abbi and Liv are already here. I’m really pleased when I see both of them stood over the kettle making a pot of tea.
“Hello. How are you both holding up?” I ask when they spot me coming towards them.
