Page 72 of Molly: Part One
Chapter 18
Molly
Seven weeks later.
Ugh, the last few weeks since Ryan went back to work have been bloody awful. He avoided me the whole weekend after our little conversation in the kitchen. He barely even said goodbye to Abbi when she eventually appeared with Jax, both looking a little worse for wear on the Sunday.
He has been spending most of his time at school. I did manage to get out of him that his head of department had been signed off sick so he is now in charge seeing as he is second in department. This has increased his workload massively, although I’m sure he doesn’t need to spend as much time there as he is. I’m convinced he’s just doing that to avoid seeing me.
Mind you, I can’t say I’ve been home much recently either. Jax and I are getting more and more work in, it’s going brilliantly and we are still working together well. He has been spending many of his weekends up in Manchester or meeting Abbi halfway for a dirty weekend. It sounds like they are still as attracted to each other as they were the night they met. Jax tries to tell me all about it but I have to keep reminding him that although I fully support them Abbi is like a sister to me and there is a limit to what I need to know about their sex life! I’m happy for them, I really am. I am also jealous as hell.
Yes, I’m still seeing Adam and he is still lovely and the most caring guy I’ve ever been with but I just don’t feel the way I should about him. It’s still Ryan I fall asleep thinking about, and who I dream about at night and during the day if my mind wanders.
Ryan is still seeing Holly, they have been spending more and more time together from what I can tell.
Megan and I are still loving our pole dancing lessons and we have now actually signed up to a slightly more advanced class on a Friday night, tonight is the first one and I’m a little apprehensive about what they are going to try to get us to do.
I have also taken up a life drawing class on a Wednesday at the local college, it was an eight-week course and next week is the last one. I’m really going to miss it. Ever since talking about it with Ryan when we were on holiday I kept thinking about giving it a go again. We have had a range of models that we have had to sketch throughout the classes and there will be a final one next week. We then have to submit our best to be judged for the competition the college run. We can submit any of the sketches we have done in class or one we have done outside if we wish. I know exactly what, or who should I say, I want to submit, but it’s just a case of convincing him.
“Oh, come on, please,” I beg with my best puppy dog eyes and pouty lips.
“Molly, stop with the face,” he laughs at me.
“I’ll buy you anything you want, well with in reason. Ply you with alcohol if it will help and feed you. Please. You’ve seen my work, you said it yourself that it was good. I promise I won’t make you look hideous!”
“I know you’re good at it, that’s not the point!” he says shaking his head.
“Well, what is the point then? I’ve spoken to Abbi and she is totally fine with it as long as she can have a copy!”
“Ugh,” Jax groans.
“Why me, why not Ryan, his body is better than mine?”
“Because I’m desperate to sketch those tattoos, and Ryan is still avoiding me and being a moody fucker. And just so you know Ryan’s body isn’t better than yours, it’s different. You’re hot and you know it so shut up with the self-conscious bullshit. Man up and agree to get naked for me. It’s art, you’ve done it before and agreed it’s not that different to drawing a bowl of fruit really.”
“For fuck sake Molly, I wish you wouldn’t remember everything I say.”
“Sorry, that’s something to do with being a woman I think!”
“Let me ask you something. Would you do it for me?”
I answer without hesitation. “Yes I would. Come on, I’ve promised you can cover up your junk.”
“I knew taking this job was a bad idea!” he says shaking his head.
“Stop being a pussy Jax.”
“Right fine, but you seriously owe me one for this.”
“Yaaaaay!” I say jumping up and down before I run over and hug him. “Thank you, thank you.”
“You knew I’d cave eventually, I couldn’t listen to you anymore. It’s all you’ve talked about for days!”
“Okay so, you’re busy tomorrow right, but can you do Sunday?”
“Yes, I guess so.”
“Brilliant. So come over to mine in the morning, I’ll have everything set up ready so we can get straight to it.”
