Page 12 of As They Are
“Guest room’s ready!” a voice called, and both of us turned to see a short kid with dark hair and wide eyes.
“Hey, Eric. Meet my friend, Wren.”
Eric waved so hard that he almost fell over.
This was a verycute kid. But I had no idea why he was here.
“Oh!” Mollie said. “Did I tell you Cain was a dad?”
“You did not,” I said, turning back to Eric. “It’s nice to meet you.”
I thanked every god that my voice sounded somewhat normal. Because inside, I felt like melting into a puddle on the floor. I’d played off how much I’d missed Mollie, but the fact that she had been living with akidthis whole time and I didn’t know? Yeah, it stung.
I wasn’t angry with her. She couldn’t help that she’d had the adventure of a lifetime, that she’d gone out on a limb and foundlove and family out here. I’d never ask her to hold off for me to be free.
But Imissedit. I missed all of this for a show that I wasn’t even thrilled with. For the opportunity that tried to break me.
“Are you okay?” Eric asked, tilting his head to the side.
Oh God. Thekidnoticed I was sad? Fuck. I had to get it together.
“Just a little tired.” I laughed and shook my head. “But once I’m over it, I have to get to know you.”
“I’m sorry,” Mollie said. “I should have mentioned it in my texts.”
“No, don’t be. You had a lot going on.”
“We both did. And trust me, you’ll knoweverythingthat happened here.”
Sure, I’d know. But I didn’t get to see it.
“Eric, did you tell Wren what I told you to?” Cain asked.
“Yes,” Eric said. “We were all having a moment.”
Cain walked into the room, took one look at me, and raised his hands innocently. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“You’re being way more considerate of her than you were me.” Mollie crossed her arms.“Rude.”
“I’m trying this new thing where I don’t look like an a—” He stopped. “Butt.”
Eric snickered.
“That was you that almost let a curse word slip this time,” Mollie said.
“You’re a bad influence.”
“I’m agreatinfluence. What about when I taught Eric how to hold a ladder?”
“That’s gonna be great until he climbs it and falls off a roof like you did.”
“At least you rescued me.”
I looked between them, jaw agape. Mollie hadneverbeen like this with Trevor. Here she was comfortable and happy.
And apparently fell off a roof.
I swallowed the cotton in my throat. “You guys will definitely have to tell me that story soon, but I think I need to go to bed.”
