Page 13 of October
“She’s big into borrowing your clothes?” Molly asked.
“Shirts to sleep in, mainly. She’s always liked my T-shirts better than whatever she buys for herself. Probably because mine are actually comfortable and hers are just expensive.”
Molly wanted to laugh, but she pictured India walking around in only one of Finley’s T-shirts and nothing else while Finley awaited her in bed and subsequently pulled it off her, and that got her to clear her throat.
“So, you still have her key, and she still has yours?”
“For now,” Finley said and finished the coffee she had gotten in a to-go cup, but they’d decided to stay at the store and have them there instead of walking back to the office while drinking them. “Should we head back? I’ve got some computers to look at.”
“Sure,” Molly replied.
She hadn’t yet finished her coffee, but she would just take it with her. They stood, and a woman who had needed a table instantly took their spot and pulled out her laptop while they made their way to the door, where Finley automatically opened it for her. Molly gave her a small smile in return. It wasn’t a forced one; just not her best real one, either. The fact that Finley opened the door for her almost like a date would have made it real, but thinking about how Finley would be back together with India soon made it a small, hesitant one.
Earlier, Molly had watched Finley march into the conference room with a determined, confident look on her face, one she hadn’t seen on her before that she could remember. She had seen her drop the key on the table and understood without words what she was doing. Then, she had watched as India had somehow talked that confidence off of Finley’s face. After being caught staring, Molly had turned away, but she hadn’t been able to resist another glance. That was when she’d seen Finley put the key back into her pocket, meaning it wasn’t really over between the two of them.
???
“They’re like Bette and Tina fromThe L Word,” she said into her phone as she walked.
“Since when do you watch that show?” Juliet asked.
“I never did before. I always thought I was the one lesbian in the world who didn’t understand anyL Wordreferences. Then, I metyou, and you’d seen it. I didn’t tell you, but I watched it all the way through over several months, and I honestly don’t get what all the hype was about.”
“It was the time, from what I’ve heard,” Juliet replied. “I didn’t even watch it initially because I was too young. We didn’t have the channel even if I’d wanted to, though.”
“Well, now, I’ve seen all the episodes, and Finley and India are the Bette and Tina of the real world, or at least, inmyworld. They’re just always going to get back together after they fall apart, aren’t they?”
“I don’t know that that’s true, but even if it is, they’re not fictional characters getting together and breaking up over and over again to cause purposeful drama and high stakes for TV viewers and ratings, Molls. They’re real people with real feelings, so even if this is crazy to you and me, there must be something that keeps pulling them back toward one another.”
“Yeah, I know. It just hurt, Jules. I watched Finley go into that room, and she looked determined to tell India something. It was to give her the key to her place back, it turned out, and I thought that maybe it was finally over for a minute. I allowed myself that one minute to believe it. Then, I watched her face change, and she wasn’t determined or confident anymore. I realized that must be what India does to her all the time. I don’t think she does it on purpose or tocausepain. I just think that’s how their relationship is, and that makes me sad because no one should be with someone who takes their face and makes it fall like that over and over again.”
“Molls, what happened to moving on? You’re literally on your way to the bar for a first date.”
“It’s a blind date, so I’m not overly confident.”
“But you should be thinking aboutherand not Finley.”
“Finley invited me to coffee today after the thing with India. She’s never done that before.”
“Well, it’s a lot easier to think of you now that she sits right there. I bet before, when she was on a different floor, she just went with people from her team or something.”
“So, it means nothing? That’s what you’re saying?”
“I don’t know, Molls. I’m not there. And you could just ask her. Even if you think that she’s going to get back together withIndia, she’s not yet. You could always be honest with her about your feelings.”
“Hey, wouldn’t you know it; I’m here now and need to get off the phone,” Molly said, dodging Juliet’s completely practical and logical advice. “I’ll text you later. Don’t text me back if you’re in an after-sex, naked glow, Jules. At least, put your clothes back on first.”
“I wasn’t expecting sex or a FaceTime call,” Juliet said, laughing. “I thought I was just taking a shower, and then we were going to get something to eat. Little did I know just how much I’d love having my girlfriend here this week after long, hard days.”
“You’re getting turned on right now, aren’t you?” Molly rolled her eyes and shook her head.
“Yes, pretty much always for her. But we’re going out to dinner right now, so I’ll have to deal withthatlater.”
“Deal withwhatlater?” Gwen asked from Juliet’s side of the phone.
“You’ll find out when later arrives,” Juliet told her.
“And I’ve got to go,” Molly added and hung up on her friend.
