Page 21 of October
“No, I do. I thought you might not, and I like to share.”
Molly smiled and replied, “You can get extra jalapeños, then.”
“Really?”
“I’m from New Orleans, Fin. You think I can’t handle a little spice?”
“Some people can’t.”
“Well, I’m not some people, I guess,” Molly replied as they moved up in line.
“Okay. Extra jalapeños, then. What are you getting?”
“I’m thinking a hot dog,” she said. “And stealing some of your nachos,” she added.
Finley laughed.
“Oh, and a beer.”
“No garlic fries?” Finley asked.
“Apparently, those are halftime snacks.”
A few minutes later, they made their way to the front of the line, where Finley ordered everything for both of them and handed over her credit card. Molly had her own card out, ready to pay for her food, but Finley shook her off with a smile. Then, they carried their food over to the condiment stand, and Molly added mustard to her hot dog. She watched Finley add mustard, ketchup, and relish. They both grabbed some napkins and walked back to their section, where they met Rusty and Emily. Juliet and Gwen were already in their seats and, somehow, had gotten themselves each a beer, likely in one of the shorter, beer-only lines.
When they walked down their row, Molly noticed that Rusty and Emily went in first, with Emily sitting at the end of their group. She and Finley followed them in, with Juliet sitting next to Molly and Gwen on the other end. They situated their food, and Molly took in the stadium she’d never been to but had always wanted to see. Her father had had social anxiety disorder and worked from home to help manage it. He’d never have been able to attend a game live, so she and her mother hadn’t gone in solidarity. Molly reached for her phone and snapped a picture. She’d share it with her mother later. Since her father had passed away a few years ago, Molly didn’t think he’d mind her attending a game live at all. In fact, he was likely looking down on her now and smiling because his kid was at a game.
“Are you okay?” Finley asked.
Molly turned to her, putting her phone in her lap, and said, “Yeah. Why?”
“You just look a little choked up.”
“Oh, no. I think my eyes are just watering a little.”
“Spicy jalapeños?” Finley guessed.
Molly laughed and replied, “No. Shut up and give me a nacho.”
She then stole one and took a bite as if to prove that she could handle silly jalapeños, and when she finished it, Finley just shook her head. Molly turned to see Juliet staring at her.
“What?” she asked.
“You seem different,” Juliet whispered.
“What do you mean?”
“With…” Juliet nodded toward Finley slightly. “You’re not nervous.”
“Oh, trust me, Iam,” she said. “But I think it’s getting better.”
“Really? That’s good,” Juliet said with a smile.
“So, I’m starving. I think I’m going to grab something for us to eat,” Gwen said, leaning over. “Babe?”
“Yes. We should’ve gotten it while we were out there. Let’s go,” Juliet prompted.
They stood and left the row. Molly turned her attention to the way-too-large hot dog and took her first bite, trying to at least not make a big mess. When she turned, she saw Finley smiling at her.
