Page 26 of October
“Okay,” the woman replied.
“Water for me as well,” Molly said.
The woman nodded and walked off.
“So, that’s not Logan?”
“No, it doesn’t look like she’s working tonight.”
In Finley’s mind, that was a good thing. No one would be joining them at their table, so the two of them could talk and see where this could possibly go, if anywhere at all. Herfeelings for Molly had come out of nowhere. She had been thinking about ending things with India, butthatwasn’t really anything new. Molly was new, though. Finley had been stopping by and talking to Juliet more and more over the past few months, but since Molly was usually there, too, she would join them in conversation a little here and there, and there was just something about her that had Finley’s heart racing in a way it hadn’t done in years.
“I think I’ll get this autumn beer I’ve gotten here a few times,” Molly said.
“I’ll have that, too, then. Sounds good. I like seasonal beers.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, especially if they’re local.”
“This one is,” Molly said and looked toward the door.
When two women walked in, Molly’s eyes went wide.
“What’s wrong?” Finley asked.
“Nothing. Just… Um… That’s… someone I know.”
“Oh. One of the friends?”
“No,” Molly replied, turning back to her. “Ava.”
CHAPTER 8
“Oh,” Finley said. “TheAva?”
“NottheAva; justanAva. But yes, the one I went out with.”
“Do you want to say hello?”
“No, it’s fine; she’s with someone,” Molly said.
Ava had walked into the bar with a woman in tow, and that woman was currently laughing at something Ava had just said. They sat down in a booth on the other side of the bar, and with Ava facing away from Finley and her, there was a good chance she hadn’t even noticed that Molly was here as well.
“You can, if you want to,” Finley told her.
“No, it’s fine.” Molly turned back to Finley and smiled at her. “It looks like she might be on a date.”
Finley turned then, and Molly looked back over at Ava. Ava’s hand was on the table now, and the other woman had joined Ava’s hand with hers. It wasn’t in a family or friend kind of way, either. Their fingers were linked, and the woman was leaning over the table between them with an expression that told Molly she had something on her mind for them to doafterdinner or drinks. What was strange to Molly, though, was her feelings on the matter. She’d been on one date with Ava, and they’d planned a second one, but clearly, Ava was seeing other people, and that was fine. It didn’t bother Molly in the slightest. Seeing someone else hold Ava’s hand didn’t make Molly jealousor want to walk over there and tell Ava that they’d decided to go to the same bar on the same night. It also didn’t make her want to go out with Ava again, which was strange because she had been excited at just the thought of a second date after their phone call on Friday.
“Does it bother you?” Finley asked her. “That she’s here with someone else?”
“She can date whomever she wants,” Molly said, dodging the question a bit. “And I can, too. We’ve only had one date.”
“I know. But still… It would’ve buggedme.”
“If it were India, I think that would make sense because she’s your ex, but I barely know Ava. I think she’s great, but we’ve had one date, and both of us just happened to choose this bar to hang out in tonight.”
“We can go somewhere else, if you want,” Finley offered. “We’ve only ordered water so far.”
