Page 37 of October
“Fine. Let’s just go,” Finley said and stood quickly. “I’ll be right back,” she added to Molly, which seemed odd.
Molly nodded, not knowing what to say, and watched as they walked off.
“Do you have a meeting with her or something?” She heard India ask.
“What?”
“With Molly?”
“No,” Finley said.
Then, they were too far gone for Molly to hear.
“What wasthatabout?” the newbie asked.
“Just two people going to lunch at work,” she lied because their relationship wasn’t anyone’s business but their own.
And she kept tellingherselfthat as she walked to her next meeting.
After reviewing the new changes to the performance review process, Molly returned to her desk. The newbie had on headphones and appeared to be taking one of her required online trainings. Finley wasn’t at her desk. Molly didn’t have another meeting for the rest of the day, but did have to review some payroll information in the system that she wasn’t allowed to access from home because the company didn’t supply a VPN, and it was only available on the server. Needing to get a good cup of coffee first to get through that, she decided that going to the store was in order. It didn’t have anything to do with Finley and India, since they would have been back by now. Molly just needed a brisk walk in fresh air and a caramel apple latte that tasted of fall.
Molly Jewel: Someone is sitting at your desk. I’m being immature, and I don’t like it.
Juliet’s reply came a few minutes into her walk.
Juliet Francis: It’s her desk now, Molls.
Molly Jewel: Want to share your office with me? We’d still get to hang out at work, and I wouldn’t have to watch it live when Finley and India get back together.
Juliet Francis: Wait. What?
Molly would have called her, but she knew Juliet was teaching. She was probably only able to respond to text messages because the class was doing an activity or something.
Molly Jewel: Nothing. I’m just being dramatic. They went to lunch today. Maybe it was to exchange keys or something.
Juliet Francis: You could ask Finley. Youdidsay you had a great time with her last night.
Molly pulled open the door to the café and read Juliet’s message.
Molly Jewel: Too direct. I’d rather just have her tell me tomorrow that they’re back in love, and I’ll cry in the shower after, like always.
She slid her phone into her back pocket and joined the short after-lunch hours line. After ordering, she walked over to the bar and waited for her drink and the cookie she had ordered, treating herself in preparation for the heartbreak, but she didn’t even have a chance to take a bite of it before she saw India and Finley sitting at a small table in a cozy corner, talking. They were both leaning over and appeared to be engaged and focused. Neither seemed upset or annoyed, which disappointed her because she hoped Finley wouldn’t want to be here, still talking to India after an hour when she had been promised it would only take a few minutes.
“Molly?” the roaster said, holding out her order. “Here you go.”
“Thanks,” she replied.
She turned and was prepared to make a quick exit, but the yelling of her name, despite her standing right there, had alerted India and Finley to her presence. India then shook her head, stood up, grabbed her purse, and walked out the door. Now, Molly didn’t know what to do. If she followed, she’d be right behind India the whole way back, and it would be awkward, but she didn’t want to just stand there, either, waiting for Finley to leave because Finley was still staring at her.
“Molls?”
“Hey,” she said and walked over because now, she had no choice. “Sorry if I interrupted. I just grabbed this to-go.”
She held up her small brown bag and to-go cup.
“It’s okay. We were long past done,” Finley said as she leaned back in the chair.
“It looked like it went okay, from the thirty seconds I saw.” Molly pretended to laugh a little to try to make this feel less awkward.
