Page 41 of October
“I guess I’m just saying that I’d prefer a dog to a cat, but if I date someone who’s a cat person, that’s fine, too. The other part of thecat dooris that I’m open to dating. I haven’t been for a while. Ava was my first date in a long time.”
“When are you two going out again?”
“I don’t know,” Molly replied and shrugged a shoulder. “Maybe never. I haven’t called or texted her, and she hasn’t reached out, either.”
“What do you think that means?”
“Maybe she gave Michelle another shot,” Molly joked.
Finley laughed and said, “I hope not.”
“Me too. She was a little crazy.”
“But you’re still open to dating? Even if it’s not Ava?”
“What? Oh. Yeah. Ava was just someone Logan knew. It was good, actually, to get a test date out of the way since I’m so out of practice. That way, if she never calls again and I have a first date with someone else, I won’t be so awkward.”
“You could go out with me,” Finley suggested without thinking.
But she didn’t take it back, either. She just let it sit there between them, with Molly staring at her in confusion. Finley decided in that moment not only to let it sit there, but to add to it. If she was going to do this, she would do it right, damn it.
“Go out with me, Molls,” she added and smiled softly. “On a date.”
Molly didn’t say anything. She looked about as stiff as a board, and her hand had clenched tightly around the to-go cup she still held.
“Okay. Let me take that. I think you’re about to squeeze the coffee out of it, and that will make a mess.”
“You just–”
“Asked you out on a date, yes,” she said and unclenched Molly’s hand enough to get the coffee cup from her. “And I’m sensing that was a bad idea. I know you’re in HR, but please don’t fire me.”
“What?” Molly asked, and some of the tension left her body. “I wouldn’t–” She cleared her throat. “You want to go out on a date with me?”
“Yes,” Finley replied.
“With me?” Molly repeated.
Finley laughed and said, “Yes, Molly; I’d like to go on a date withyou.”
“But why?”
“What?” Finley laughed. “Why wouldn’t I?”
“Because I’m me, and you’ve…” Molly stopped herself and looked off. “You’ve been with India.”
“So? I’m not anymore. She’s myexnow, Molls.”
“But she and I are so different. Like, really, really different. If she’s your type, you’d only be disappointed in–”
“Molly, did you ever think that maybe Iwantsomeone different? Maybe the reason India and I never seem to work out is that she’s actuallynotmy type? You pretty much just said the same right before I bought you a cookie.”
“Because you stole the first one.” Molly chuckled.
“Is that a yes, though? It’s okay if it’s not. I know we work together, and like I mentioned before, you’re in HR, so you might not be able to–”
“It’s a yes.”
Finley’s smile widened, and she checked, “Yes?”
