Page 103 of October
“India is Finley’s ex-girlfriend,” Molly said. “She’s here to meet some new friends, maybe. Right, Fin?”
“Right,” Finley replied. “I just meant that you two could talk about being single or something. Not that youhave totalk about that. You don’t, obviously. You could talk about anything you want.”
“Finley?” Molly said, smiling at her because God, this woman was cute.
“Yeah?”
“She gets it.”
Finley nodded and gave her a small smile. That was when Molly realized that she was being rude, and she shouldn’t be. They definitely needed to talk, but she didn’t have to make things more awkward by being rude about this whole India thing. Shedidwish that Finley had given her a heads-up or asked if she would be okay with it, but Molly liked India, and India had helped Molly see that she was about to give up on something that could be really great between her and Finley.
“Well, I’m going to get a drink,” Ava said. “I’ll catch up later?”
“Sure,” Molly said.
“Is that weird?” Gwen asked when she joined them after Ava walked away.
“Iswhatweird?”
“Ava being here. She’s Logan’s best friend, but she’s just now kind of joining the group around the same time you two went out.”
“One date,” Molly replied and looked at Finley. “It was more of a hangout than anything else. We didn’t even kiss.”
“Hey. Just wanted to say hi again,” Bryce said, walking over with Sophie. “You met us already, but we were a little off that night.”
“Oh, hi. Yeah, nice to see you again.”
“It’s Molly, right?” Sophie asked.
“Yeah. And this is my–” She motioned to Finley. “My date, Finley.”
“Nice to see you again,” Bryce said to her.
“How’s the movie thing going, Bryce?” Gwen asked before taking a drink of her beer.
“It’s still going, but not until next year, unfortunately. It’s some Hollywood thing, from what they tell me, which is whatever, but it’s left us in a bit of an in-between place, and we’re trying to figure it out.”
“What do you mean?” Juliet asked.
“They’ve got it slated for production for December of next year now instead of this year, and I have a job offer in LA.”
“You’re moving to LA now?” Gwen asked.
Molly listened to them talk but stared at Finley, who was looking out over the yard at nothing in particular. Molly decided to be the one to fix this chasm that had grown between them since she had been the one to cause it. She doubted that Finley would’ve invited India today had she not left Molly’s apartment so early that morning and needed that walk where they bumped into each other. She’d only left because Molly had screwed up their first time together, and it was up to her to fix this somehow. She moved between the gathered group of women until she was standing in front of Finley. Then, she turned back around and took a drink of her beer, hoping Finley would know what she was going for with the move. When Finley wrapped an arm around her from behind and tentatively rested her chin on Molly’s shoulder, Molly knew that she had.
“I’m sorry,” Finley whispered in her ear.
With everyone around, Molly couldn’t exactly respond, but she put her free hand over Finley’s and linked their fingers, hoping that would convey her message that she was sorry, too. Asher and Linden walked over from the food table, andeventually, the group split up, with Juliet and Gwen heading toward the dogs who had started playing again. She and Finley remained standing on the deck, though, and Molly didn’t know how to proceed. Finley took her beer from her and set both of their drinks on the table behind them.
“Want to go talk to some people? Or maybe go inside and talk?” she asked.
“Inside?”
“We can stay out here, if you want.”
“Are you trying to be extra nice to me right now because of the whole India thing?”
“Not just that,” Finley said.
