Page 22 of October
“Good?”
“Yes,” she said with her mouth still full. “Sorry.”
Finley laughed and replied, “I’m not sure there’s a good way to eat a hot dogwithoutmaking a mess.” She then took a big bite of her own and got ketchup, mustard, and relish all over her mouth. “See?”
Molly laughed again and continued chewing while they watched the warm-ups.
Soon, Juliet and Gwen returned with their own food, and it felt very much like a triple date to Molly, which concerned her because this wasn’t a triple date. Yes, there were two couples with them, but she and Finley weren’t even on a date.
By the time the game actually started, Molly was trying to think about Ava and not Finley. Ava was the woman she’d be going out with again. Finley was the person she worked with, who had a few extra tickets to a football game.
“Oh, come on. Pass interference!” Molly yelled before she flopped back into her chair.
Then, the flag flew, and the call came in that it was, indeed, an offensive pass interference against Tampa Bay.
“How did you–” Finley began.
“I… taught her a few things,” Juliet answered for her. “When I knew we were coming to the game.”
“Oh,” Finley said.
Molly turned to Juliet and whispered, “Thank you.”
“You getone,” Juliet whispered back. “Just tell her.”
The game went on for two quarters, and New Orleans was up by seven at the half. Molly was trying not to appear excited, but what she had seen so far had her believing that the team would win. After scoring a last-second touchdown, they had the momentum going into halftime, and they had more passing yardsandmore rushing yards than Tampa Bay. They also had fewer penalties. In Molly’s opinion, that was the trifecta. On top of that, they had the home crowd behind them. Well, most of it. Emily was still cheering for her favorite team, and Rusty was shaking his head and laughing at her.
“So, having fun?” Finley asked.
“Yeah, I am,” she replied.
“Do you… I mean, I know Juliet taught you some stuff, but I can maybe teach you a few things in the second half, if you want, so you understand more about what’s going on. It might make it better for you.”
“Finley?”
“Yeah?”
“I just told you that I’m having a good time, and I am. I’m having a great time. Thank you for the ticket.”
“Really? I worried you’d be bored.”
“No, I am anything but bored. But I could use some of those garlic fries now. Just a few. I’m full from the hot dog and half of your nachos.”
“Let’s go, then,” Finley said, laughing a little.
As they walked through the packed aisle, forcing people to shove their legs under their chairs to make room for them, Molly thought about how a week ago, she’d barely been able to hold a conversation with Finley. Finley would walk up to her desk, run her hand through her hair, and Molly couldn’t find words. Now, Finley sitting next to her and not appearing from behind out of nowhere seemed to be helping her nerves. Of course, that might have to do with the fact that Molly had made the decision to go out with Ava and to do it again. It was freeing somehow, knowing that she was at least trying.
“Extra garlic on those fries?” Finley asked when they got to the line.
“Why not?” she replied.
CHAPTER 7
“Ifeel like we’re so close,” Finley noted. “Like, we just need a few more good players, a few first-round draft picks next year, and we’ll be right back in the Super Bowl.”
“Oh, yeah?” Molly replied. “We only get one of those a year unless there’s a trade. So, it might take a few years.”
“You know about the draft? Is that something else Juliet taught you?” Finley asked as they moved up in the same line they’d stood in before.
