Page 50 of October
“And I went on a date with someone else.”
“A date or just sex?”
“A date,” Finley confirmed.
“Youactually went on a date with someone other than India Sheridan?”
“Yes, that’s what I’m saying.”
“The woman you were into?”
“Yes,” she replied. “Molly.”
“That’s great, Fin. I thought for sure you were just talking a big game, but that you wouldn’t go through with it.”
“Yes, I know. You think I have no backbone when it comes to India.”
“Because that’s true,” her sister argued. “But you’ve also never talked about another woman when you were with her or since you met India, at least. Then, out of nowhere, you were mentioning this Molly woman. I thought you just had a crush, which makes sense because India is not the woman for you, and you were bound to realize that at some point or just end up miserable, but you actually went out with someone else. That’s awesome, Finley. How did it go?”
“Um… That’s actually why I’m calling. It was weird.”
“To be expected, right? First date with someone else in years.”
“No, it was fine at first. Better than fine. It was the best date, actually. Then, something happened at dinner. I don’t know what exactly, but Molly changed and started acting a bitstrangely. She ordered food that was off. She had wine when she’s more of a beer person, and I’d already ordered a beer. She also hardly talked after that and then made up some excuse about being on her period and not having a tampon with her when I dropped her off.”
“Well, that happens to the best of us.”
“And if it were true, that would be fine, but I could tell that she was lying.”
“How?”
“I just could. It took her an extra second, like she was thinking about what to say instead of just being honest. Now, I don’t know what to do because I really like her. I thought I would kiss her goodnight and we’d arrange a second date, but she smacked a quick one on my cheek and couldn’t get out of there fast enough.”
“You need to talk to her. What if she wasn’t lying, and you’re reading into it? Or, if she were, then you need to find out the reason. Could be innocent, right?”
“Yeah, I guess. Molly gets nervous a lot.”
“At work?”
“Not work specifically.”
“Around other people?”
“Not that I’ve seen.”
Her sister laughed and replied, “Oh, Finley… You’re an idiot, then. If she’s nervous around you, that’s a good thing. It means she has something to be nervous about. She likes you.”
“I know she likes me. Idon’tknow what happened at the end of our first date.”
“Ask her. It’s really not that hard, Finley. You find the girl at work, make sure it’s a good time, and you discuss what happened like adults. If she lies again, though, or just doesn’t tell you, I don’t know that going out with her is the best idea. But if she tells you the truth, and it’s all good, you set up that next date.Idohave to go to work myself now, so I’ve got to hang up. Call me later and let me know how it went.”
“Yeah,” she said.
“And, Fin?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m really proud of you. I’m glad you’re doing this, even if it doesn’t work out with Molly.”
