Playing the Field (Hot-Lanta Series)

by Quinn, Meghan

  “Shit” responded Brady, rubbing his hand over his face in distress.

  “Yea so that blew up in Lucy’s face, Austin ran after Molly and Connor left Lucy. She’s a mess. I confronted Molly this morning at her apartment and tripped over a massive amount of empty alcohol bottles and prescription pills. Apparently Winnie was taken away from her by Luke’s parents and she has been drowning in her sorrows even more ever since. She didn’t care one bit when I asked her what she was thinking. She has really disconnected with the world and anything I said really didn’t even cross her mind. I think you need to knock some sense into her Jane.”

  Jane was completely shocked. It felt like someone just knocked her over with a cannon ball.

  “I’m sorry to do this to you, I know you guys are leaving for your honeymoon tomorrow, well your short honeymoon but I didn’t know what else to do.”

  Jane leaned over and grabbed Albert’s hand and squeezed it between hers.

  “Thank you for telling me Alby, if I went on our honeymoon and came back to this mess I would have been upset no one told me. First things first, we need to get dressed and go see Patty. Is anyone there with her?”

  “Marc has been with her ever since she was admitted to the hospital. He was the one who contacted me.”

  “Good.” Jane turned to Brady and said, “I’m so sorry about this…”

  He stopped her. “Babe, there is no reason to be sorry. I’m just as worried as you are. Tell me what you want me to do to help you.”

  “Well we are going to go to the hospital and check on Patty. I will contact her family to make sure they know. After we visit with Patty, I’m going to go see Molly. Brady will you stay with Marc and provide him some comfort. I know he must be scared shitless.”

  Jane choked back some tears. “I can’t believe she’s in a coma. What a mess.”

  “It will be alright babe” Brady said. “She is a tough girl and has a lot of people who love her. She will get through this.”

  Jane nodded in agreement but couldn’t help but wonder, what if she didn’t? Patty never got to really experience the kind of love Jane had with Brady. She was just starting to break the protective shell she put around herself. If she ever woke up, she would go back a million miles in her progress.

  And what about Marc? She couldn’t even imagine what he was feeling right now. If anything like that happened to Brady she would lose her mind. She felt like she was going to throw up. She excused herself and ran to the bathroom. What a disaster.

  ***

  Jane had never seen a human so beat up before and the fact that it was someone she knew and was close with made her stomach do flips. She noticed the dark bags under Marc’s eyes and his pale complexion. She was glad she left Brady with him. He needed a friend right now. Marc of course felt terrible about contacting them when they were supposed to be enjoying their first morning as a married couple but clearly their friends were far more important.

  Jane ran into Lucy and April in the waiting room. April was a mess and could not stop crying. Jane tried to reassure her that she had absolutely no choice in bringing Gino. The only person to blame was Gino and thankfully he was no longer in their lives.

  Jane pulled Lucy to the side and talked to her about Connor. The look on her face answered all of Jane’s questions. Lucy didn’t expect Connor to come back. Jane thought Connor was different. He seemed like an upstanding kind of guy so the fact that he bailed on Lucy confused her. Granted, Lucy might be pregnant with someone else’s baby but if she was, she was not with Connor yet, so he really had no right to be mad with her.

  Jane asked Lucy if she wanted her to say something to Connor but she just shook her head and told her she could handle it. Apparently Lucy was going to raise the baby and didn’t care who the father was because both of the men who were in question wanted nothing to do with her. Lucy was a lot braver than Jane. There was no way she would be able to have the same kind of attitude as her.

  Jane’s next stop she dreaded. The hospital was bad but visiting Molly was going to be worse. Jane didn’t foresee Molly receiving Jane’s advice very well. She gritted her teeth, pulled up to Molly’s apartment and knocked on her door.

  No one answered so she knocked again but still no answer. Jane started to get nervous. The last thing she needed was another friend in the hospital. Molly’s car was out front but that didn’t really mean anything, she could have taken a taxi, or she could be shacking up with Reid again, something Jane still could not wrap her head around.

  She pulled out the spare key Molly gave her and let herself in the apartment. Jane was instantly smacked in the face with the stench of puke. She walked into the entryway and was shocked by the appearance of Molly’s apartment. It was completely trashed. There were empty bottles everywhere, like Albert said, clothes thrown about as if the whole apartment was her hamper and food wrappers scattered threw out. Jane took a peak in Molly’s kitchen and noticed the puke smell was coming from her sink where she saw regurgitated food bits floating around. Jane quickly removed herself from the area so she didn’t lose her cookies.

  She called out Molly’s name but didn’t hear any response. Feeling even more nervous since the puke she just saw was fresh she went into Molly’s bedroom. She saw a small figure sitting in the dark. Her blinds and curtains were closed but the light creeping from the edge of the window outlined Molly’s frame, holding a bottle and she saw the edge of a cigarette burning. Jane flicked on the lights and saw Molly staring at the wall, taking a long drag off of her cancer stick.

  ***

  Molly heard Jane banging on her door, she actually saw her pull up to her apartment but she didn’t want to hear what she had to say. She knew Albert must have talked to her. Molly thought she was going to be able to avoid her by not answering the door but she forgot about the fact that Jane owned a spare key to her apartment. That was a stupid decision. Cursing herself for giving up her privacy to a pesky friend, she took another drag from her cigarette. When Jane flicked on her lights, Molly gave her eyes time to adjust to the light before she looked at Jane.

  When she finally made eye contact, she saw fear and anger lining her baby blues. Aw shit, she didn’t want to deal with this right now.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” Molly asked.

  Molly watched her annoying friend take a deep breath and try to contain her emotions. Molly was not in the mood to go through a couple of rounds with Jane but by the looks of it, Jane was gearing up for some lecturing.

  “I’m here because I care about you Molly and I want to know what the hell has gotten into you? Your place is a complete mess. It smells like stale cigarettes with lingering whiffs of vomit. You have completely lost control. Is it true Winnie is no longer in your care?”

  “Shouldn’t you be on your way to some romantic paradise right now instead of badgering me?” Molly said while taking another puff from her cigarette.

  Jane started picking up Molly’s dirty clothes, stuffing them in a laundry basket as well as picking up the plethora of empty bottles scattered across the room.

  “Yes I am.” Jane snapped. “But Patty was attacked last night and you’re in desperate need of some kind of intervention. I care about my friends so my honeymoon can wait.”

  Molly continued to watch Jane straighten up, making herself useful. She should have had Jane come over a while ago if she knew Jane was going to clean. Jane was so particular about everything it drove Molly crazy. How were they ever good friends? Whenever Molly saw Jane now, she was annoyed with her. She noticed that after Luke died, Jane took on a mom role with Molly and it frustrated her. She didn’t need to be mothered. She needed a friend. Two years later Jane, was picking up her mess and still mothering her.

  “Get the hell out of her Jane. I don’t want you here.”

  “I’m not leaving until we get this place clean and have a talk.”

  Jane picked up some of Molly’s prescription drugs, looked at the label and gasped.

  “What do
you need pain killers for? And how the hell did you get them?”

  “It helps to flaunt yourself to your psychologist. He was very willing to prescribe them for me after a blow job. He said it was one the best he ever had.”

  Jane shot her head up and looked at Molly in horror. “That’s mal-practice!”

  “Oh lighten up Jane. God I thought once Brady came along, he jimmied that stick right out of your ass. What happened? You find it again?”

  Furious now, Molly watched Jane stomp out of the bedroom. Good. Maybe she would leave her alone but to Molly’s demise she did not hear the front door slam shut. Instead Jane came back with a trash bag and started throwing all her bottles of pills and alcohol away, even the half empty ones as well as her cigarettes.

  Molly shot out of her chair and grabbed the bag and tried to push Jane away but lost her balance and slammed into the nightstand. She felt something crunch underneath and the distinctive sound of glass breaking under her. Knowing exactly what she landed on, she quickly got up and turned around to see the picture of Luke she treasured cut from the glass.

  Screaming, Molly wailed at Jane. “You fucking bitch! Look at what you just did!”

  Molly grabbed the bag away from the stunned Jane, threw it on the floor and pulled on Jane’s arm, escorting her to the door. Tripping over another bottle and getting her leg caught in a sweater on the floor, she launched her body forward, knocking her and Jane on the ground. Angry, Molly swung her arms trying to get un-tangled with Jane. In the midst of her swinging, her fist connected directly with Jane’s face.

  “What the fuck Molly. Get off of me!”

  Jane separated herself from Molly and Molly watched Jane check her nose. There was crimson blood dripping from her nose onto the floor and Jane’s shirt.

  “Shit.” Jane muttered as she ran to the bathroom.

  Molly should feel bad that she hit her friend in the face but in fact she didn’t at all. It actually felt nice to punch the oh so perfect Jane in the schnoze. She should have done it sooner.

  Happy with herself, Molly sat on the couch and pulled out another cigarette. Right as she was going to light it, a hand came out of nowhere, slapping her across the face, sending the cigarette clear across the room.

  Holy crap, pain radiated across her face. She looked up to see Jane standing beside her with a tissue stuck in her nose that had red at the tip where it connected with her nostril.

  “Get up!” Jane shouted.

  Oh it was on, Molly thought. She stood up and got in position to fight. She was ready and more than willing to beat the crap out of Jane. She already started to feel better. Molly didn’t wait for the first move, she took charge. She thought back to her kick boxing classes, planted her left foot in the ground and sent a side kick into Jane’s hip but instead of connecting with her target, Jane moved out of the way grabbing Molly’s foot making her dance around to gain balance. Jane twisted Molly’s foot so now her back was toward Jane and she fell to the ground. Instantly she felt Jane’s weight straddling on top of her pinning Molly’s arms to her side.

  “What has gotten into you, Molly? What is so bad that you’re willing to get into a fist fight with me?”

  “Get off of me!” Molly screamed while wiggling to free herself.

  “I’m not getting off of you until you calm down and talk to me.”

  “Get off of me Jane, I’m not kidding. I will fucking stab you if you don’t get off of me.”

  “You’re going to stab me?” Jane asked in a mocking tone. “How are you going to do that when you have absolutely no way of getting up? Face it Molly, you have to start talking because I’m not getting up and I have nothing planned so I can sit like this all day.”

  Molly was beyond irritated. First off, when did Jane get so strong? Secondly, didn’t she just get married, shouldn’t she be doing other things?

  “Brady not living up to his end of the bargain? Not pleasuring you enough, so you have to come over here and get your jollies?” Molly asked.

  “I’m not going to let you turn this around on me Molly, this is about you and your problems.”

  “I don’t have any problems.” Molly said while trying to free herself. No luck.

  “You’re kidding right? I’ve heard of denial, hell I’ve been there myself but your problems are staring you directly in the face. Let’s see, what’s that smell? Oh yes, it’s your half-digested filet mignon from last night festering in your kitchen sink. Where’s your adorable daughter who for some odd reason thinks the world of you? Oh yea, she is living with your dead fiancé’s parents because her mother is a pill popping self-consumed alcoholic who can’t pull her shit together. Where is all your money? How come you don’t have nicer things? Oh that’s right, you got fired from your job and haven’t looked for one since you received a check after Luke died. Where is your boyfriend, someone who cares for you? Ah yes, you don’t have one because instead of actually opening your eyes and letting a man who thinks the world of you be a part of your life, you decide to put your pussy up on the meat market for any takers. You disgust me Molly.”

  Jane pushed off of her and grabbed the bag of trash, collecting all her bottles and trash once again. Molly didn’t move. She was completely and utterly stunned by the harsh and unforgiving words Jane spat out, as if they have been on the tip of her tongue for years. How long had she been waiting to say that? Was Jane waiting for Molly’s life to fall apart so she could rub it in her face?

  “You must be so thrilled.” Molly said while standing, leaning on the couch for support. “You finally got what you wanted. I’m a complete and utter failure. I have no job, no man and now, no child. I had it all and even the one thing I had that you so desperately want was taken away from me. I’m sure you talked to Jim and Marcia to convince them to take Winnie away from me.”

  Jane stopped throwing bottles in the trash bag and turned toward Molly.

  “You’re kidding right? Please tell me you’re kidding.”

  “Just tell me the truth Jane, how happy are you now that I’m such a failure?”

  “Fuck you Molly. I’ve been nothing but supportive to you, ever since I met you. I want nothing but the best for you. When you lost Luke, I lived through the pain with you and when you gave birth to Winnie I cried with you. I’ve been there through every step of your life, supporting and encouraging you. For you to think otherwise is devastating to me.”

  Molly felt tears in her eyes but she didn’t know why. She was mad at Jane. Jane was the reason why she was in the mess right now, right?

  Tears crested over her eyelids and slid down her face. To Molly’s surprise Jane enveloped Molly in her arms. Molly just stood there, arms at her side, crying into Jane’s shoulder. Her life was a mess and she didn’t know how to fix it. She had no clue how she got to this point. To the point of leaning on pills and alcohol to hide the pain she was feeling, to the point where she was no longer caring for her daughter but instead staying out late, cheating on the one person who liked her for who she was and leaving puke in her sink. Not even in college was she this out of control.

  Jane soothingly rubbed Molly’s back and guided her to the couch. “It’s ok, sweetie.”

  “Why are you here? I’m such an awful person, why waste your time?” Molly asked.

  “You’re not an awful person. You’ve just lost your way. I care about you Molly, a lot of people do and we know what you have been through and just want to see you flourish. You have a long and beautiful life ahead of you, you just need to believe it.”

  “I don’t know how to get past the pain. I feel it every day. My daughter looks just like her father and it kills me to see her smile and run about like Luke would. Why would God give me a child that is an exact replica of her father?”

  “Maybe so you will always remember Luke. Luke’s memory is surviving through Winnie, instead of seeing it as a punishment, you need to look at it as a blessing. Luke might have left you in this world but he left you with something so beautiful and loving to
cherish.”

  Molly couldn’t stop crying. Jane was right. Winnie was the one joyous thing that happened to her once Luke died. She always saw Winnie as a punishment but Jane was right. She was an absolute blessing and Molly couldn’t believe she let Winnie slip through her fingers.

  “How do I change Jane? How do I get back on track?”

  Jane got up from the couch and said, “First things first, we need to clean up the mess you started.” Handing Molly a bag she continued, “We start with your apartment and make it a suitable place for you and Winnie to live in. Secondly, no more booze, pills or cigarettes. You need to be a role model for Winnie and if you continue down that path, then you are only hurting her in the long run. She doesn’t have a father, don’t let her lose her mom too.”

  Nodding her head, Molly agreed and started gathering clothes in a pile as well as tossing garbage in the trash with Jane.

  Jane continued, “You also need to get back out in the working force. The money Luke left is not going to last forever and you need to have more positive social interaction.”

  Molly agreed. “I’ve been missing work, surprisingly. I miss working with the kids.”

  “Lastly, you need to talk to Austin. I’m not even going to go into the Reid situation. I’m going to pretend I didn’t even know that happened but you need to talk to Austin. He is good for you sweetie. He cares about you. He will never replace Luke in your heart but he is a good man and wants to take care of you. Give him an honest chance.”

  “You really think I will be able to allow him in my heart?” Molly asked.

  “That is not up for me to decide. You are the one who needs to know if you’re ready but from what I’ve seen I think you want to be in a relationship, you just feel guilty. Luke would want you to move on, I think it’s time you gave someone else a chance.”

  Jane was right. Austin had been nothing but supportive, caring and one of the best lovers she ever had. They had a good time together, not just when having sex. In between their bodies sweating together they would joke around and talk about things that maybe were not quite mind shattering but they did have a lot in common. Maybe if she gave Austin a chance, she could get to know him even better.