by W. Ferraro
Unlike before, she didn’t break the hold his eyes had on hers. She swallowed, and if ever there was a time he dreamed of taking her in his arms, it was now.
When she spoke, his heart cracked. “Because when you say it, it sounds like a special endearment rather than a habit.”
How could she not see what he was trying to tell her?
Did she not comprehend that he wasn’t satisfied with just a platonic friendship and that he wanted her for more than that?
It was time to no longer hide behind the smoke screen charade he had been playing at for more than half his life.
He pondered how to begin, even after all the years and ways he thought this would happen. When thrown into the actual situation, he had to admit he was unsure.
Honesty is the best policy.
“That particular endearment I use for you and you only. So, yes, I think it is very special. Just like I think you are.”
He had hoped unadulterated joy would overtake her when his words finally sunk in. That he would feel vindicated for all the years that had slipped away but, unfortunately, that didn’t occur. Her speechlessness wasn’t due to the emotion he had hoped, and he could clearly see when shock turned to panic. The pride he wanted to feel suddenly manifested into real fear.
Molly began taking slow steps back, distancing herself physically from him, and he feared mentally, too.
He wasn’t about to let that happen.
Extending his hand out, he grabbed hold of her forearm and halted her progress.
“Don’t run away from me, Molly.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You don’t understand that I find you beautiful and think you deserve to know that,” Hunter whispered, as they now stood very close. Her breasts rubbed up against his chest and he wanted to groan aloud for the sheer incredible feeling. “What I’m telling you isn’t something new for me; I’ve just been an ass and took long enough in telling you.”
He watched as her lovely eyes feverishly searched his as his heart felt the moment his words settled over her.
And this time when she stepped away from him, he allowed it.
“You know what; I’m really not up for a run anymore.”
He watched as she turned and walked back the way that had come. With her shoulders hunched and her head hung low, she raced back to her car.
Well, that didn’t exactly go as planned.
But then again, nothing ever does where you and Molly together are concerned.
She knew she was acting childish by skipping out on the rest of the weeks’ worth of morning walks, but every time she thought about what had occurred earlier in the week, she couldn’t help but panic.
And how fucked up is that.
Hunter Dennison all but came out and said the words, “I have feelings for you, Molly,” yet Molly couldn’t seem to celebrate the glory at such a realization.
Instead, she went into full-blown anxiety.
Bring on that padded room.
Regardless of the fact that she replayed his words over and over in her mind, she knew she wanted to scream her happiness from the rooftops. But no scream came, and no happiness emerged.
Denial became her friend.
She suddenly could think of hundreds of different ways this, this whatever it was, could end badly. Like really badly.
Hunter Dennison’s name might have been scribbled all over every piece of paper she’d owned in her teenage years, but that was in her control. She could crumple it up when she wanted to.
This . . . an open confession and opportunity was far from her control. And that scared her.
Hell, they weren’t kids anymore. Throw in the fact that they each had their own kids, and Molly could only focus on the bad. So many things have happened and their lives were in different places.
Weren’t they?
She just didn’t know how in the hell she was supposed to feel. Every time she felt one way, she guilted herself into feeling something else.
Her feelings for him hadn’t changed, and that was what was so hard for her.
She knew this should be such an easy answer, but she also knew the roads paved with the best of intentions weren’t always the smoothest.
She needed to weigh the chance that if things went the way of one of the painful scenarios she couldn’t rid her mind of, would she be willing to lose her friend for a non-guaranteed chance at something more?
Along with whatever “more” meant undoubtedly, there would be incredible, steamy, HOT sex.
Yes, don’t forget about the sex, Molly.
Oh, shut up!
Molly knew she was taking the coward’s way out by ignoring the situation, but honestly, she just didn’t know what to do. On the one hand, she chastised herself for not jumping into his arms when he revealed how he felt. But then, on the other hand, she would remember the pain from way back when and knew she wouldn’t be strong enough to go through it again.
There was too much at stake.
Every day since she walked away from him in the park, when the bell at the restaurant would chime indicating the door opened, her heart jumped to her throat that it would be Hunter. However, it hadn’t been for five long days.
With each passing day, she became more sure that she had missed her chance, even though it still remained up in the air as to whether she would have taken it or not.
The more time that went by seemed to solidify the fate that Hunter and she just would never be, on any plane and in any form.
You have no one to blame but yourself for that one.
As much as Molly’s mind wanted to rest with Hunter, he and the inner turmoil she was feeling had to take a backseat.
Jess was her current focus.
Convenient or unavoidable?
Molly stood in her kitchen above a busy restaurant having a faceoff with her teenage daughter.
“Where the have you been? I have been worried sick! Tracey called me over four hours ago saying you weren’t at the school when she arrived to pick you and Sammy up!”
Molly just couldn’t figure out why Jess continued to push the envelope in regards to her behavior. As far as Molly was concerned, Jess wasn’t even trying to be considerate—she was just blatantly acting out. As she stared at her daughter’s annoyed look, she noticed sometime between when she left this morning and now, Jess had added a lime green stripe to a lock of hair next to her left temple.
“I don’t know what has gotten into to you, but I’m not as dumb as you think I am.” Molly went to the small butcher-block island, the only sturdy thing between Jess and herself.
Jess stood on the other side of the island against the kitchen sink facing her mother. The love bite on her neck by her left ear was hardly unnoticeable, but Molly chose not to take the bait that her fifteen-year-old was obviously dangling in front of her.
Jess took a bite of an apple spitefully slow and just stared at her mother.
“Why didn’t you go to your father’s?” Molly was proud of the soft and patient tone she asked in.
Jess’ black lace oversized shirt hung off her left shoulder revealing both her the small strap of the black camisole she wore under it and her red bra. Molly listened as Jess just continued to take one bite after another of the Red Delicious apple.
“I’m waiting, Jessica,” Molly fumed. Patience was no longer her ally, and she gripped the wide butcher-block a little bit tighter.
Jess turned, placing the almost bare apple core in the sink before placing her hands in her back pockets and facing her mother. “I didn’t want to go. It’s not like he would even know if I was there or not. Besides, Marc had band practice, and I didn’t want to miss it.”
“I don’t care if Marc had a meeting with the President of the United States. I’ve told you before what I think of him and that I am less than pleased with you spending time with him.” Molly walked around the island so she now stood in front of her daughter, who in her combat boots was just an inch taller than she was. “And seein
g that you can’t seem to listen, I will make it easy for you. You are no longer allowed to see him other than at school.”
Molly turned to walk away, but Jess grabbed hold of her shoulder and spun her back around.
“You can’t do that!”
“I most certainly can. I am your mother, and I have gone above and beyond trying to compromise and giving you the benefit of my doubts. But each and every time, you show me how very wrong I was. So, I’m fixing it now.” Molly did manage to get a few feet away before she said softer, “You live under my roof so you will follow my rules until the day you are eighteen.”
“Oh, so now your dictatorship rule not only applies to in this house but who I can hang out with outside these stupid four walls, too,” Jess yelled.
“That is the way it goes. Someday when you are a mother, you will understand, but until then, young lady, I expect honesty and respect. Something you haven’t shown me in a long time.” It hurt Molly to have to do this, but she just didn’t see any other way around it. “As far as Marc goes, I don’t like him, Jess.”
Now Jess pulled out the tears.
“Why? You don’t even know him!”
Molly tried to remain calm, but it was becoming impossible to do so. “I know him well enough, or at least his reputation, and I’m sure if I went down to the sheriff’s office, I could find out things that I really don’t want to know.”
“You don’t know anything about Marc. He cares about me, and I’m starting to realize he is the only one.”
Don’t react as she wants you to.
“He is too old for you.”
Jess dried her eyes with the outside of her hand, and now she was angry. Emotion was easy to read on the teenager. If she only knew how very similar to her mother she truly was. “He is seventeen, far from the statutory category.”
Suddenly, the intensity of this argument just took on a whole other implication.
Oh God, is she having sex with him?
Molly’s fear was unable to be contained inside her head as she whispered pained, “Are you being safe?”
“My sex life is none of your business!”
Oh God, a sex life!
Now all the niceties she tried to cling to were gone! Back was the anger Molly felt from the moment Tracey had called her.
“You are fifteen years old, young lady. You can bet your next birthday it is!”
There was a stare off for what seemed like forever before Jess stomped down the hall, screaming, “Whatever,” before slamming the door shut to her bedroom.
Molly stared at the closed white door for a few minutes. She hated fighting like this with Jess, but it seemed no matter what either of them did, this was how they always wound up as of late.
She finally made her feet move and headed back to the kitchen. Taking her cell phone out of her pocket, she dialed Tracey back. “Hey Trace, just wanted to let you know Jess is home and I think rather than making matters even worse, I am just going to leave her here than bring her over to your place.”
“Oh, thank goodness she came back. I was worried.”
“So, if you could put Bob on the line, I’ll discuss with him another day he can have the girls.”
“Well, actually Molly, Bob isn’t home yet. But I’m sure he would love another time with Jess to make up for tonight.”
Even though Molly knew it wasn’t Tracey’s fault, the annoyance couldn’t be held on her tongue. “So he isn’t even home at almost 7PM on the only weeknight he sees our daughters? But yet you are telling me how confident you are that he would want another night to make up for this missed one? The missed one that he is the one who is missing!”
Tracey was silent on the other end of the phone.
“You know what . . . have Bob call me and he and I will discuss this and what we are going to do about Jess. Now if I may please speak to Sammy.”
“Oh, well she is curled up with the boys watching a movie, but if you are really insistent I can interrupt their slumber party.”
Wouldn’t want you to hurt yourself.
“No, don’t interrupt them if she doesn’t want to speak with me. Just tell her that I will see her after school tomorrow.”
“Will do. Oh and, by the way, happy birthday Molly!”
“Yeah, thanks.” Molly disconnected the call more annoyed now than when she dialed the phone.
Thanks for the reminder that I’m not only another year older but the highlight of my day is fighting with my daughter over the possibility of her having sex with a punk ass kid, and my ex-husband’s lackluster attempts to spend time with his older kids. Add in the fact that another birthday I will go to bed alone with hopes that maybe the next one will be different.
Grabbing a quick glass of water from the fridge, she headed downstairs knowing only a few more hours until she could finally put an end to this less than spectacular birthday and start working on those unlikely hopes.
The fight with Jess stuck with Molly for the next couple of hours. Thank God, it was closing on 9PM, closing time, and Molly had intentions of a cold bottle of wine, a bubble bath, and the newest hot read that awaited her on her Kindle. She just had to get through the last ten minutes. As she prayed that no one would come in.
“Hey there, Birthday Girl, mind if I step out a few minutes early?” Greg asked as he stuck his head out of the kitchen doors.
Molly turned from where she filled salt and pepper shakers at the counter. She had a tray full of ones to fill and another with four ready to make their way back to the tables
“Absolutely! Be gone, you! I’m tired of your ugly mug,” she shooed him away lovingly with her hand.
He walked out and took the two steps to where she stood and placed a kiss on her forehead in a fatherly way.
“All parents live through it.”
She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment and leaned into his warmth before accepting another kiss and another bid of happy birthday. Greg had just walked back into the kitchen when the front door opened.
Hunter.
She thought her heart stopped when he came in. Immediately, his eyes found her, and he walked in carrying a small white paper bag. He looked good. Like drool-forming-on-the-chin good in his black, tailor-made suit. Didn’t matter if he was in trousers or track pants, his long legs were lean and muscular regardless of the fabric that covered them. His suit coat was open, revealing the crisp white shirt he wore under and his blue paisley tie, which shared the same hue as his eyes. The ever-present scally cap was on his head, revealing only the sides of his dark hair and his five o’clock shadow gave his already handsome face an extra dark boost into the delectable division.
He made his intent obvious, reaching the counter quickly and taking the seat in front of her, being sure not to touch the trays between them. When he sat down, he unleashed the thing that would make the strongest of adversary’s break—his smile. It was warm and showed a line of straight white teeth. That wicked dimple popped out through his scruff and his whole face just lit up.
Molly’s knees threatened to buckle. Thankfully, she had the counter to lean against for support.
She knew she should say something, but the words just wouldn’t come. Silently, she removed the trays from the counter and placed them over at the end, at the moment not caring when she got back to them. When she returned to where he sat, he placed the white bag on the counter, indicating with his hand for her to open it, as he placed his hat on the stool next to him.
She pursed her lips together and delicately opened the bag. A surprised and sincere smile overtook her face
“Happy Birthday . . .” he spoke in his smooth timbre, sounding as if he wanted to add something to the end of his greeting but didn’t.
She knew exactly what he chose to leave off, and for some reason, it bothered her immensely.
“You remembered it was my birthday?” she stated staggered.
She pulled out the large cupcake decorated with basket weave white fondant and an incredible and intricate pale
pink open rose bud atop. When she removed the bag and held the cupcake in her hand, it gave the impression she was cupping a real flower.
“Guilty.”
“Thank you, Hunter,” she beamed, uncovering another level of bewildered at the hand of this man.
Not knowing what else to say, she got out a plate for the cupcake as she continued to stare at the unexpected and completely touching surprise.
“Actually, it is one of the days of the years that I never forget. Do you remember the first birthday present I gave you?”
Of course, I remember, it is still deemed one of my most beloved treasures.
Molly had flattened the pink rose between the pages of a book on her bookshelf since the day he gave it to her, twenty-one years ago.
A beautiful pink rose. Just like the cupcake he brought her.
“Yes, I remember,” she murmured, unable to look away from those intense eyes of his.
“Beauty needs beauty . . . no less,” he stated simply enough.
Hunter put his hand into his inside breast pocket and pulled out a small white candle and a lighter. Placing the candle in the soft pink center of the rose, he clicked the lighter to ignite the wick.
She smiled, completely tickled at his gesture, as she watched the tiny light grow in size. She knew instinctively that she had to address the elephant in the room.
“Look Hunter, I’m really sorry for reacting the way I did at the park. It’s just . . .”
With a kind smile, he assured, “No apology needed. I caught you off guard. Some might react with a left hook, so I’ll take panic any day over one to the kisser.”
Too kind, as usual.
And like she needed a reminder of his kisser.
But it was time that she no longer hid, either. Hunter had made reference to taking too long for him to finally tell her. Well, he wasn’t the only one who had been holding onto things that should have been said decades ago.
“It was nice to hear you say it,” she stated softly, as she tucked her hair behind her ear.
He grabbed on the left side of his chest and feigned pain. “Nice? Maybe you should pop me.”
Rolling her eyes at him but smiling the entire time, she replied, “Nice and appreciative and I’m . . . glad I’m not alone on that particular island.”
