That Thing You Do (A Crystal Lake Novel Book 2)

by Juliana Stone

  Then she thought about the things she didn’t say, the things he didn’t acknowledge, and she realized she’d never felt as empty and used up as she did this morning. It was as if all the joy and light in the world had been sucked out of the universe, and she had no idea how to get it back.

  Slowly, Molly slid from the bed and reached for the dress that lay in an uncaring, crumpled mess on the floor. She put it on and avoided herself in the mirror, because holy hell, it felt like she’d been put through the wringer. There was a note on the desk, along with Nate’s jacket. She closed her eyes and inhaled him, savoring the moment until she knew she needed to let go or lose it completely. She shrugged on the jacket, glad it covered the state of her dress, and grabbed the note.

  Moll,

  I was up early and didn’t want to wake you. Last night was incredible, and now that it’s time for me to leave, I don’t quite know what to say. These past few weeks were a total surprise, but a good one, and I hope you feel the same. I’m not quite sure where we go from here, but please know no matter what the future brings, you’ll always be my oldest and best friend. That will never change. I plan to be back at Thanksgiving and hope to see you. Until then, take care of yourself and my little girl, Petal. I arranged a ride for you. Just call up the main office.

  Nate

  Molly stared at the letter until her eyes watered and blurred. After everything they’d shared over the last fourteen days, it seemed so damn impersonal, like a note you’d leave for a friend, not a lover. But what did she expect? Hadn’t she been the one to set the tone the night before?

  She tucked the note into the pocket of Nate’s jacket before calling for her cab. It took her a few minutes to make the bed and tidy up so that it looked as if no one had spent the night. Molly took one last look around the small, intimate cabin and then walked outside. It was still early, barely eight o’clock, but there was the family brunch to get through, and though she wanted nothing more than to crawl into her bed and ignore the world, her family would definitely not respect that boundary.

  They would expect an explanation for her disappearing act, and she needed time to come up with something plausible. She didn’t bother to check her cell phone. She’d heard it blowing up in her clutch the night before, and she wasn’t in the mood to be chastised. She knew it was wrong to leave her brother’s wedding without a word to anyone, but to have that last night with Nathan, she’d do it again in a heartbeat.

  She let herself into her home, tossed her heels, and padded silently up the stairs—she wasn’t up to facing Janelle just yet—but found her bedroom empty, with Janelle’s things gone. It was the only bright spot so far, because she couldn’t put into words the relief she felt at not having to see her cousin at brunch.

  Molly was a bag of nerves by the time she got to The Diner. It was a small mom-and-pop shop that had been in the downtown core as long as she could remember. The owners, Frank and Delilah Coldwell, hadn’t changed a thing since Frank’s father had opened the place back in the late sixties. It had linoleum tables and black-and-white-checkerboard floors, a jukebox in the corner, and straight-up Americana food. It was the kind of food you ate with relish and then felt guilty about eating, so you immediately headed to the gym. If you were counting calories, this wasn’t the place for you.

  She parked across the street and watched as her nana walked inside with Aunt Sally, followed by her mother and father. She sat back for a few moments and then realized it would just be better to get it over with. She slid from the truck and strode across the street with purpose, feeling like she was heading into an ambush.

  When she pushed open the door, Jess’s face was the first she saw. Her new sister-in-law smiled widely and beckoned for her to sit across from her, while her parents nodded and waved but then got back to whatever it was they were discussing with Jess’s folks, while Nana Malone and Aunt Sally ignored her altogether. Zach and the boys said nothing about the night before, didn’t mention Nate, and they definitely didn’t ask where she’d been or come from.

  It was as if she’d walked into the Twilight Zone.

  At first, Molly was on pins and needles, waiting for the other shoe to drop, for that one question that led to one hundred she didn’t want to answer. But as everyone ordered food and the topic turned to Zach and Jess’s honeymoon in Bali, she began to relax. She wondered who’d effectively embargoed the subject of Nathan and Molly, because someone obviously had, but in the end, she didn’t care. She was grateful to sit and listen, pasting a smile to her face when it was appropriate and nodding yes or no when expected.

  She managed to get through brunch without so much as a backhanded comment. If anything, she expected Mike to ride her a little bit. When brunch was over, Molly got up, hoping to sneak away before anyone notice, but she wasn’t so lucky. Her nana cornered her near the jukebox and insisted she give her a ride back to Molly’s parents. Her explanation was questionable. She told Molly that her father had downed an entire carton of goat’s milk, which apparently didn’t smell so good once that person perspired. According to Nana Malone, her son perspired a lot.

  It sounded fishy to Molly, but she wasn’t about to make a scene. She led her nana back to her truck and, once the old woman was buckled up, headed back across the bridge to the south side of town where her parents lived.

  The music was on. Molly knew she was in for it when she was asked to turn it down. Almost immediately, Nana Malone turned to her.

  “I see you left early with your young man last night.”

  She nodded, because it wasn’t as if she could deny it, though she turned to her grandmother with a frown. “Why didn’t anyone say anything at brunch?’

  “Oh, they did plenty of talking last night and then again this morning. Good Lord, it was all anyone was talking about. Why, your mother nearly had a cow when she found out you’d been carrying on with Nathan this whole time.”

  Molly groaned. “I can imagine.”

  Nana chuckled. “She was miffed that you didn’t tell her, but then she got real annoyed when your father told everyone he wasn’t surprised. In fact, he’s known for a while.”

  “What?” Shocked, Molly darn near drove off the road. She pulled up in front of her parents’ and put the truck in Park. “What do you mean he knew?”

  “Apparently, he saw the two of you canoodling. Do you know what that word means? Because I sure didn’t and had to look it up. It means the two of you were—”

  “Yes, I know what it means, Nana.”

  “Well, he saw you two canoodling at the country club dinner just he week before, and he said it all made sense.”

  “What made sense?”

  “Oh, I don’t know,” Nana said with a grin. “You’ll have to ask him.” She reached for the door and paused. “Did you tell him how you feel?”

  Molly slowly shook her head. “No. It didn’t seem like the right time.”

  “Uh-huh.” Nana opened the door but looked at her one last time before getting out. “You might want to make time, my dear, because life doesn’t follow a straight road. You might take a left somewhere along the way, and before you know it, your chance is long gone. You’ve hit a dead end and you’re weighted down with a truckload of regret. You don’t want that now, do you?”

  “It’s not that simple, Nana.”

  “That’s what most folks like to believe, but the truth is that it is that simple.” She winked and slid out of Molly’s truck. “I’ll be back for Thanksgiving, and hopefully by then, you’ll have found out I’m right.”

  Molly waited until her grandmother was safely inside the house and then headed to the grocery story to pick up a few things. By the time she made the rounds, her cart was full. She nodded to a few clients as she waited in the checkout line, which looked busy. She pulled out her phone so she could scroll through the bazillion messages from the previous evening, and, not paying attention to much else, inched forward as the woman in front of her did. It wasn’t until Molly began to unload her stuff onto
the belt that she realized it was Chess Somers in front of her.

  She was dressed in a pair of baggy sweatpants, an oversized sweater in faded red, and her long blonde hair had been pulled up into a loose pony. She was makeup free, and Molly got the feeling she kept her face averted because she didn’t want to speak to her. Which suited Molly just fine.

  The cashier rang up the order and took Chess’s debit card, but after three attempts, returned it, saying a little too loudly that it had been declined. Each time.

  “Oh.” Chess fumbled through her purse, looking for cash, but the order was close to eighty-five dollars and she only had thirty-two. She began to return items, picking and choosing what she needed, apologizing profusely, when the woman behind Molly began to complain loudly.

  Molly saw Chess’s hands were shaking, and when she saw a tear slide down her cheek as she began to return a block of cheese, she stepped forward.

  “I’ve got this,” Molly said to the cashier. “I’ll cover the rest.”

  Chess looked shocked, her cheeks beet red. “No, I… There’s something wrong with the card. I’ll come back.”

  “It’s okay. You can pay me later.” Molly handed the cashier her debit card, while the woman continued to complain behind them, each comment more insulting than the last.

  Chess’s voice was clipped as she gathered up her bags. “I’ll make sure you get your cash right away.” She didn’t say goodbye or thank you, and for one minute, Molly felt like taking it all back. But then the woman from behind nudged her, a look of near delight on her face.

  “You’re nicer than me, because I would not have done that. She’s no different from her mother. All high and mighty, thinking the world owes them something just because of the way they look. Now look at them. Living in the motel just off the main road and barely able to pay their bills. If you ask me, the both of them are getting what they deserve, and if that young one doesn’t change, she’ll end up an alcoholic just like her mother.”

  Molly ignored the woman, but her words wouldn’t leave her. Not after she hauled her groceries home and put them away. Or when she took out a can of soup and heated it up for dinner. It seemed that Chess Somers had fallen on hard times. And while there might have been a time when the thought of it would give Molly some kind of satisfaction, at the moment, it made her tired. And sad.

  It was only later, when she pulled out a blanket and flopped onto the sofa, that she thought of something else and acknowledged the pain that had jabbed her in the heart hours ago and never left. It was big and deep and wide, and she had no idea how she was going to live with it.

  But then she realized that moping and feeling sorry for herself wasn’t going to do anything beyond making herself more miserable. She knew that being in a perpetual state of sadness wondering about what could have been would only bring her down. Sure, things weren’t great, but she had a life. She had a job she loved, and friends and family and a home she owned and all the bills that came with it, bills she could afford to pay. So even though it seemed like she was missing a big chunk of something, something she never really had, if she were being honest, she still had a hell of a lot more than some folks. And yes, there was a hole in her heart the size of the Grand Canyon, but she supposed there were lots of folks walking the earth with that same hole.

  She thought of Chess. Of the bleak look in her eyes, the embarrassment and sadness. She thought of the complainer and her nasty words. In the space of a few minutes, the woman who’d been a thorn in her side for most of her adolescent life had managed to make her see through the façade and find the scared, insecure woman who lived there. Chess was obviously dealing with a lot, and it was the kind of stuff she had no control over. Money. Job. Alcoholic mother.

  Molly could control this. She could learn to live with a broken heart.

  Couldn’t she?

  She picked up her cell phone and saw two missed calls from Nate. She sent him a text message because the sound of his voice might take her down one of those snaky roads her nana was talking about, and she couldn’t afford the time it would take to get back to where she needed to be.

  Hope your flight was good. Talk soon.

  Baby steps, she thought, settling back onto the sofa.

  Baby steps.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  New York in October was something to behold. Especially when the Yankees were on the hunt for a berth in the World Series, and the Rangers were off to a great start. This year in particular, the weather was gorgeous, with highs of seventy degrees and lots of sunshine, meaning the city was busy not only with tourists, but the New Yorkers were out in full force enjoying it while they could. Everyone knew the weather could turn on a dime. One week you could walk to work in shorts, the next? You’d be hauling out your knit hats, mittens, and wool overcoats.

  Nate was busier than ever with several key clients migrating from Tucker’s roster to his. He loved his job, no question there, but every morning, he woke up and something was missing.

  Molly.

  They’d fallen into a habit of texting each other in the evening, carrying on a conversation about their day. It was nice because it made Nate feel like he was part of Molly’s life, but frustrating as hell because they didn’t talk about anything that mattered. Not really.

  Nate would tell Molly about a new client he’d just signed or some outrageous contract demand he’d managed to secure. While Molly would update him on Fred Nagel’s dog, who’d graduated from eating carpet and antique lace tablecloths to faux fur coats and hardwood flooring. She’d give him updates on Petal and her brother Zach (because he was bad at keeping in touch), and last night, she’d had dinner with his brother. It was innocent. She’d popped into the Coach House for a bite to eat on her way home, and Beck had been there alone, but it did nothing to dampen the jealousy that bloomed in his chest.

  He’d thought of nothing but her and Beck all night. Or her and some other guy.

  Nathan tossed his pen and rubbed his eyes, leaning back in his chair, as he tried to clear his head. The door to his office opened, and he all but growled.

  “Patrick, do not disturb means don’t fucking disturb. I just got a contract back from legal, and I need to go over it before I head home, and another to take with me, so whatever it is can wait.”

  “Someone crap in your cornflakes this morning?”

  Nate’s eyes flew open as Tucker Simon walked into his office. He got to his feet. “Sorry, boss. It’s been a hell of a week.”

  Tucker shook his hand and nodded. “I hear you just landed the next gymnastic superstar, Maja Lane.”

  “I did. She’s amazing. I drove out to her training facility. I’ve never seen anything like her. She’s strong and smart and appealing. She’ll do great.”

  Tucker sank into one of the club chairs in front of Nate’s desk. “And the Mason kid is impressing.”

  “Yeah. He smoked training camp, and so far, in the five games he’s played, he’s racked up seven points. Management is pumped and already looking at locking him down for more than the initial two-year contract we took.”

  “Good. Now they’ll pay what he’s worth.”

  Nate nodded.

  “Any more news on Link Major?”

  “He quit soccer altogether. Says he’s going to take some time and keep his options open.”

  Tucker didn’t bother to hide his surprise. “Didn’t see that coming.”

  “No one did, especially his team.” He paused. “I thought you weren’t coming to the office until next week.”

  “Abby’s brother finally popped the question to the woman who’s put up with him for the last couple of years. They’re having an engagement party at the family pub. You should come. Pretty sure Fiona’s working.”

  Fiona was a bartender at the Black Dog, the pub Abby’s family owned and operated not far from Times Square. When Tucker was in town, he frequented the place, and over the last several years, it had become one of Nate’s haunts. Fiona was a woman he’d seen casual
ly in the past.

  “I think I’ll pass.” He pointed to his desk. “I’ve got this contract to finish up, and it will probably take me a few hours. I’ve got another one, so I’ll just head home. Thanks for the invite, though, and tell your wife I said hello.”

  “When did hell go and freeze over?”

  Nate’s eyebrows shot up. “What’s that?”

  “Just never thought I’d see the day you passed up an evening with a pretty lady to stay home and read over contracts.”

  Nate shrugged. “Just not feeling social these days, I guess.”

  “I guess.” Tucker sat forward. “Who is she?”

  Son of a bitch, the guy was good. “What makes you think there’s a woman?”

  “Because only a woman would make a guy so crazy, he’d rather sit home and read contracts on a Friday night in New York City.”

  Nate steepled his fingers and sighed. There was no point in denying or diverting. Tucker Simon was relentless.

  “Her name is Molly.”

  “And?”

  “And she’s a girl I’ve known my whole life.”

  “Uh-huh.” Tucker nodded. “Keep going.”

  “She’s a veterinarian.”

  “So she’s smart.”

  “Whip smart.” He paused, happy to think about her. “She’s an amazing athlete, tells the lamest jokes on the planet, but she does it in such a way you can’t help but laugh. She cares about her family something fierce, loves animals, obviously. She’s got a twin, another lifelong friend, Zach, the guy that got married. She eats the bottom of an ice cream cone first, her hair smells like vanilla, she’s tall enough that I don’t have to bend over all the time just to have a conversation, but small enough that I…”

  Shit. He’d gone and become that guy. The one who blabs like a kid who just got laid for the first time.