Molly glanced around the room at the low ceiling, the print of the New York skyline, and the early white blossom she’d arranged in her one and only vase before leaving for Auckland. She loved living at the bottom of Gloria’s garden, but change was inevitable, no matter what stage of your life.
And her parents would lend her the money for her visa, no question about that, so any obstacles would be of her own making. “When do you need my answer?”
“Soon. I have to let him know.”
“And what about your mother?”
A slight smile played on Jake’s lips. “You know me. It’s my way or the highway.”
Molly burst out laughing. “Stop it. It is not. I bet you’re just as scared of her as I am.”
“We have our moments, that’s for sure. But let’s not sweat it. She’s slowly coming around. Actually, she was strangely supportive last time I talked about you.”
“Stop it. She was not.”
“It’s true. And Dad’s well and truly on board.”
Molly nodded slowly. “Okay.”
“Okay, what?”
“I’ll come.”
“What? Just like that?”
“Sometimes we can overcomplicate things, don’t you agree?”
“I do agree. Does that mean you’ll also disregard Gloria’s rule about gentlemen callers and let me stay the night?”
“It would be rude of me not to.”
Her tiredness aside, by the time they climbed the stairs and readied themselves for bed, Molly was wide awake. Naked, Jake slipped into bed beside her, and as she nestled into his warmth and rested her head on his chest, she relaxed. “Do you think Mason knows about the office thing?”
“Probably not,” he replied. “Do you want me to ask him?”
“Don’t you dare!”
“I know I should feel guilty about it, but… when I saw you on the lawn, gazing up at the stars and swaying to the music, I knew the only place I wanted to be was out there stargazing with you. But then, I got distracted by my dick, and… yeah, not my best move.”
“Well, as moves go, it was right up there.”
He chuckled. “Gloria told me some other guy’s been hanging around you.”
Molly thought back. “That woman is such a stirrer. It was just an electrician who came to fix a broken light. He asked for my number, but I said no. He was hot, though.”
“Would he be the type to read you poetry by candlelight while you soaked in his tub?”
“Never. I’ve only ever met one man who’s done that. He’s hot too.”
“So, he’s not a sloppy kisser?”
She tipped her head and stared up at him, eyes wide. “What? Alexia told you?”
“She did, but given I haven’t kissed her in forever, her one-star review doesn’t count.” Jake pulled her closer and pressed his lips to her crown. “Anyway, we should get some sleep.”
Molly traced her fingers down his happy trail and wrapped her hand around him, her movements soft and gentle. “Yeah, but I keep thinking, what if today were a moody Monday?” She tightened her grip.
“But it’s not.Shit!”
