Page 13 of Worth Loving
And rather than get to work, she checked her phone to see Erika’s text asking more about her date.
She had thirty minutes, so he made the call and hoped her sister answered.
“Oh, you decided to call me back?”
“I wasn’t going to but I just got off the phone with Mom.”
Erika laughed. “How much did she tick you off?”
“She doesn’t mean to but always does. I ended up telling her I had a date last night because she said I never go out and should be able to make time to have dinner with her.”
Erika sighed. “She’s been asking me but it’s hard with the kids and Mike. It’s not like she wants a family dinner, just me.”
Typical of her mother. Just wanted her kids to herself, but she didn’t when they all lived at home.
“Well, I know the game she plays and I don’t want any part of it.”
“Good for you. Tell me about this date. Ruby texted me to see if I had heard anything. Sorry I missed your call last night, but glad she was around for you.”
“Me too. Did she show you the picture of how I looked?”
“Yep. And I really wish I wasn’t at dinner with Mike for his work event last night.”
“It’s fine. My date flopped, but I went to a bar to have a drink, get some food, and chill. I ended up talking to the bartender all night. He was so hot. I can’t believe he was even talking to me.”
“Molly. Come on. You’ve got a great personality when you let it out.”
“I always let it out.” Her sister’s snort said otherwise. “Well, most times with people I know. And I didn’t know him. I get it. It probably had more to do with how I looked, but oh well, not a big deal. I at least had fun.”
“Enough fun to do it again?” Erika asked.
“Maybe,” she said, her voice dropping.
“Good for you! If I weren’t married I’d go with you, but honestly, I just don’t feel right going to a bar without my husband.”
“I went to Pulse. There is a restaurant in the back. Maybe you and I and Ruby could go to dinner sometime. I mean not there, but somewhere.”
Erika was roaring with laughter. “Oh no. You want to go back there. To see that bartender again, huh?”
“Maybe a little bit.”
“Then I’ll talk to Ruby and we’ll see if we can make it happen.”
“Thanks, Erika. I appreciate it. All of it. You’ve always been there for me and still are.”
“Hey, I get it. I saw what you went through. It was bullcrap but you got through. I’m not sure I could have.”
She laughed. She knew her sister was only trying to make her feel better. “You would have and you know it. You’re stronger than me.”
“Don’t be so sure. You always knock yourself down for no reason. I mean it, Molly. Anyone you end up with, they are going to be lucky as hell.”
She hoped so. Someday.
5
SAME CONFIDENCE
“Hello again,” Dean said to Molly when she walked into the bar around two. “I wasn’t sure I’d see you again.”
