Chapter Seventeen
Molly
“This was incredible,” I said, sopping up the last of the sauce from my veal parmesan with a piece of bread. “I can’t remember the last time I had Italian food that was this good.”
Alex nodded. “They do it well,” he said. He cocked his head to the side. “Where the hell did my sister go?”
I shrugged. “I was hoping she’d come back at some point, but maybe she just left and went home,” I said. Guilt stabbed me in the chest – deep down, I was pretty sure she’d left. I felt terrible. She’d told me not to leave her alone with Rob, but we hadn’t been gone for that long. What the hell had happened between them?
“Rob, did Rebecca say…I don’t know, anything,” I asked, biting my lip. “Like, did she say she was tired or anything?”
Rob shrugged. “I don’t know, I wasn’t really paying attention,” he said. He eyed me closely for what felt like the first time. “She’s an interesting girl, Molly.”
“Yeah,” I said. “I know, we’ve been best friends for a really long time.”
The waiter came back to ask if anyone wanted dessert. Truthfully, nothing sounded better than a plate full of overstuffed cannoli, but I knew I couldn’t stay any longer. When I declined, Alex picked up the check and soon, we were out in the parking lot. I tilted my head back to look at the stars – sometimes, on clear nights, I could actually see them despite being so close to the city.
“So, you wanna come back to my place?” Alex asked, raising an eyebrow and smirking. “I noticed you didn’t have any dessert, but I think I’ve got some ice cream or cookies or something.”
My stomach rumbled and we both laughed.
“I want to,” I said, my voice full of obvious longing. My pussy was still wet and throbbing from the fucking Alex had given me back at La Casa Pasta, but I also felt guilty. “But I really should go home. I’m kind of worried about Rebecca.”
Alex snorted. “She’s a big girl, she can take care of herself. Come on, it’s early.” He raised an eyebrow. “We can…I don’t know, watch a movie or something.”
I narrowed my eyes. “You really want me to come home with you?”
“No, I’m fucking with you,” Alex said sarcastically. “Yes! I want you to come home with me,” he added. “Molly, come on.”
“And…you want me to sleep there?” I asked skeptically. “I thought you didn’t do that, Alex. I thought you didn’t ask girls to spend the night.”
Alex was silent for a long moment. He shrugged. “I don’t, normally,” he said. “But it might not be that bad.”
I frowned. Somehow, it wasn’t the answer I’d wanted to hear, even if it was the most likely option.
“What?” Alex asked. “Why are you being so quiet?”
I shrugged, feeling helpless. “I don’t know,” I whispered. “I’m sorry.”
“Well, stop, just come over, okay?”
“Alex, I really can’t,” I said, whining a little bit. “Rebecca’s probably really mad at me. She didn’t even want me to leave the table and go to the bathroom with you.”
“Well, fuck her, I don’t care,” Alex said. He shook his head. “You girls, I don’t fucking get it. Why are you all so goddamn needy?”
“What?” I squinted. “Look, you know how she is,” I said. “She’s kind of…high maintenance.”
Alex sighed. “You know what, fine, I’ll take you home.” He looked at me and narrowed his eyes. “I just thought you would’ve jumped at the chance to spend more time with me, Molly.”
“I would, normally,” I said. “Please, you have to believe me. But this is different – I’m really worried about her. What did Rob say to her to make her leave?”
“He probably didn’t say anything,” Alex said, clearly irritated. “Look, how do you feel about me, anyway?”
I stared at him, my mouth hanging open.
Alex steered the Mustang down my street and parked in front of my apartment. He kept the engine running, but he stared at me, his icy blue eyes filling me with nervous anxiety and confusion.
Oh, I don’t know, I thought sarcastically. I have no idea! Just that I’ve loved you since I was in middle school, and I never in a million years thought you’d pay attention to me! And now, here we are – practically dating!
I swallowed hard. There was no way I could tell Alex how I really felt. I couldn’t even come close – he’d never want to hear my adolescent ramblings about how sexy I’d always found him. And I didn’t want to ruin a good thing. I wasn’t sure how this would end, but part of me knew that someday, it would. And I just wanted to enjoy it, enjoy Alex, as long as I could without doing something stupid to mess it up. Because I always did – I was always dumb enough to fuck up whatever good thing was going on in my life.
“I don’t want to talk about this,” I said, swallowing nervously. My eyes filled with tears. “Alex, please, don’t make me tell you.”
Alex frowned. “Fine,” he said. “Bye, Molly.” He put his hands on the wheel and stared straight ahead, whistling under his breath.
My heart sank. He’s not even going to try to convince me to stay, I thought sadly. He doesn’t give a crap about me!
I pushed open the door and climbed out of Alex’s Mustang, my thighs still unpleasantly slippery. He pulled away from the curb almost immediately and I was sniffling and crying by the time I let myself inside.
Rebecca narrowed her eyes when she saw me. “Molly, what the hell! Why did you disappear forever?”
I gaped. “Me, disappear? Are you kidding? You’re the one who left the restaurant!”
“Because I told you not to leave me alone with him,” Rebecca said, balling her hands into fists. “You’re crying. What happened?”
I sniffled. “I don’t know. Alex…Alex told me he wanted to know how I feel about him, but there’s no way I could tell him! Not now! I don’t want to ruin this.”
Rebecca eyed me for a long time. “Well, I don’t really know what to say, Molly. You have to be honest with him if you want this to work.”
“No! It’s too scary,” I said, wiping my nose with my finger. “There’s no way I could ever tell him that I’m falling in love with him!”
Rebecca sighed and closed her eyes. “Well, it’s your decision,” she said. “I’m going to bed. I’m exhausted.”
As soon as she left the room, I burst into tears.