Kara
I can’t believe the nerve of my so-called friend. Liam knows how I feel about Reid, but he also knows it’s not been long since I split with Sawyer.
“He’s been nagging me for ages to go on a blind date,” Reid says.
We’ve been chatting for ages, catching each other up on recent stuff in our lives. It’s so good seeing him again. I can’t stop looking at his broad chest and the ink that appears below his rolled-up sleeves. He’s wearing a black button down shirt and I store the mental picture to revisit when he’s not around.
“Liam doesn’t do subtle very well, does he?”
“No. He’s about as subtle as a sledgehammer. But I suppose he had good intentions and it’s good to see you, it’s been a while.”
It’s good to see him too. Almost too good.
“I’ll give him good intentions when I next see him at work, maybe even over the phone before then.”
“Are you angry with him?”
He sounds almost upset by this notion.
“No, but I can’t tell him that. I can give him a pretty stern talking to before letting him off the hook.”
“I like the way you think,” Reid responds with a wink as he pulls out his phone.
He dials Liam’s number and motions for me to sit next to him—I’m guessing so that the whole restaurant can’t hear the exchange—so I move as close to him as I can get without seeming too obvious that I want to be closer.
***
After giving Liam a piece of his mind and making the poor guy shit himself thinking we were angry at him, Reid and I decide to leave Madison Avenue and go somewhere quieter for a drink. As we pay our tab, Molly gives Reid a look that I don’t know what to make of. She seems surprised, sad, and a touch angry. I don’t get what she has to get her knickers in a twist over, but let’s just say that service with a smile doesn’t seem to be a part of her job. Perhaps she’s not as nice as she made out in my store, or maybe she’s having an off night. Either way, I won’t let her put a dampener on my evening.
We walk to the taxi rank around the corner and jump in a black cab to The Salamander, a local pub. On the ride, I look over every visible inch of Reid, he’s changed so much, yet so little at the same time. His hair is slightly longer, his body looks like he’s been working out—he’s always had a good body, but he looks more toned—and the stubble on his chin has me wondering what it would feel like if he kissed me. But I’m not fooling myself, this was a ‘blind date’ set up by Liam and Jason—though I have the feeling it’s mainly Liam’s doing—and yes, Reid and I are friends, but that’s all he’ll ever see me as. His sparkling green gaze catches hold of mine, and for a few moments, we seem to be transfixed by each other, but then the taxi pulls to a stop and he gets out of the car, pays the driver, and helps me out.
The Salamander is bustling, but not too crowded. We grab a table in the corner and Reid goes to the bar. We talk for hours about the past. He tells me that he and Zoey have cleared the air, and I’m glad. He knows about Zoey and Brock being engaged and expecting a baby, which doesn’t seem to faze him. I don’t know for sure, as I’ve never been in that situation myself, but I don’t think I’d be as okay as he is to know my ex has moved on and is marrying someone else. But then again, I’ve never been engaged, let alone called a wedding off like they did, so what do I know? He also talks about Jason’s plans for them to start a business together. I tell him a little more about my store and how well things seem to be going and he seems genuinely interested, I imagine most men would be bored of listening to women going on about books, but not once do I sense boredom from him. It’s good to catch up and to be able to talk like old friends without any of the past making it feel awkward. Gladly there are no deafening silences, conversation just seems to flow naturally.
At closing time, Reid helps me into my coat and we walk outside to wait for a taxi he called a few minutes ago. As it pulls up at the kerb, he opens the door for me before getting in the other side. He seems a little quiet on the drive, and I’m not sure how the conversation has dried up. I sit looking out of my window in quiet contemplation. As we pull up outside my house, Reid gets out and comes round to open the door for me. He asks the driver to wait for him and walks me to the doorstep. There seems to be an awkwardness in the air and I choose not to overthink things. For a moment, I want to kiss him goodbye. More than that, I just want to take his face in my hands and kiss him as passionately as possible. But that doesn’t seem to be a good idea. Instead, I kiss him on the cheek, thank him for a good night, and open my front door. I shut the door behind me and hear his footsteps retreating down the path. I close my eyes and lean against the door. I can still smell his cologne in the air and I conjure up a mental image of his eyes. They say that the eyes are the window to the soul. All I know is that he has the most beautiful eyes of any man I know. For a moment, I imagine being wrapped in his arms, feeling warm and safe. I shake myself out of it and make my way to my bedroom.
If tonight has been any indicator of what he’d be like on a real date, then I envy the girl he will eventually start to date.
***
I wish I’d asked Liam to open up this morning. I just don’t feel like being here for some reason. Having said that, I’m hoping Liam shows for work. I haven’t spoken to him since Reid called to tell him we were pissed off at being set up.
Turns out I needn’t have worried because Liam turns up an hour later with a coffee in hand and an apologetic look on his face. I pretend to be cross with him but when he says he’s sorry, I crack. I confess that neither of us were really mad and thankfully Liam sees the funny side. I wanted to pretend to be angry for a while longer, but those sad puppy dog eyes of his tugged at my heartstrings.
Liam’s busy restocking the Indie bookshelves when the doors open and in walks Molly. I smile at her and she gives me this broad smile, one that shows all her perfect teeth. She looks like a catwalk model this morning, dressed in an elegant summer dress with oversized sunglasses. She walks round the store and I don’t see her for a while. I’m hoping that she’s in a better mood than she was over the weekend.
Approaching the counter with a couple of baby books in hand, Molly flashes me another toothy grin and greets me in a chipper tone.
“Kara, how good to see you.”
“Hi Molly. Stocking up on the ‘How To’ books?” I ask as I ring up her purchases.
She still isn’t showing, but I remember her saying she was nearing her twelve week scan, and I know you don’t really have a visible bump by then.
“Yes. Can’t really decide on a name either, so I’ve picked up a name book to try to help.”
“Are things going well?”
“Oh yes,” she says as she roots around in her oversized handbag.
She hands me a small card and I open it to see a scan picture.
“Is this your twelve week scan? It seems so clear. They used to show the baby as more of a little white blob. Technology these days is incredible.”
I know I’m rambling, but I really love babies. I love shopping with Zoey for baby things.
“Yes, I thought that myself when they did the scan. It was incredible to hear the heartbeat and see my baby for the first time.”
“And what about the daddy, is he excited?”
Molly goes quiet for a moment before answering me.
“Actually, he’s not answering my calls or returning my texts.”
As she confesses this, she begins to cry and I race round the counter to comfort her. I walk her towards the coffee bar at the back of the store and ask Liam as we pass him if he can cover the till for a while. We take a seat at one of the tables set out in front of the coffee bar and I fetch us some drinks. Molly is clearly upset, although her tears seem to have abated for now.
“You don’t have to talk about anything you don’t want to, Molly. I’m sure you have other people in your life you can talk to, but know that I’m here for you,” I say as I take the empty seat next to her.
“Actually, I wondered if you could do something for me?” she asks quietly.
“Sure, anything I can do to help.”
She hands me the scan photo again and looks at me with glistening eyes. I offer her a napkin I grabbed when I got our drinks.
“Sorry, I don’t have any tissues to hand.”
“Thanks, this is fine,” she says as she lifts the napkin to dry her tears.
“What can I do to help, Molly?”
“Well, I was hoping you could give that photo to the baby’s dad for me.”
I’m not sure how to respond to that, so I take a sip of my coffee.
“I was going to post it through his door this morning, but I don’t think I can face it, Kara.”
“How can I get it to him?”
There’s a pregnant pause in the air before she speaks again.
“Well, I really didn’t want you to be put in this position, but if you two are seeing each other now, he must have told you I’m pregnant.”
I’m stumped over her response, I’m not seeing anyone, and I can’t think what she could possibly mean.
“You think I’m seeing the father of your child?”
“I’ve seen you together. You came to Madison Avenue over the weekend.”
Shit! I have no clue how to respond. She thinks I’m seeing Reid, that’s one thing. But Reid is the father of her unborn baby? I didn’t even know he and Molly knew each other beyond her being a waitress at the restaurant.
“Y…you mean…Reid.”
I can’t seem to form a proper sentence. My palms are suddenly sweaty and my throat feels like I’ve swallowed cotton wool.
“Yes, Reid Marks is the baby’s father. You mean to say you didn’t know?”
I don’t know whether to set her straight about me and Reid or not. I can’t think straight. Any hopes I had—as foolish as they may have been—of a relationship with Reid have now been blown out of the water. I take another sip of my coffee, noticing a slight tremor in my hand as I lift the cup.
“I’m sorry, Kara,” Molly says as she reaches out and places a hand over mine.
“Don’t be sorry, Molly, you’ve done nothing wrong.”
“I would have imagined he would have told you. How long have you two been together?”
“We’re not.”
I can’t speak around the lump that’s forming in my throat.
“Oh!”
We sit in silence for a few moments. That quiet is broken by the sound of a chair scraping the floor as Molly moves to stand.
“I’m so sorry, Kara. I shouldn’t have involved you. I assumed you were seeing him as I saw you two looking cosy together the other night. I shouldn’t have presumed anything and I shouldn’t be putting you in the middle.”
The words rush from her mouth so that it sounds like one run-on word.
“Molly,” I say and she pauses, “I’ll give him the picture.”
I don’t know why I suddenly agree to put myself in the middle. I feel sorry for her. She may look like she has it pretty much together, but it’s obvious that she’s distressed and if I can help then I will.
“No, Kara, it’s okay. I’ll find another way.”
I stand and meet her gaze.
“I’ll do it. I don’t want you to be under any extra stress, that’s not going to do you or the baby any good.”
I pick up the scan photo from where I left it on the table and then I take her arm. I walk her towards the front of the store and grab the bag with the books she purchased. She stands and looks at me in quiet contemplation for a moment.
“Thank you,” she whispers as she turns on her heel and walks away.
I slip the scan photo into my handbag and make sure not to let Liam see, though he’s busy serving a customer. He would only want to know all the little details and I don’t feel it’s right to tell him anything before speaking to Reid—although, for all I know, Liam could know about it already. But then I wonder why he would have set the two of us up on a date if he knew. I really don’t know what to think or feel right now. I have no right to feel any resentment, they were obviously together at some point and that’s none of my business. The truth of the matter is that Reid is not beholden to me in any way, but I would have thought he would have said something about it on our ‘date.’ Now I just need to figure out how I get it to him without making either of us feel awkward.
***
I am just closing the store when Liam asks how the date went.
“It wasn’t a date, it was two friends catching up,” I reply, my defence mechanisms already in place.
“It was more than that, Kara. I’ve already had the lowdown from Reid about how great it was for him. I just wondered if you felt the same.”
“The lowdown? How old are you again?” I try my best to sound jokey and upbeat.
“Okay, whatever you want to call it. Reid has told me all about his night, well, no, I kind of had to drag it out of him, but he told me eventually.”
“I had a good night with an old friend.”
“You only see him as a friend? Are you sure?”
“What is this, Liam, the Spanish Inquisition? Yes, Reid and I are friends, we’ve known each other for years. It was good to catch up with him, as I haven’t seen him in a while. That’s all it was.”
I head for my car and Liam follows me like a puppy.
“Well, it’s not for me to say, but I think our Reid sees you as more than a mere friend.”
He air quotes the word friend and I feel the colour spread across my cheeks.
“Go home, Liam.”
I make a shooing motion and he obediently goes to his own car.
Getting into my car, I start the engine but don’t pull away. I close my eyes for a moment and wonder how this will all play out. Reid’s having a baby. One it seems like he doesn’t want anything to do with if he’s not answering Molly’s calls or texts. Or maybe that’s too presumptive, maybe he’s avoiding Molly because they had a bad break-up but he’ll want to know the baby when it’s born. I don’t have all the answers, in fact I don’t have any. So I make the drive home with the stereo turned up to blast the cobwebs from my mind.