Molly’s smile faded, despite her best efforts, and the couch squeaked when she shifted her weight.
Rob did in fact have a large social network. Not Molly. With the divorce, their theoretically mutual friends had all fallen his way, and thank heavens for that. At the risk of sounding very sour grapes-y, he was welcome to those self-important blowhards. She’d always kept a certain distance from them for a reason.
“I...” Her lips pursed, but she forced herself to tell the truth. “Not really. It’s... it’s hard when you work from home.”
Lise’s soft right thigh nudged Molly’s left. A gesture of silent support.
“I bet.” From behind her smudged lenses, Athena’s warm hazel gaze studied Molly. “You know, I haven’t lived in Harlot’s Bay all that long. I learned one thing pretty quickly, though: If people here care about you, they don’t stop caring. Even when you do your best to drop off the face of the Earth, they’ll still try like hell to be there for you. In certain cases, to the point of committing illegal acts.”
Her tone was fondly reminiscent, her smile sweet as she caught her husband’s eye.
Molly blinked at her, befuddled once more.
“Wait.” Lise leaned forward and craned her neck to see past Molly to Athena. “What’s this about illegal acts?”
“Trespassing, for example. Breaking and entering too.” Without elaborating further, Athena got back on topic. “Anyway, Molly, my point is this: If you ever find yourself needing a friend—in Harlot’s Bay, in California, or wherever you go—all you have to do is contact one of us. We’ll come running.”
Something about the sincerity in the other woman’s voice caused Molly’s eyes to prickle.
“Thank you,” she said quietly, then ducked her head and stared at the carpet for a few seconds, struggling to regain her equanimity.
“I was just thinking...” Lise’s hand rested gently on Molly’s forearm. “I bet we can even set things up so you can attend the Nasty Wenches meetings virtually, Mol, if you’d be interested in that.”
Molly murmured anotherthank you, unsure what else to say.
Sheshouldn’tbe interested. Why the hell would anyone participate in a book club meeting from across an entire continent, after having met most of the members only once?
The problem: Shewasinterested. More than interested.Eager.
For the first time since her divorce, her isolation out in LA no longer felt benign. She’d tried so hard to insist that she didn’t need companionship, didn’t need anyone other than herself, but... she should admit the truth, at least in the privacy of her own mind.
She was lonely.
And even once Janel returned to the couch and called the meeting back to order, Molly couldn’t banish a persistent, uncomfortable thought.
She might leave Karl and Harlot’s Bay. She might have excellent reasons for doing so.
But the possible future she might have had with him, in this place... it might not ever leaveher.
Since Lise had a deadline fast approaching, she hugged Molly goodbye and left quickly at the end of the meeting—and as soon as Karl spied the empty couch space, he dodged his crowd of concerned Wenches and claimed the spot for himself. Tired eyesringed by dark circles, arms folded over his barrel chest, he waited with barely leashed impatience for Janel to finish chatting.
He clearly wanted a private conversation with Molly. Janel clearly didn’t give a damn.
“Have you considered getting your own espresso machine?” The other woman bounced on her cushion a little. “Because I have to tell you, it’s transformative. I don’t know what I’d do without mine.”
Honestly? Janel owning an espresso machine explaineda lot.
“I do like fancy lattes, as I’ve recently discovered,” Molly admitted.
“That’s what I heard!” Janel grinned, looking highly amused. “Gourmet sandwiches too, if the local gossip is correct.”
“Town of damn busybodies,” Karl mutter-shouted, and Molly rubbed her ringing ear.
Janel ignored him. “What’s your favorite latte flavor so far?”
“Lavender white chocolate.” The thought of re-creating that deliciousness at home was tempting, but... “My kitchen’s kind of compact, unfortunately. I’m not sure I have the counter space for another appliance.”
The revelation didn’t dampen Janel’s enthusiasm even one iota. “If you want to try out mine, you’re welcome anytime. Or if you want to just hang out and catch up, that’s great too. My husband’s bowling league meets on Thursday nights, so—”
