Cleo handed the last of the drinks across the counter and turned back to her friend and boyfriend. She’d never seen Molly rendered speechless before. Giving Linc a surreptitious sharp shake of her head to get him to stop, she pulled her brows low.
He nodded and placed a gift bag on the counter.
“What’s this for?”
“I figured you could do with a little pick me up.” His nonchalant shrug didn’t distract from the slight blush staining his cheeks.
“Should I open it now?”
He shook his head. Picking up her hand, he tugged her toward him over the counter. He kissed her forehead. “Call you after my game?”
“Mmhmm. And thanks for whatever this is.” She nudged the bag on the countertop while he backed away a few paces.
He blew her a kiss, and her heart squeezed as he left.
“I never thought I’d see the day when that jock found someone who made him smile like that, Cleo Martinez.” Molly was still watching the door, but her voice was thick with raw emotion. “I’ve watched these guys since we started college. I know…”
She held up a hand as she turned to Cleo. “That sounds creepy AF. But I have. I’ve watched them on and off the ice.” She shrugged.
“Waiting for one of them to fuck up, or for a salacious story to fall in my lap for the paper. But he’s been the golden boy. Top player, grades never drop below what he needs to stay in school, and while he’s dated, he’s never had a reputation for sleeping around or leaving a trail of broken hearts in his wake. He’s just been… aloof? When he’s with you, he’s warmer. That lopsided, panty-melting grin of his could light up the national grid. And I’m not even his friend, just an observer.”
What Molly was saying made sense, but a tiny voice at the back of Cleo’s head reminded her that the night they met he was having a one night stand with the woman who left her bra in his dorm room. Cleo shook her head and cleaned the counter, again.
“Shake your head and deny it all you want, girlfriend. But you’re different too. You’re more at ease, more comfortable in your own skin, and dare I say it, there’s the slightest hint of confidence creeping into your everyday life and as your best friend… I. Am. Here. For. It.”
Was she at long last becoming more confident?
“What’s that look? Hm? The words you’re searching for are: Molly, you’re right, I’m head over heels in love with Lincoln Scott, and it’s totally okay. Better than okay.”
Cleo giggled. “I’m worried about you. What Linc said… did he see something? Did something happen with Finn? Have I been so caught up in Linc and… everything that I missed something?”
“No ma’am. This is not about me, and there is nothing happening with Finn. Didn’t you hear? He was out on a date with some ballet dancer last week. Not for the first time, either. People areshippingthem.” She waved a dismissive hand. “Not that I’m bitter about it, obviously.”
“Obviously.”
“Anyway, this is a tequila conversation, not a coffee shop conversation. Let’s see what Linc dropped off for you.”
Cleo opened the bag, pushing the pale pink tissue paper aside and slid her hands around the neck of a glass bottle.
“Pink moscato. The boy can pick a wine.” Molly plucked the bottle from her hands and admired the bottle. “For you at least. The rest of us have standards. Would it have killed him to grab a good Merlot?”
“Ew.” Cleo wrinkled her nose in disgust. “He knows I’d never touch the stuff.”
“Yes, but I feel like he needs to work harder to win over your best friend.”
Cleo pulled a raspberry lemonade scented bath bomb from the bag, followed by a pink clay face mask, a multi-pack of Russell Stover mallows, a box of hot tamales, a share-size bag of dill pickle Lays, and a box of ibuprofen. At the bottom of the bag was his blue Snow Pirates hoody she secretly lusted over and a copy of the latest Lucy Score novel she hadn’t yet picked up from the bookstore.
“Daaaamn. Anyone would think you’re on your period or something. This is a top-notch, self-care care-package if ever I saw one.”
Cleo smiled and tidied the gifts back into the bag. “I do have my period.”
“What? Wait. You’re telling me Lincoln Scott, jock extraordinaire, Mr. Never settling down. Mr. my life is all hockey, all the time... Brought you a period package… to work… on a game day, on his way to the rink?” Molly fanned her face.
“I think I need a lie down. I’m swooning so hard right now. If I had a dick, it would definitely be at least al dente for the guy. Who knew he wasn’t a douche goblin? So… hockey players might not have all their own teeth, but some of them have kind hearts? Why did no one tell me? I feel like my world is unraveling at the seams right now. Can you call 9-1-1? I think I’m having a heart attack. Wait. Does this mean my brother’s not a dick? I have so many questions.”
Two groups of four came into the café as the group of six left. Cleo threw her cleaning cloth at Molly. “Shut up.”
“Accept it, Cleo. You’re dating a hottie with a huge heart. In all my years of menstruating, I’ve never had a brother, or a boyfriend, bring me a period care package like that. I asked an ex to grab me tampons once. He laughed in my face and told me to get them myself.”
