Mom stroked Molly’s arm. “It’s going to be okay. Will was way out of line to say those things to you, he has a lot of ground to make up before things can go back to anywhere near normal. But it’ll happen. I have faith.”
Dad nodded. “Make him grovel for a while first.” He winked.
Molly took another drink of coffee, letting their words filter into her blood with the caffeine. “Makehimgrovel? I’m the one who…” Her cheeks flared again. “Who is with his best friend.”
“You followed your heart, Bug. Will was ugly. Even in the heat of the moment his reaction wasn’t cool. He knows as much as anyone how you can’t take back what you say once you say it. He’s the one who’s at fault here, not you.” Dad paused and covered his face with his hand. “Though maybe next time you could do us all a favor and hold back on the sex in our garage part.”
***
Finn:You awake?
Molly:Yeah. You okay?
Finn:Let me in?
Molly hopped out of bed, tugging a shirt over her head as she made her way out of her bedroom and to the front door.
Blood dripped from a cut over Finn’s eye, and bruises darkened his cheekbone and jaw. Her stomach dropped. “You weren’t supposed to go to the cages.”
She led him inside, closing the door behind him. “Sit.” She pointed at the couch and took off to find the first aid kit in the bathroom.
Linc poked out of Cleo’s bedroom. “Everything okay?” His hair was mussed and mercifully he wasn’t completely naked.
Molly nodded. “Just Finn.”
Linc arched an eyebrow and opened the door wider. Molly put a hand on his bare shoulder. “I got him. Thanks, though.”
She hurried into the bathroom and grabbed the first aid bag from the cupboard above the sink. On her way back to the living room, she stopped in the kitchen to get a bowl of warm water and a washcloth. “What happened to Austin taking good care of you?” She sighed. “This might need stitches, Finny.”
He shook his head. “It doesn’t. You’ve cleaned up worse.”
He was right, she had.
“I saw Will.” Finn sat upright, blood still trickling down the side of his face.
A chill passed through her. “What? But we agreed to let him cool off. We said…” She took a shaky breath. “What happened?”
“I know I’m supposed to fly the ‘we don’t need him as long as we’ve got each other we’re fine’ flag, but it’s hard. I’ve been scared of his reaction to this since before I ever thought about taking it beyond friendship. Him finding out isn’tabig deal, it’s the biggest deal.”
Molly nodded. “I know.”
“I couldn’t let it drop. I couldn’t let him think this wasn’t end game for me.”
Her heart fluttered as she dabbed at the blood trickling down his face.
“I couldn’t let him think I’d even think about throwing our friendship away over a one-and-done thing.”
“What did he say?”
The corner of Finn’s lips tugged into a humorless smile. “He hit me.” He ran his fingers along a bruise on the right side of his jaw.
“He didn’t!” She dipped the edge of the washcloth into the warm water and squeezed off the excess.
“He did. Not bad for a lover not a fighter.” He shook his head. “It didn’t escalate far, the guys made sure of that. I don’t think he’s ready to talk, or listen just yet though. I hope he’ll come around.”
Molly swept the blood from Finn’s face and placed the wash cloth on his wound. “Apply pressure while I cut the Band-Aids.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
