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“He’s not the right guy for you, Moll. I’m just trying to be a good friend. He could hurt you.”
“Not the right guy? Since when are you any kind of expert on relationships?”
Nate rolled back on his heels and shook his head incredulously. “You did not just say the R word. Especially not where Kyle’s concerned.” His voice softened, which pissed her off even more. “He’ll use you, Moll. That guy only wants one thing, and we both know what it is.”
Molly was livid and it took some effort for her to even speak.
“First of all, I don’t understand why you even give a shit. It’s not ten years ago, Nate. I don’t need you running interference for guys like Kyle who made bets on who’d be the first to pop Bones Malone’s cherry.” Even now, the hurt of that hit her in the chest, and she had to take a moment.
“Molly. They were all idiots.”
“Yeah. They were. But we’ve all grown and moved past that. I’m not a naïve little girl anymore. I’m an adult, and part of growing up is knowing that I can do what I want. That the only person I have to answer to is myself. If I want to screw Kyle into next week, I damn well will. I don’t need you to tell me who I can or can’t sleep with. We haven’t been that close in years.”
For a moment, Nate looked dumbfounded, but then he slowly exhaled and something about him changed. He leaned closer. “That’s not what you said in Vegas.”
“I don’t remember much about Vegas.” Liar.
I want you. I love you.
Her jaw was so tight, it barely worked, and the panic button, the one controlling her emotions, was fully engaged. “I was running on zero sleep and a lot of booze. So even though I don’t remember that night, anything I said doesn’t count.”
“Fair enough,” he eventually said, which made Molly relax a little. At least he wasn’t going to bring up the single most humiliating moment of her life. Yet. He swore and muttered something under his breath, but she couldn’t hear it.
“Why are we even doing this, Nate? Why do you care so much?” She didn’t realize her heart was pounding so damn heavy until it filled her ears with a rhythmic beat that came fast and hard. She searched his face, but he gave nothing away.
“Molly, you’ve been one of my best friends since we were kids, and I’m looking out for you. That’s what we do.”
“I don’t need you lookin
g out for me.”
“That may be, but it’s not like I can just shut that shit off. Remember when Trish fooled around on Brad? It was me who told him, because the guy had a right to know. It’s what we do for each other. You’ll always be one of the guys, Moll, and I’ll always look out for you.”
Ouch. One of the guys.
Nate cocked his head to the side. “Can you answer me one thing?”
“Sure, why not? It’s not as if I have to be anywhere important like the shelter, where there are nearly thirty animals that need to be fed and looked after.” The sarcasm was so thick, she was surprised Nate couldn’t taste it. But like always, he ignored what he wanted to ignore and carried on with what he wanted to carry on with. Which, as it turned out, was Molly.
Again.
“What the hell was up with you last ni—”
“Chess.” She cut him off crisply. “And if I have to explain the why of it to you, then you don’t know me as well as you think you do.”
He actually looked surprised, and something inside her wilted.
“Moll, I know she was a bit of a bitch back in the day, but like you said, we’ve all grown up, including Chess. You were outright rude to her.”
“Whatever.” Molly moved past him, but his arm shot out, and he grabbed her elbow.
“Why the hell are you so mad?”
“Are you two still bickering?” The screen door banged behind Samuel, and he stood on the deck looking down at the two of them.
“It’s what we do best,” Molly said with a smile she didn’t feel as she yanked her elbow from Nate’s grasp. “I’ve got to get back to the shelter. Tell Hazel I’ll bring her more supplies tomorrow, but she should be good to go with what I’ve left.” Molly took a few steps and spoke over her shoulder. “And no human food or treats.” She looked at Nate, thinking she had to defuse whatever the hell it was they’d just done. No way could he know how deep and hot her feelings ran.
“I’m not mad, by the way, Nate. Like you said, as one of the guys, it’s what we do. I’m just calling it like I see it. Chess’s trouble, and you’d better be careful with her is all I’m saying.”
