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At first, it’s actually fun. We hollow out the pumpkin onto long trays Art has provided and bicker happily between ourselves on our plan of action. But the whole time, I’m aware of Molly. Aware of the looks thrown our way, aware of his presence, aware of how he leaves Keller and Will to finish the lantern they were all working on together to go and get his own.
Aware of him when he moves closer and nudges Ford. “Sorry, Ford, can you help? I’m struggling with the top.” Then he chuckles. “Not a problem I can say I’ve had before.”
Holy fuck.
“Sorry, I, uh …” Ford holds up the knife in one hand and pumpkin insides in the other and shrugs.
But instead of taking it for the no that it is, Molly sets his hand over Ford’s and slowly scrapes the pumpkin away. Every second his fingers drag over Ford’s palm has my pulse rocketing higher.
Ford’s stare cuts to me, clearly torn on what to do. On one hand, be the friendly person he always is. On the other, put Molly in his place.
I hate that Ford’s being put in that position at all.
He snatches his hand away and forces a laugh. “Sorry, darlin’. We’ve got our own pumpkin to wrestle with. Lucky it looks like Orson has the top under control.”
“Molly.”
The three of us turn to Keller.
“Get your ass over here. They’re on a date. Let them be.”
Molly hesitates for a second, like he might argue, and then he walks away, shoulders pulled back. My gaze follows him even as Ford and Keller turn away, so I’m the only one who sees the pinched look on his face as he tries to stop his lip from quivering. Our gazes clash for a second before he looks away.
This gross, soft feeling comes over me. Sympathy.
I hate it.
I wish I could be content to ignore him and tell him to back off my man. When it comes to Ford, I’ll fight for him if I have to, but if I felt this way and saw him with someone else? Yep. That would kill me.
So even though I don’t want to, I shift to put some distance between us.
“What’s the story with you two?” I lower my voice so we’re not overheard.
Ford’s eyes flick in Molly’s direction and away again. “He’s been flirty since he got back from college.”
“And did you know him when he was younger?”
“Nope.” Ford hacks at the pumpkin. “Knew Keller from around town, and knew Molly was his kid, but I didn’t know Molly at all until he got back.”
“And you really never …?”
Ford sets down the carving knife and turns his full attention on me. Those dark eyes still set my pulse alight. “A whole lot of flirting, but nothing more than that. There are a lot of guys who fall into that category, but Molly took it for more than it was.”
“Is it weird that I feel bad for him?”
“Nah, you’ve got a big heart, so that doesn’t surprise me at all.” He leans in as though he’s going to kiss me, but I pull back.
“Maybe not here?”
His indulgent smile warms me. “See? That’s exactly what I mean.”
It’s hard to get through the night without touching him in some way, and I didn’t realize how much I’d started to rely on it. His hand on my thigh or shoulder pressed against mine. Having his warmth and strength to lean into whenever I needed the comfort. But I keep a friendly distance, and he does the same, both of us overly aware of Molly watching. There’s still a side of me that wants to tell him to fuck off, but that would give him too much power in our relationship.
The only people who matter are me and Ford, and judging by the looks he keeps giving me, I’m confident that I don’t have anything to worry about there.
28
Ford
