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37
Sierra
“I swear,Jessa won’t be showing up here,” Ellie says, snagging a doughnut and dropping it onto her plate.
We haven’t seen each other in days. I’ve been swept up in Maliki, moving my things back to his apartment, which wasn’t much, and wrapping up the bar’s remodel. I have a busy week ahead of me and came over to spend time with her this morning, doughnuts and pineapple smoothies in hand.
“She’s still not talking to me over the wholeI’m hanging out with the enemynonsense.” She lifts her chin and rolls her eyes. “I’ve never been tight with her. Hell, I’m closer to you than her, and she’s in the wrong. So, the enemy is who I shall hang out with.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’ll see her later today.” I take a gulp of my smoothie to hide the dread on my face. “We’re hanging out with Molly later.”
She drops the doughnut in her hand. “Holy hell. You’re meeting Molly asthe girlfriend?”
“Sure am.”
I’m nervous about seeing Molly, and I would rather shave off my eyebrows than be around Jessa. Fingers crossed I won’t see her since we’re picking Molly up and taking her out for the day. Jessa tried weaseling her way into tagging along with Maliki, but he wasn’t having it.
“This is a big step! I’m happy for you!”
I pick at my doughnut. “I don’t know why I’m nervous. I’ve babysat her with you. It’s not like she’s a stranger.”
“You’re nervous because you’ll be her stepmom one day.”
My eyes widen. “I don’t know about that.”
“I do.”
* * *
My knees are bouncingas I sit in the passenger seat.
“I hate I wasn’t here for you last time,” I tell Maliki.
He briefly glances at me before returning his eyes to the road. “It might’ve been for the best. Jessa broke the news to Molly terribly. She sprang it on her without warning. Molly was upset and confused.”
Of course Jessa did.
My heart aches for them. “It probably would’ve done more harm than good. I would’ve been another person added to the confusion.”
He nods. “She’s comfortable with me now, and I’ve talked about you with her.”
“I’m sure Jessa loved that.”
“I’ve started tuning out Jessa when it’s not Molly-related.” He hesitates before continuing, “I forgot to explain the day I went to the city without you. I took Molly shopping for clothes and a doll.”
That’s random.
But I did say no more secrets.
“Way to piss me off more about Jessa right before I see her.”
He chuckles. “Yeah, bad move on my part to start throwing out confessions right now. I just don’t want everything out in the open, so anytime I think of one, I’ll clear that shit up fast.”
“Appreciate that.”
He pulls up to Jessa’s parents’ house. After their grandparents returned, Jessa moved in with them. I had been here countless times during my childhood with Ellie.
He shifts the car in park. “Ready?”
