Unexpected Gift(75)
My phone pings. It is Molly telling me she can meet me and that she will see me soon. She sends another text with a heart emoji. It helps me breathe a little easier. “It’s going to be fine. Everything is going to be fine.” I try to convince myself. This can either go great, or she is going to sling a drink in my face.
I grab my keys from my locker and head out. It’s a rainy day, making me feel a little doomed. The windshield wipers go back and forth, making that terrible, high-pitched noise bumping along the glass. I pull into the parking lot and shut off the car. Right as I open the door, it starts to pour, thunder rolling in the distance. “Great.” I mutter and step out of the car, placing my foot right in a puddle. The water soaks my socks and I lift my jacket over my head as I run over to the awning. Shaking the water off, I step inside, and the door jingles, alerting the hostess that someone has arrived.
She looks up from the podium and gives me a warm, welcoming smile. “Hi, welcome to Glendive Grill and Bar. How many?”
“Three, please.”
“Sure. Right this way.” She takes a few menus in her hand and starts to strut away. I follow her to a booth that is isolated in a dark corner. “Is this okay?”
I shuck off my jacket and hang it on the side of the booth. “Yes, thanks. Is it okay if I go to the bar and grab a drink while I wait?”
“Absolutely.” She gives me a quick look over before walking away, putting a little more sway to her step.
I need a drink to calm my nerves for the talk that is about to take place. I sit down on the stool, placing my elbows on the dark wood. There are bowls laden with a variety of nuts all the way down the bar.
“What can I get you?” A tall, young man behind the counter asks. He must be the bartender.
“Doubt gin and tonic, extra lime. Muddled, please.”
“You got it.” He tosses a small square napkin in front of me.
“Thanks.”
“Dr. Jackson?” A soft, familiar voice pierces through my thoughts.
I turn my head to see Dr. Yuri, an OB/GYN at the hospital. “Please, outside of work, call me Caden.”
“If that is the case, please call me Victoria.” She sits next to me, placing her vodka cranberry on the bar.
She is a pretty woman with long, red hair and piercing green eyes. She is someone I used to want, but she doesn’t compare to Molly. I don’t think anyone ever will.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Molly
“Hey, baby girl,” I coo at Posie, who is smiling and giggling as I reach for her and pick her up from her car seat glad for the break from the rain. “We are going to see Uncle Caden. Yes, we are. I bet you can’t wait to see him. Come here.” I hitch Posie on my hip and grab my purse. My hip hits the car door, shutting it. I smile at a local and Posie gurgles. It never fails to make people grin. The stranger waves and says hello in the very familiar baby voice.
I don’t know what it is about babies that brings out the sweet side of adults, but I’ve noticed that is when I see a moment of pure happiness. I take her wrist and wave it back at them, making her say hello. Posie lets out a playful scream and the next person who opens the door sees that my hands are full and allows me inside before them. “Thank you so much,” I tell the man who looks to be the same age as me. His hair is also blonde, but instead of brown eyes like me, his are blue. If it wasn’t for Caden, I’d be interested. The man is very handsome, but not as handsome as Caden.
“It isn’t a problem,” he replies, handing over a business card. “Call me if you need anything, beautiful.” He winks, and any attraction I felt for him disappears. The way he said the word anything makes my skin crawl.
I’ve learned the difference between cocky and confident. Caden has the air and swag of confidence, but this guy? This guy is cocky, and I don’t think he realizes how unattractive that is.
“Thanks.” I adjust Posie on my hip and make sure to not touch the guy as I slink through the doorway.
“No, thank you.” He bites his lip and blows me a kiss before heading out, disappearing.
Pig.
“How can I help you?” the hostess asks, flipping her black hair over her shoulder.
“I’m just meeting a friend,” I say with a smile and scan the room, searching for the man that makes my body come alive. When I don’t see him in the lobby, I check the bar and my smile fades.
He is laughing, throwing his head back. A woman that I have never seen before places her paw on his arm and rubs down it, sipping her drink with the little black straw. She is gorgeous. Her red hair gleams like fire, and the dress she wears is tight, pushing up her breasts. Her laugh is loud, gaining attention from all the men at the bar, but she doesn’t realize it.
Great. She is modest.
Any hope I have for us falls and breaks along with my heart. Those jagged pieces become sharper and stand up to guard me, ready to cut anyone who comes near me. “Looks like they aren’t here. I’m going to go outside and call them.”
“Sure, no problem, ma’am.”
I nearly run out the door and to the car, buckling Posie back in her seat. “Change of plans, sweet girl. We are going to go home.” My hands shake as I try to buckle her in. My eyes water from the millions of thoughts running through my head. A million doubts. A million ‘I told you so’s’. A million reasons I ignored Caden.