Brayden, Melissa - How Sweet It Is

Little Bobby grunted, which Molly knew was code for thank you, and headed back behind the bar to tend to his waiting customers.

Annaleigh took it upon herself to pour them each a beer. “So what kinds of things does one do for fun in Applewood, USA?”

“Oh, the usual. Swap meets, recreational drugs, and lots of competitive gardening.”

Annaleigh stared back at her wide-eyed.

“Kidding,” Molly assured her.

Annaleigh leaned back in her chair. “Thank God. I guess I’m a little sensitive. You just wouldn’t believe some of the dates I’ve been on lately.”

Molly regarded her. “Trust me, I would. In fact, I might have you beat.”

“Wanna bet?”

They went on to trade stories, and in a shocking turn of events, Annaleigh took the proverbial gold. “Wait, so you actually went to jail?”

She nodded. “That’s what happens when the cops find a trunk full of marijuana plants in the car you just happen to be riding in.”

“Oh, no!”

“Oh, yes.”

Molly reached across the table and covered Annaleigh’s hand with her own. “I’m sincerely sorry that happened to you and even more sorry that I cannot stop laughing about it.”

“That’s okay. I’m sure it’s a story I’ll tell my grandchildren one day, so there’s that.”

“My take on it exactly. Cheers to bad dates, present company excluded.” They clinked glasses, and not long after, Molly poured them a second round.

Things were going well.

Annaleigh leaned forward tentatively. “Is it too soon to tell you that I’m having a really great time?”

Molly set the pitcher down and grinned. “Not too soon. And me too, by the way. This is nice.”

She slid Annaleigh’s glass across the table to her, just as her eyes landed on a cozy scene across the room. Jordan sat at the bar, her head dipped low, grinning at something Summer Siller was whispering in her ear. How had she missed them when she first arrived? She watched a beat longer because like a car accident, she couldn’t seem to look away. Summer’s hand moved from where it rested on the back of Jordan’s barstool up the small of her back. Molly suppressed an eye roll. What was Jordan thinking? But she knew the answer to that question and it was spilling generously from Summer’s overly low cut top. Summer Siller was not only easy, she was manipulative and shallow too. And if that’s what Jordan was after, who was Molly to stop her?

“Friends of yours?” Annaleigh asked, following her gaze.

“One of them.”

“We can invite them over if you want.”

Worst idea ever. “You know what? Let’s not. I’m enjoying hanging out with you.” Annaleigh smiled, and was that a blush? It most definitely was. A cute blush too. “So second grade, huh? Tell me how you got into teaching?”

“I think it’s what I always wanted to do. From the time I was old enough to appreciate school…” Annaleigh was still talking, but Molly’s attention was snagged by the sight of Jordan moving to the jukebox with Summer plastered to her side like a second skin. Classy.

As Jordan turned, their eyes connected, and she seemed to take in the scene. It wasn’t long before she headed over, wisely dropping Summer at the bar first. Thank God for that. Molly refocused her attention on Annaleigh and her story, doing her best to ignore Jordan as she approached. It was juvenile, but it’s what she was going with.

“Hey. Wasn’t expecting to run into you tonight,” Jordan said. She grinned at Molly before shifting her attention to Annaleigh and extending her hand. “We haven’t met. I’m Jordan.”

Annaleigh accepted the handshake. “Annaleigh, a pleasure.”

“So what are you two up to tonight? A little Miller Light action?” Jordan was laid back and friendly, and damn it if something within Molly didn’t react to all that annoying charisma and confidence.

“Actually, we were trying to get to know each other a little better one-on-one.” Molly’s tone was a little less friendly, and Jordan seemed to notice.

“Oh. I’m sorry. Didn’t mean to intrude.”

“Not at all,” Annaleigh said as she glanced uneasily from Molly to Jordan. “I was just telling Molly how much I enjoy Applewood. I remember coming here for the festival when I was a kid.”

Jordan pulled up a chair and shot her a victorious glance. Molly wondered what in the hell she thought she was doing. “One of my favorite events. You’ll have to come back next week for this year’s. I hear it’s going to be bigger and better than ever.”

“Really? In what way?” Annaleigh asked.

Molly sighed as they continued. Her date had been hijacked.

But what made her even angrier was the fact that her eyes kept tracing the open top button of Jordan’s blue Henley and the olive skin that peeked out from beneath. Damn it, why did she have to look good in everything she wore?

As the conversation droned on, and on, and on, her frustration only grew. Instead of listening to Jordan describe how much she loved indie rock, all this new version of Molly could think about was the shiny lip gloss Jordan wore and how her mouth was almost heart shaped and full. Fuck . And now she somehow had a new penchant for swearing. Fabulous.

It was time to get herself out of this, and she saw the perfect opening.

Molly inclined her head and smiled sweetly. “Jordan, I don’t want to interrupt, but I think your date is trying to catch your eye.” It was true. Summer was falling all over herself to look alluring enough to attract Jordan back over to the bar. It was annoying and helpful at the same time.

“I guess that’s my cue.” Jordan offered them one last devastating smile and headed back to Summer.

*

The evening had definitely taken a negative turn. Jordan stared into her empty glass and contemplated the wisdom of a second beer. A no-brainer, given the circumstances. “Hit me, Bobby.”

For the better part of an hour, she’d watched Molly and her date du jour, Annaleigh, chatting cozily in the corner of the bar. It was whatever. She’d told herself from the get-go that she wanted Molly to find happiness, so why was it so ridiculously hard to watch it all go down? Summer’s warm breath tickled her ear. She was chewing gum, which was typical for Summer, but for some reason Jordan found it less than endearing in this moment.

“We should dance,” she purred.

Jordan looked around. The bar did have a small dance floor, but no one used it. “It’s not really that kind of bar.”

Summer tilted her head. “Since when do you play by the rules? This can be any kind of bar we want it to be.”

To hell with it. She had a valid point.

Jordan took a long swallow of her beer and allowed Summer to pull her onto the dance floor in the back of the room. The song that played was bluesy, something from way back. They moved together slowly, earning an interested glance from a patron or two, but it felt oddly welcome, dancing close to someone.

Jordan leaned in next to Summer’s ear. “So did you hear about the kidnapping in the park?”

Summer pulled back, wide-eyed. “No, what happened?”

“It’s fine now. They woke him up.”

A beat of silence hung in the air, before Summer’s face relaxed into a grin. She laughed loudly and slapped Jordan playfully across the shoulder. “You had me goin’ there for a second.”

They laughed together as the song wound down.

The dance hadn’t lasted long, but it had been a welcome distraction. Summer was uncomplicated, friendly, and not exactly hard to look at, especially when she went to such lengths to put it all out on display like she had that night. And there was definitely a lot to display. What was even better? There were no highly sensitive, guilt-ridden feelings involved. And she needed a serious break from those.