He turned away from her. “I’ve got to get to work. I’ll drop you off at your apartment.”
That was the end of the conversation, she guessed. He’d closed completely off from her. She wouldn’t be getting anything from him now.
“I’ll walk home.”
He swung around and gave her an impatient look. “Don’t be silly. I’ll drive right past your apartment. I’ll take you.”
“A walk will do me good.” Might help her clear her head.
“Molly, please. Just let me give you a ride home.”
He looked so tired and defeated she couldn’t fight him on this. “All right, thanks.”
He looked surprised for a moment. Then nodded. “Come on, then.”
When they got to her apartment, he climbed out and came around to open her door, as usual.
“I’ll see you later?” she asked, feeling more uncertain of her place in his life than she ever had.
“I’ll probably have to work late. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Okay, be safe.”
He gave her a stiff nod then closed her door and walked back around the car. And for the first time since he’d claimed her, he left without giving her a kiss goodbye.
12
“Hey, hon, how’s it going?” Lila sat down on the bench across the table from Molly. The diner was growing quieter, the midday lunch crowd having left.
“I’m good and you?”
“Hmm, you don’t look so good.” Lila frowned as she studied her. “You’re kind of pale. Are you not feeling well?”
“I’m fine.” She almost looked around for Jake as she said those words. She didn’t know why, wasn’t like he cared anymore.
Not fair, Molly.
Damn it, why did she always have to be fair? Why couldn’t she be unreasonable and irrational and a bitch? But it had only been a day since he’d caught her going through his stuff. He really might be busy and that’s why he hadn’t called.
“What’s wrong? Has something happened with you and Jake?”
“Sort of.” She looked up with a smile as the waitress brought over her iced tea. “Thank you.”
The woman gave her a small smile back. She looked about as tired as Molly felt.
“Thanks, Aspen,” Lila said to the other woman. “You okay?”
Aspen just nodded and moved on to clean another table.
“She looks exhausted,” Molly commented.
“She’s got twin boys and she’s raising them alone. Can’t be easy.”
No, it wouldn’t be.
“What’s going on, Molly?”
“Okay, well, Gavin is best friends with Jake, right?”