Chapter 15
FIFTEEN
MOLLY
Being interrupted post-coitus, with my legs still precariously draped over Josh’s shoulders, is not how I expect the night to end.
“Oh my God!” Bess screeches, and I wish the floor would open up and swallow me whole. “You’re together-together!”
“Get out,” Josh growls, lowering my legs gently but keeping his broad back to the door, shielding me from view.
“Bro, is that… Molly?” Pete’s voice joins the chaos. He squints into the dim light, his expression turning to horror as realization hits. “Fuck, it is.” Then, the bastard makes a choked gagging noise.
I snatch a shoe off the couch and hurl it at his head. “Fuck you, Peter! I’m allowed to have sex, you know!”
He ducks easily, spinning around so his back faces us. “But not where I need to see it!”
“Get the fuck out!” Josh barks, his tone absolutely lethal.
“Surprise!” shouts an altogether all too familiar voice.
Dearest, most merciful God, please strike me down right now.
“What the fuck!” Sam, my brother Sam, walks through the door, stumbling as he catches sight of us.
He looks like he’s just been dropped from a helicopter.
His dark hair is wild beneath a ratty beanie, there’s at least six weeks of beard groth across his jawline.
He’s still wearing his weathered hiking jacket, the kind that screams I’ve been living in the wilderness for three weeks, complete with scuffed boots and a backpack slung over one shoulder. “Josh! Molly! What the fuck—”
And it just got worse…
“GET OUT!” Josh roars, and hysterical giggles begin to bubble up my throat.
Sam doesn’t move. He stands rooted to the spot, his face a picture of confusion and disbelief.
His lips part like he’s about to say something, but he doesn’t.
Instead, his eyes slowly narrow, flicking between me and Josh, taking in the disheveled sheets, my flushed face, and Josh’s furious expression.
“What in the actual hell is going on here?” Sam finally manages, his voice low and accusing. “I’ve been freezing my ass off in Alaska for three weeks, dodging bears and blizzards, and this is what I come home to?!”
The giggles bubbling up in my throat break free, uncontrollable and verging on hysteria.
“Are you laughing?” Sam’s eyes snap to me, his voice rising in sheer disbelief. “This is not funny, Molly!”
“It’s a little funny,” I manage between gasps, clutching the sheet tighter around my chest.
Josh growls. “You’ve got five seconds to get out before I throw you out myself.”
“Babe, I’m so happy for you!” Bess exclaims, bouncing on the balls of her feet like she’s just discovered her favorite rom-com come to life. Her hands clasp together in front of her chest. “You guys are so cute together. I just always knew you’d—”
“Five,” Josh barks.
“Bess,” I croak, amused hysteria clawing up my throat. “Love you, but please, for the love of all that’s holy, get the fuck out.”
“Four.”
“Oh!” It seems to finally click for her that Josh and I are very, very naked. “Ohhh.” She grabs Pete and Sam’s arms, spinning them around. “We’ll just… umm… we’ll be in the dining room.”
“Three,” Josh bites out, his voice dangerously low.
“We’re going!” Bess hauls the two men out, pushing them toward the dining room.
“Great,” I call weakly as they finally leave, taking the last of my dignity with them.
Josh and I remain tangled together for a beat, his cock still buried deep inside me.
“Well,” I mutter, eyes fixed on the ceiling, “I wasn’t expecting that.”
Josh lets out a dry laugh, his shoulders shaking slightly. “I have to hand it to them. That was some world-class timing.”
Our eyes meet. His cheeks are flushed, a light sheen of sweat glistens on his brow, and a lock of messy hair brushes his forehead. He doesn’t look embarrassed, just mildly pissed off.
“They really know how to kill the afterglow,” I whisper, lifting a hand to brush the frown off his face.
His smile comes quickly, warm and crooked. “You not feeling the love anymore, Pahe?”
I shrug, but my lips twitch upward despite myself.
Josh pulls back slowly, shuffling down my body. I lift up on one elbow, raising an eyebrow in question.
He shoots me a filthy grin, his amber eyes darkening with renewed interest.
“Gotta leave you smiling,” he says, his head dipping down.
His tongue traces the seam of my lips before moving lower, and let me tell you—Josh Greenfeld knows how to use his mouth. I come twice before he’s satisfied I won’t lose my smile.
After we clean up, Josh leans against the wall, his eyes tracking me as I pull my clothes back on. I catch him watching me, his gaze hungry and heated.
“What?” I ask, adjusting my shirt.
“This isn’t how I wanted tonight to go.”
I grin, crossing the room to him and leaning into his chest. “You didn’t plan on our brothers and Bess getting an eyeful of your sexy ass?”
“Sexy, hmm?” His hands slide down to grip my ass, pulling me flush against him. He swivels his hips slightly, dipping me just enough to make me giggle.
“Very sexy,” I agree, relaxing into his hold.
“Alas,” he sighs dramatically, setting me upright and holding me at arm’s length, “we can’t. We need to get serious.”
I turn back to the mirror, checking my hair one last time. “About what?”
“You need to set some boundaries with Bess.” He presses a kiss to my shoulder, his reflection meeting mine in the mirror. “You’re running yourself ragged, Pahe. And I won’t stand for it.”
I pull a face. “Yeah, you’re right. I’ll talk to her.”
“When?”
I blow out a breath, my shoulders dropping. “Tonight. Before the hordes descend for this weekend of debauchery.”
“You want me there?”
I shake my head, a happy little bubble rising inside me. It feels good to have someone in my corner. “No, I’m good. I got this.”
“Yeah, you do.” He pulls me back into his arms, pressing a soft kiss to my neck. “But call if you need me.”
We head toward the kitchen, following the sound of laughter and chaos. When we stop in the doorway, the scene before us is absolute carnage. Flour coats the counters, the floor, and somehow Pete’s hair. Sam is no where to be seen—probably for the best.
Josh sighs loudly beside me. “Take her. I’ll deal with him and… this.” He mutters the rest under his breath, gesturing at the mess.
I pat his arm, trying and failing to stifle a grin. “You got this.”
Pete and Bess are making out against the kitchen island, entirely unbothered by the disaster around them.
“Bess?” I call, my voice cutting through their little love bubble.
They break apart, heads turning toward us like guilty teenagers caught in the act.
“Hey, can we talk?” I gesture to the room behind me. “Alone?”
“Oh!” Bess pushes Pete away, practically skipping toward me. “Yes! Girl talk. Let’s do it.” She loops her arm through mine, dragging me out the door.
I glance back at Josh, who shoots me an encouraging grin before turning to Pete with a resigned look.
Bess pulls me toward the sitting room, oblivious to the trail of flour she’s leaving behind.
“Bess, there’s something I need to say—”
“Wait! Me first.” She sucks in a deep breath. “There’s something I need to admit. Do you remember your brother’s birthday party? Hendrix’s twenty-first? When we snuck the bottle of vodka with Pete, Sam, and Josh and we all got drunk?”
I frown. “We were fifteen?”
She nods vehemently. “You passed out.”
I remember that. Well, not the passing out but definitely the hangover the next day.
“What about it?”
“Josh got super drunk and declared his love for you while we were trying to sneak you upstairs.”
I blink. He’d have been sixteen, maybe seventeen.
“The next day you admitted you liked Brad and well...” She trails off, biting her lip.
“And?”
“I’m sorry!” She bursts out. “Josh already had become a playboy and I didn’t want you to be hurt. I knew you liked Brad, so, I dropped a hint to him that if he needed help with his studies you could assist. And the next thing I knew you guys were dating!”
She pushes off the couch, pacing the length of the room while her hands flutter around her face.
“But I could see it. Even Peter commented on it. Josh really liked you. But he never did anything, and then you got engaged. And I thought, wow, I may have royally stuffed up here. You loved Brad even though I knew Josh was right there, pining for you, so I didn’t say anything.”
Her words are a jumbled confession, her voice cracking as she keeps going.
“Then we found out about the cheating, and Sam and Josh were there for you when you needed support. And I thought, yep, this is it. Josh is going to make his move. But he backed off, and I thought it was just him giving you space, but then…nothing happened. And now you’re together, and I’m so sorry, but I’m also so happy! ”
She stops abruptly, out of breath, tears streaming down her face, her chest heaving.
I stare at her, trying to make sense of the bombshell she’s just dropped on me. “So, you… what?”
“I’m the reason you got hurt by Brad,” she says, her voice cracking as she folds her arms over herself.
I swallow hard, my mind racing to catch up. “You’re saying my relationship with Brad started because you wanted to protect me? From Josh?”
She blushes, shrugging helplessly. “I didn’t know what else to do.
” She sniffles, brushing at her tears. “All I’ve ever wanted is for you to be happy, like me and Pete.
I thought I was doing the right thing. But now, when I look at Josh, when I see him and you together, you both look so happy. So, so happy.”
She flops to the floor in front of me, placing a hand on my knee. “I’m the worst friend ever.”
I take a deep breath, letting her words settle. “Bess, are you really trying to take the blame for my failed marriage?”
She nods. “It’s all my fault.”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “Brad made his own choices, babe. And dating him—at the time—was exactly what I wanted. I don’t need to forgive you and you don’t need to apologise. There’s nothing to forgive.”
She hiccups, her face crumpling. “Are we okay?”
“The jury’s still out on that one,” I tease, pulling her into a hug. “Of course we’re okay, silly.”
Her arms squeeze me tight, and for a moment, I feel the tension in her body ease.
Her smile wobbles, but it’s radiant all the same. “I love you, Molly. You’re the best friend I’ve ever had.”
“I know.” I laugh softly, pulling her in for another hug, sighing as she clutches me close. “I’m awesome.”
But then I pull back, my face softening as I admit the truth that’s been weighing on me. “Now, I have to tell you something.”
Her expression shifts, concern flickering in her eyes. “What is it?”
“I’m exhausted.” I grimace, feeling the weight of the words as I say them. “The wedding’s too much for me. I love you, but I can’t keep pushing myself like this.”
“Oh, babe,” she says, her voice full of sympathy as she hugs me again, tighter this time. “Thank you for telling me. Let’s move some stuff off your plate and onto the planners. You deserve to celebrate the honeymoon phase with Josh and not be stressed. I do enough of that for both of us.”
The relief is instant, a weight I hadn’t even realized I was carrying sliding off my shoulders.
“Thanks,” I say, my voice soft. “That would be great.”
We sit there for a moment longer, holding each other, before finally separating.
“Come on,” I say, pulling her up and smacking her lightly on the ass. “Your groom awaits.”
She stops mid-step, turning back to dig through her pocket. “Here.” She presses something into my hand.
I glance down at the small key. “What’s this?”
“Pete booked us a private villa,” she says, grinning. “The driver’s waiting out front. Consider this my sorry gift. You are formally dismissed from all wedding-related tasks for the rest of the weekend. I want you to go get yourself some orgasms. Uninterrupted ones this time.”
I blink at the key, then at her. “Well, damn, Bess.” I laugh, shaking my head. “You’re completely forgiven.”
“Good.” She smirks, slapping me on the butt. “Now go!”
I laugh, the sound light and easy. I’ll take her up on it—right after I speak to Sam.
That conversation might be a bit trickier.