Chapter 8
Eli stepped into the back office and roughly shoved his fingers through his hair.
“What was that?” he muttered to himself.
“What was what?”
He spun around to find Cole sitting at his desk in the corner, watching him with a smile on his face.
Eli shoved his hands in his pockets and tried to act casual, but Cole continued to watch him in amusement.
“Nothing. I’m fine. Everything’s fine.”
“You’re so convincing.”
Eli sighed loudly. Then he grabbed a chair and pulled it over to Cole and sat down heavily. “Molly is pretending to be my girlfriend to scare off Lauren.”
Cole’s eyebrows shot up. “I thought that was just a rumor.”
“A rumor? Where’d you hear it?”
“Michelle. But I didn’t think it was actually happening. Isn’t that a concern for sexual harassment charges?”
Eli scrubbed a hand down his face. “That’s what I was concerned about. But then she came over and saved me when Lauren was here, and now I don’t want it to stop.”
“Don’t want it to stop because it gets Lauren off your back or because you like Molly?”
Eli knew the answer to that but wasn’t sure how much he should tell Cole. It’s not that he didn’t want Cole to know exactly. It was more that he wanted to keep it to himself at the moment in case it didn’t work out.
Cole chuckled. “Never mind. You just answered that question.”
“But she’s an employee.”
“It does create a dilemma. Especially since Katie will kill you if she loses Molly over this.”
Eli rolled his eyes. “I’m well aware.”
Cole rubbed his fingers over his lips. “Look, man. Take it from someone who slept on his feelings for his best friend for far too long. Life is short, and you only get one. Don’t waste it because you’re worried about what might happen.”
“But what might happen could be terrible.”
“You’re right. We could get sued, which could bankrupt us, and we would lose the store. That would really blow.”
Eli blinked at Cole. “Well, I wouldn’t take it that far.”
Cole laughed. “I don’t think Molly would do that anyway. I’m just saying that’s the worst-case scenario.”
“Now I need to woo her.”
“Woo her?” Cole snorted.
“Yeah. I turn into a mess around her. I say stupid things. It needs to change.”
Cole leaned back in his seat. “Aw. It’s so cute that you’re nervous.”
“Shut up,” Eli deadpanned.
“So what happened?”
“Last night, she saved me at the bar from Lauren. We spent an hour talking, and it was so much fun. I decided I wanted to work up the courage to ask her out and use the excuse of Lauren as the reason.”
Cole winced. “Let me guess. That didn’t go over well?”
Eli sighed. “I think it came across as that’s the only reason I want to hang out with her.”
“Ouch.”
“Yeah. I swear whenever she’s around I insert my foot into my mouth.”
“So go tell her how you feel.”
“I don’t exactly know how I feel.” Eli knew it wasn’t the whole truth. He knew he really liked her. She was the first person to make him feel something in a long time. She was special, and he was terrified he was going to blow it.
Cole pointed at the door. “Go out there and tell her you want to take her on a proper date, regardless of whether Lauren is stalking you.”
“I just worry it’ll end badly.” Eli scrubbed his face again. In the back of his mind, that wasn’t exactly why he hesitated. He wasn’t sure he wanted to take the risk.
“Once in a while, it’s worth taking a risk.” Cole leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “The question is, if you don’t, and she ends up with someone else, are you going to regret it?”
Just the thought of her being with someone else made him insanely jealous. He had never been a possessive person, but with her, he wasn’t sure he could see her with anyone but him.
He scrubbed a hand over his chin and nodded. “Thanks, man. I needed that.”
“Anytime.”