Chapter Twenty
December 2014, London, England
Molly applied a flick of black eyeliner, before adding two coats of mascara. The butterflies were in full flight in her stomach as she slipped on her dark purple dress. Tonight, she and Liz were going to Mimosa to celebrate Chris’s thirtieth birthday. She slicked on her blood red lipstick, grabbed her highest heels, and carried them down the stairs, where she slipped them on. She picked up her phone from the coffee table in the living room and typed a quick message.
Liz: I’m on my way! See you in fifteen minutes X
She stuffed her phone into the pocket of her dress. Since she’d been mugged, she didn’t like taking a bag out with her. She walked into the kitchen and carefully picked up the white cardboard box that contained Chris’s birthday cake and carried it out to her car.
‘Wow,’ Liz said as she opened the door to Molly. ‘Aren’t you stunning?’
‘Thank you,’ Molly replied, doing a little twirl. ‘You’ve seen this dress before. I’ve had it for years.’
‘Well, it’s still gorgeous,’ Liz said, raising her eyebrow. ‘Are you ready for your friend’s birthday party?’
Molly nodded. ‘Yep. Totally ready.’
She couldn’t decide if the fluttering sensation in her stomach was nerves or excitement, but she chose to ignore it.
When they got to Mimosa, Scott came over and greeted them with hugs and kisses, taking the cake box from Molly.
‘Hi, Molly,’ he said, then turned to Liz. ‘Hey Liz, good to see you.’
‘Same,’ Liz said. ‘I love it here. Your bar is my favourite place in the city.’
‘Thanks,’ Scott replied, giving her a shy smile. ‘I appreciate that.’ He nodded at the cake box. ‘Can I take a peek?’
‘Sure,’ Molly replied. ‘There’s brownies, school cake and rocky road in there.’
He lifted the lid and a sweet, sugary smell floated out. ‘Wow,’ Scott said, peering into the box. He turned to Jo. ‘Jo, can you stash this somewhere safe before I eat them all?’ She nodded and took the box from him.
‘What can I get you?’ Scott asked as Molly and Liz slid onto stools at the bar.
‘A virgin mojito, please, Scott. I’m driving.’ Molly turned to Liz. ‘What would you like?’
‘Can I have the opposite of that please, Scott. Lots of rum.’ Liz smiled at him. ‘I’m not driving.’
‘Love that,’ Scott replied, laughing. ‘Coming right up.’
‘When’s the birthday boy getting here then?’ Molly asked Scott when he returned with their drinks.
‘He’s on his way now,’ Scott replied.
‘And he has no idea that we’re all here?’ Molly asked.
She’d had a message from Scott the previous week asking her to come, and not to tell Chris about it.
‘He thinks he’s meeting a few friends here.’ Scott gestured to the tables to the left of him. ‘He has no idea that all of his friends and family are here.’ He grinned.
When Chris arrived, Molly hung back while he greeted his friends and family. She ran her eyes over him, from his navy jumper, down to the skinny jeans which clung to his toned legs. Her breath caught in her throat, and she turned to Liz, trying to distract herself from her thoughts.
‘How’s the mojito?’ she asked. ‘Is it hitting the spot?’
‘Oh, it’s good.’ Liz nodded to Chris. ‘Aren’t you going to go see him?’
‘He’s with his family,’ Molly replied. ‘I’ll wait a minute.’ She needed to gather her thoughts before she spoke to him.
He walked over to the bar a few minutes later, giving Molly and Liz a broad smile. ‘Hey! It’s good to see you both.’
‘Happy birthday, mon cher! How does it feel to be thirty?’ Molly slid off her bar stool and kissed his cheek.
‘Pretty much the same as it felt to be twenty-nine,’ he replied, ‘but I get to hang out with all my friends and family tonight.’
‘Happy birthday, Chris!’ Liz said, giving him a kiss on the cheek.
‘Birthday drink?’ Scott put a glass in front of Chris with a smirk. ‘It’s an Old Fashioned.’
Chris laughed and took a sip. ‘I don’t know what you’re smirking about, mate; you’re going to be thirty in a couple of months.’
‘Don’t remind me,’ Scott said, coming around to the front of the bar and leaning on it.
Molly hugged Scott, then kissed his cheek. ‘That’s from Saskia. She misses you.’
‘I miss her too,’ Scott said, ‘but she’s absolutely nailing it in London, and who knows what it might lead to.’ He grinned. ‘I’m made up for her.’
‘I know she values your support,’ Molly replied. ‘I’m so glad you guys are together.’
‘That means a lot,’ Scott replied. ‘I’ve not had many girlfriends, and I thought she was way out of my league. I spent so long thinking I was going to fuck it up, but so far so good.’
Molly laughed. ‘I love your honesty.’
A while later, Jo and Scott brought out the cakes on a large platter, with sparkler candles stuck in the top. Everyone gathered around one of the tables to sing Happy Birthday to Chris.
‘Thanks, guys,’ he said. ‘I love you all so much. These cakes look awesome.’ He turned to Molly. ‘You made these, right?’
She nodded. ‘I added hazelnuts to the rocky road.’
He picked up a piece and took a bite. ‘That was a good move.’ He gestured to the cakes. ‘Come on everyone, dig in.’
‘Molly, this cake is delicious,’ Kate said as she devoured one of the brownies.
‘Thanks, Kate,’ Molly replied.
She noticed a large diamond ring on Kate’s finger and her eyes widened. With everyone else engrossed in their cake, she whispered to Kate.
‘Are you and Alex engaged?’
Kate nodded. ‘He proposed last month. I don’t know if Chris told you, but I’m a jewellery designer. I work at Correll’s and Alex essentially tricked me into designing my own ring.’ She laughed. ‘David, the guy work with, asked me to help him design a ring for a customer. I had no idea it was for me.’
‘Congratulations!’ Molly said and gave Kate a hug. ‘That’s so romantic. How did he propose?’
‘He’s always been a bit extra but this time he went for it,’ Kate said, sitting down next to Molly. ‘We both love his mate’s band, Future Proof. We had our first kiss at one of their gigs. They were playing at the Penny Theatre on our two-year, and he went on stage and held up a sign saying, ‘Will You Marry Me.’
‘I love it,’ Molly said. ‘So happy for you both.’
Her eyes met Chris’s and her heart started beating a little faster. In that instant she knew. She was in love with him. And it was him she could see the future with. She sucked in a breath. Did he know? Could he tell? Did he feel the same? She stuffed some more cake into her mouth, and tried to concentrate on what Kate and Liz were saying.
‘Hey,’ Chris said, sitting down next to her. ‘Thanks for the cake. It’s so good.’
‘You are so welcome,’ Molly replied. ‘I’m glad you liked it.’ She couldn’t stop thinking about Kate and Alex, and the scary feeling building inside of her. ‘Are you having a good time?’
‘I am,’ he said. ‘Scott’s never been able to keep a secret, so I’m impressed. I’m going to have to start planning his thirtieth now.’ He nodded to the bar, where Scott was practically inhaling a brownie. ‘I might need to ask you for some more cake.’
‘Happy to oblige,’ she replied, then whirled around in her chair. ‘Is Alex DJing tonight?’
She couldn’t see the DJ booth from where she was sat, but she recognised his distinctive style.
‘I guess so,’ Chris said. ‘You want to dance?’
‘I uh…’ Molly trailed off, catching Liz’s eye. Liz nodded at her, out of Chris’s eyeline. ‘I’d love to,’ she said, standing up and following him to the dance floor.
Don’t breathe him in, she told herself. Don’t look into his eyes.
When Alex’s set finished, the bar was so full, Molly could barely see the door, and a prickly, anxious feeling flooded her. As she walked towards the counter, she was bumped and pushed, and she searched the room, trying to find Liz.
‘Are you alright?’ Scott asked as she sat down on one of the bar stools at the counter.
She nodded. ‘It’s just a bit crowded in here. It makes me feel on edge.’
‘Then just take a minute,’ he said. ‘You’re just fine here. Do you want some water?’
‘Yes please,’ she replied. ‘Thanks, Scott.’
‘It’s nothing,’ he said. ‘It’s my job to keep an eye on my patrons.’
Scott returned with a bottle of water, refusing any money, then disappearing off to serve another customer.
Liz appeared in front of Molly.
‘I’m so sorry, love,’ she said. ‘I lost you for a minute. It’s pretty chaotic out there.’
‘I know,’ Molly said. ‘Do you mind if we go?’
‘Of course not,’ Liz replied.
Molly made her way to the other end of the counter, where Chris and Alex were standing.
‘Goodnight birthday boy,’ she said. ‘We’re gonna head off.’
He kissed her cheek. ‘I’m glad you came tonight. It’s been fun. I’ll see you soon.’
‘You will,’ she said, trying to keep her voice steady, fighting the urge to throw herself at him and tell him that she loved him.
Dramatic displays of affection were more suited to Saskia, but something had come over her tonight that she couldn’t shake off.
She slipped her arm into Liz’s and they walked out of the bar together, into the fairy lit city.
‘Are you OK, love?’ Liz whispered to Molly. ‘What happened with you and Chris?’
‘Nothing,’ Molly said. She sighed heavily. ‘He was the perfect gentleman as always.’
When she breathed in, she could smell his aftershave lingering on her skin.
‘What’s going on?’ Liz asked. ‘You’ve got a weird look on your face.’
They reached Molly’s car and she unlocked it and climbed in.
‘I’m going to break up with Mark,’ she said, her fingers gripping the steering wheel tightly.
‘Thank God,’ Liz replied, putting on her seatbelt. ‘I know I’m supposed to be a supportive friend, but he is the worst.’ She paused. ‘Does this decision have anything to do with Chris?’
‘Yes, and no.’ Molly kept her eyes on the road. ‘When Kate told me she was engaged, I realised that I can’t see a future with Mark. I just can’t. And if I can’t see a future, then why am I with him?’
‘What about Chris?’ Liz bit her lip. ‘Can you see a future with him?’
Molly parked outside Liz’s house and turned to her as she switched off the engine. ‘I cannot lose him as a friend, Liz, I just can’t. I’ve made my peace with losing Mark. I have to break up with him, but Chris has made it clear that he wants to be just friends, and if I tell him how I feel about him, I risk losing him as well.’
‘How do you feel about him?’ Liz asked cautiously. ‘I think I know, but I need to hear you say it.’
‘I love him,’ Molly said. ‘He’s funny and kind and gorgeous and he makes me smile every time I’m with him.’
Liz cocked her head to the side. ‘What if he feels the same way? Maybe he feels the same way and has the exact same fears as you.’
Molly swallowed hard. The idea was too exciting, too overwhelming. It made her pulse race and her palms sweat. What if he loved her too?
‘I can’t think about that right now,’ she said. ‘I need to deal with Mark first.’
‘I would love to be a fly on the wall,’ Liz smirked. ‘Promise me you’ll fill me in on what happens.’
‘Of course,’ Molly said. ‘I can’t think about it right now. I need some sleep.’
‘I know it’s scary but I’m proud of you for taking charge of your life.’ Liz unclipped her seatbelt and leant over, kissing Molly on the cheek. ‘Let me know you’re home safely please.’
‘Sure,’ Molly replied. ‘Give Jacob and Martha a squidge from me.’ She paused. ‘Thank you, for listening, and being awesome. I love you.’
Liz opened the door and climbed out of her seat. ‘Love you too.’