Chapter 26
DREW OUT OF HER
Molly opened her door on Saturday while Dean was standing there with his fist in the air ready to knock.
“I was just going to the dumpster. You’re early.”
He looked at the big bag in her hand. “I thought you had done all of that a few days ago.”
“I might have been a bit harsh in my cleaning frenzy. Yesterday I went through all the bags again to see if there was anything I could salvage. You know, some pieces aren’t that bad, it’s just when paired with others they stood out more.”
“What is your criteria?” he asked, laughing at her.
“I don’t want to be ‘ditch a date Molly’ and not ‘get walked all over Molly’ or ‘look at the dorky Molly.’ But I want a combination of the first and third.
I have to embrace my dork. Like you said, it’s who I am.
I’m proud of being smart. Even quirky. But that doesn’t mean I want to be a doormat either. ”
Those days were long gone now.
She could find a happy medium. She’d been doing it a handful of times a month when she saw Dean.
“Tell me about those different Mollys.”
She stepped back into her apartment. “Well, ‘Ditch a date Molly’ is who you met in that black dress and thong that night.”
“I happened to like that black dress a lot. Maybe you’ll let me see it on you again?”
“Definitely. I thought I looked like a modern day Pretty Woman and Tonya burst out laughing at me when I made a comment about my pimp finding someone to bust my cherry. She said I couldn’t be a call girl even with her help.”
“No. You were classy that night, not slutty. Get that out of your head.”
“There are classy call girls,” she argued.
“I’m sure there are. I’m sure there have been a few in my bar before too but for the most part I can spot them and push them along.”
“At least I didn’t look slutty that night. I wondered if that was why you were being nice to me. Or flirting. That you thought I was a quick and cheap lay.” She giggled.
“What’s so funny?”
“I guess in your eyes I probably was a quick lay. Even cheap. On the first date I jumped you.”
He smiled. “You did. But I know it was just my irresistible body.”
“It was that,” she teased.
“Let me see what you decided you could salvage. Do you want me to help you or mind my own business?”
“Help,” she said. “I’m trying and doing research, but that doesn’t mean it’s right for me either. I just like things that are simple, but the fit should be better, right?”
“You like classic. There is nothing wrong with that nor simple about it. You’re right, the cut is more important.”
“Ruby and Erika say the same thing. They were jealous you were going shopping with me but excited too.”
“Guess it’s a woman thing to get excited about shopping. I just know what I like and what fits. It’s sad but Carly buys most of Jonah’s stuff for me.”
“Hey, you do what works.”
“That’s what I tell myself and what I’m telling you. We’ll just make sure it’s modern or tailored cuts and fits. Is that what you’re looking for?”
“Yes. I’m not looking to wear wide legged pants that stop at my calves. Nor do I want high-waisted mom jeans.”
“Not a style I like or want to see come back but fashion has its own voice.”
“Exactly! There is a reason some clothing goes out of style.” She dropped her bag on the floor, then turned and walked into her room, him following behind. “Be my guest,” she said, holding her hand out to her open closet.
“There isn’t much in here. Maybe a third of what you had, I’m guessing?”
“I never had a lot of clothes, but yes. I’ve got four pairs of work pants, three skirts, half a dozen shirts, a few sweaters, and a few dresses.”
He pushed everything aside and she wasn’t even self-conscience about that.
She was being strong.
She was being a modern day woman asking for help but also knew what she liked.
There was nothing wrong with getting the man’s opinion she was in a relationship with.
A man that in a short period of time she was losing her heart to.
But that had to be her secret for now.
He pulled out the skirts, only returning one back to the closet and tossing two on her bed. “No go,” he said.
“They were in the bag and I pulled them out yesterday.”
“Why?” he asked of the rust-colored corduroy skirt that hit her mid-calf.
The tan skirt wasn’t much better, but at least it was a little shorter though probably covered her knees.
He kept her black pencil skirt in there.
She’d worn it once to the bar and looked pretty sweet in it, if she did say so herself.
“I just thought the colors were neutral.”
“They are. But the long one only needs a few inches added to it and you could be in a cult covered from head to toe.”
She laughed and slapped his arm. “That’s sad, but I kind of thought it was too long too. It actually trips me up when I wear it because it’s stiff.”
“Then why wear it?”
She shrugged. “I just got used to a style. What’s wrong with the tan one?”
“Where does it hit on your body?”
She held it up and it went past her knees but above her calves. “Too long, huh?”
“I’m no fashion expert, but I’ve got to ask if your first instinct was to take it out, why not stick with it?”
“You’re right. Every time I put it on I feel washed out.”
“What do you like about the black one?” he asked. “My guess is that is a newer one since I’ve seen it on you.”
“It makes me feel sexy and confident. I guess I don’t need all my clothes to make me feel sexy, but the confidence is a plus.”
“Then look in your closet and keep what makes you feel confident. Use that criteria.”
She walked to her closet and pulled out two more shirts, and two sweaters, one dress, and tossed them on the bed. “I think I got nervous because my closet was so bare, but it makes little sense to keep it if I won’t wear it.”
They went through the rest of her stuff in drawers, him letting her decide. It wasn’t about what he liked but what made her feel good.
He asked her to use her judgment and never corrected her when she decided.
This is what she needed.
No one to judge, but just be by her side for support.
“Okay, I think we are done,” he said. “Time to get Jonah. Are you sure you want him with us?”
“I’ve never been shopping with a man before, but I’m excited to finally start to be the person I always wanted to be.
And I guess I’ve got you to thank for it, but there is more to you than that.
I mean if you think Jonah is going to be bored, maybe you shouldn’t go. Ruby and Erika are dying to do it.”
“Nope. We are going together. I’ll keep Jonah entertained because I’m going to let him shop too. Hope that is okay if we take turns in stores.”
“Absolutely.”
Almost like a family, but she didn’t add that part.
And two hours later, she was having a lot more fun than she thought she would. Though she kind of expected Dean to have more say in what she bought, he was more encouraging than anything.
And wasn’t that what she needed in her life? What she always wanted?
Someone to encourage her. Praise her. Tell her she did well. That she looked good.
Her hands were loaded with bags and she bought more than she thought, but it gave her a good idea of size, styles and shapes on her. She could do more online when she was alone.
“I know you’ve probably had enough, haven’t you?” she asked. It was just after noon. Not only was she starving but she was also thirsty enough to chug a gallon of water out of the container.
“I’m hungry,” Jonah said.
“I think we’ve hit our limit, if you’re good.”
“I’m great. This is awesome.” She ran her hand over Jonah’s head. “You did good, bud. You even got a bunch of stuff.”
“Dad told me I could have a new baseball glove if I didn’t complain too much.”
She laughed and gave him a look. “Nothing wrong with bribery. It worked.”
“I’m learning to go with what works more in my life now.”
It was the way she said it. The way his eyes washed over hers.
The tingles in her body.
The reactions he drew out of her.
Everything was happening so fast, but it was all good too.
“Then I’m ready to bring these to the car and get some food.”
“Do you want to come back in here to eat or go somewhere else?” he asked.
“Ask Jonah. He was such a good sport, I say it’s his choice.”
“Dave and Busters,” Jonah shouted.
“The king has spoken,” he said.
They walked to that restaurant in the mall after dropping off her clothes in his SUV.
They ate, they played video games and she laughed harder than she had in her life.
She really sucked at hand eye coordination, but watching Dean and Jonah together, she told herself there was nothing sexier than that.
A father bonding with their child.
She didn’t believe it was only because Jonah was his son.
She was positive Dean would be the same way if he had a daughter.
And when they were driving back to his house, he turned in the car and asked, “So what is going on with you lately?” he asked.
“What? What did I do?”
He laughed and shook his head. “That came out wrong. I guess we don’t get time like this together much. I was just having a conversation. Sometimes we talk about work and other times we talk about life in general. I was just asking if there was anything new.”
She looked behind her and saw Jonah’s head bobbing to the side, his eyes shut.
“Is he really sleeping?”
“Yeah. He got worn out. I’ll carry him to his room if he doesn’t wake up when we get back to my place.”
They weren’t even bringing her clothes home first.
She should have driven to his house and now realized he’d have to bring her back before Jonah went to bed. Unless Carly walked over to just stay in the house like she’d been watching Jonah for an hour before they went shopping.
“Oh. Aside from the fact that my boyfriend found out I’m a total dweeb at work.” He coughed on her words. “My mother called me last week.”
“And how did that go?” he asked.
“I told her I had a boyfriend.”
“I’m just hearing this now?” he said, in the same tone she used when he said the people he worked with knew about her.
She shrugged and patted his leg. “You know things are complicated with us.”
“What did she say?”
“Don’t take this the wrong way?”
“Let me guess, you told her I manage a bar and have a child I’m raising myself and she thinks you can do better?”
“When you say it like that, I feel horrible.”
“Is that how you felt when she said it?” he asked.
Her head went down. “I felt bad that she said it. Not that I believe it, just that she minimized my happiness in life. Those are the reasons I guess I’m the way I am. But I told myself I wasn’t letting her bring me down. And she didn’t.”
“Because you’re stronger than you want anyone to think.”
“That’s right. I am.”
She smiled at him and when they pulled onto his street, said, “It’s kind of early. I didn’t really want to call it a day, but if you’ve got plans with Jonah or want to spend it with him, I understand.”
“No plans but to spend the time with you. The three of us. Why don’t we bring your purchases back to your place? If you don’t mind, you could grab some clothes and stay the night with me.”
“Really?” she asked.
“Yeah. Why are you so shocked over the question?”
He put his blinker on and then turned to go back to her place.
“Because we haven’t spent the night together once and then there is Jonah.”
“Yeah, but he’ll be in bed upstairs and we’ll be downstairs with floors and doors between us.”
“Then I’d love to if you’re okay with it.”
“I wouldn’t have suggested it if I wasn’t.”
She smiled and ran her hand over his arm. Just to touch him again.
To feel like this is still real.
“Can I be honest with you?”
“Of course.”
“It will be the first time I’ve spent the night with a man.”
“I’m glad I’m your first then, but you’re the first woman in this house with me.”