In her head, Molly curses her father and his job. Why did he have to leave her alone with Jim? He had insisted on this dinner together and now he had to work.
It wasn't that she was afraid to be alone with Jim but she hadn't worked out how to move forward exactly.
Thinking back to what Chris had told her it was difficult to keep the flutter in her stomach in check. And still, she needed more time to be sure. She believed Chris and she knew her friend was happy in a different relationship. And she believed it when Chris had told her about the hospital visits, and she really enjoyed the time they spent as a family - with Josie. But was that enough to open up again, to risk her heart?
To her surprise, the conversation over dinner stays light and mostly focused on Josie and her future, but when it comes to end there is an awkward moment when they both reach for the check. Molly can't help the blush in her cheeks when their fingers brush, but she pulls her hand back and lets Jim pay in full.
Outside the restaurant, she is surprised when he stays at her side. Insisting to walk her home, a couple of blocks to her apartment.
"Maybe you can let me say good night to Josie?" he softly asks. Just when she is about to answer her breath hitches in her throat. She feels his hand brush hers and the spark stops her train of thought. When she feels his fingers intertwine with hers Molly also feels the flutter coming back full force.
"You know she is fast asleep already and I don't want to wake her up, but I can't, I won't keep you from seeing her." Molly starts her explanation.
"But?" Jim prompts her after a little while of silence.
"Are you ready for Chris and her assumption if you come up?" Molly continues.
Instead of an answer, she feels her hand lifted and Jim presses a kiss on her knuckles. "I promise to ignore anything she says. You and Josie, you are the most important people in my life. I will always be there for you." Unconsciously Molly walks a step or two closer to him now and her stomach drops when they reach her building, and he tries to pull his hand free. Molly squeezes his hand to keep him close and then just leans up. Softly exploring the possibility of more.
When they pull apart, she can see his smirk.
"You do realize that this does not help in convincing me to not come up with you," he tells her while tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
Molly feels herself blush and hides her face on his chest. "Sorry," she mumbles.
"Hey," he steps back and lifts her chin. "You set the course. I get it I have a lot of convincing to do. I screwed up and I'll take every little chance you give me."
When he leans in again, Molly's breath hitches but he just presses a soft kiss on her cheek. "I better go then. Sweet dreams."
Wordless she turns to her door and walks inside. When she turns back to the door while waiting for the elevator he still is there, watching her through the glass so she blows him a kiss good night.
On the ride up, her mind runs a little crazy. Has this been a missed opportunity? But her insecure thoughts get quieted down by her phone.
"I hope we can repeat this, and maybe fix our little family in the future."
Molly's face breaks out into a huge smile and after pushing her door open, she types her reply: "I'd love that."
"Someone is really happy." Chris's voice drifts to her ears. "I take it the dinner went well?"
"It did. Even though dad left us alone before we could order."
"I am happy for you!" Molly feels herself being pulled into a hug. "And in other good news: I found a new place, so you can have this place to yourself again."
"Please, don't feel obligated to move out. We love having you here."
A couple of days later Molly looks around to the few boxes sitting in her living room. Chris really is moving out today.
That went quicker than she had anticipated, and she still couldn't comprehend why.
The doorbell pulls her out of her thoughts. Still in a daze of mixed feelings, being afraid to be alone again, Molly walks to the door.
"Someone ordered pack mules?" she gets greeted by two grinning men.
"Apparently. Chris is in her room, but most boxes are in the living room already. So, take your pick." she steps aside and Tan immediately steps in.
They both don't really know how to act at this exact moment. They have texted a few times after their unexpected dinner but due to circumstance hadn't seen each other again. But before the awkwardness is broken Victor returns.
"Okay, Street if you aren't here to help you could also leave..." snaps Jim out of his stupor, and with an apologetic smile, he hurries to grab some of the stuff that needs to get downstairs.
Molly wanders into Chris's room.
"Why are you moving out again? Can't you just stay?" she laments plopping down on the bed.
Chris spins around, stops folding the shirt in her hand, and rushes to Molly's side.
"Hey, I am not doing this to hurt you. But be honest, if I weren't staying here, you would've let Jim in already. You two need to figure this out, and me being here is not helping."
"Does he..., do the others...?"
"No, I didn't tell them anything. Molly, you have to decide if and when you are ready, but I know in my heart that you will never let yourself fall if I am here as your safety net. Think about it."
"Thank you for believing in us. I am not so sure right now. I think you are the only one who knows anything about us..."
Downstairs Street tries to open Chris's truck so they can actually put some stuff on the bench too but to no avail. The doors are locked.
"Don't you think I tried that the second I came down here?" Tan pipes up from behind where he is leaning against his own truck.
"Sorry, yeah. Just thought it doesn't hurt to try."
He turns to head back inside, but Tan stops him. "Street, do you think we are all stupid and blind?" He whirls around confused.
"What do you mean?"
Tan lets out a laugh. "I still can't believe you were undercover. You have no poker face in real life. Spit it out, what's going on with you and Molly. And don't say nothing."
"Technically nothing is going on, we are," he takes a break and swallows, "we are friends. Just like you and Chris."
Tan stares at him with a raised eyebrow "You stare at all your friends that way?"
Street's thoughts are racing, how is he supposed to answer now? They hadn't even talked about the situation and how to move forward. But he seems to take too long to answer and something in his expression must've shifted too. "Street? What's wrong? Did you go out with Molly and screwed it up?" Tan steps over to him and leans onto the car too.
"That's one way to put it." Street mumbles almost inaudible but his friend must've heard. "And the other way would be?" Tan prompts in reply and musters him.
"I just, ... remember those jokes you've been making about Josie? Let's just say you hit the jackpot and it took a while for me to realize that." Jim hangs his head. He really isn't interested in the look he imagines on Tan's face right now.
"Oh, and now? I mean I saw the way you looked at each other. So, what is holding you back? Why aren't you together?" Tan asks.
"Wo..." Jim holds up his hand. "Stop. There is so much you don't know and right now, I am just trying to convince her I am worthy of her trust and that I won't walk out when it gets complicated." "I'd say no time like the present. What are you waiting for?" Jim is stunned to hear his friend be so supportive without even asking about the ins and outs of their history. He also figures out that he must've been extremely transparent with his feelings.
That's actually something he is very interested in: "How long have you been holding your breath on this?" "Would you believe me when I said since her birthday? You were less than subtle while slipping her a present and Bonnie saw you a couple of weeks ago. Her best friend only lives a couple of houses down." Victor pushes off his truck and puts a hand on Street's shoulder. "Don't wait too long."
A few days later and Tan's words were almost permanently etched into his brain and he had to admit, he had been asking himself what he was waiting for multiple times now. Jim couldn't say he knew for sure why he was so careful. He just felt it would be unwise to pressure Molly. Who actually seemed like the one to be hesitant to let him back in completely.
He had been floored by the realization she had kept a secret, a life-changing secret from him for close to a year. And he didn't want to imagine how that had affected her. His own reaction, as much as he tried to rationalize it, was wrong. He had suspected it and if he had been more confrontational about it... Jim shakes his head. That probably would have made everything so much worse.
Without thinking about it much longer, he grabs his keys and everything else he needs and hops his bike to drive to Molly.