Not Pretending Anymore Ward, Penelope (good books for high schoolers .txt) 📖

woman sitting here at my bar isn’t looking for Mrs. Right.”

“Sorry, Belinda.”

“Don’t be sorry. What you need to be is back here in Wisconsin.”

I wasn’t following. “Why do I need to be back there?”

“Because the woman sitting at the end of my bar who just turned me down cold is your Molly.”

CHAPTER 34

Declan

I’d started driving the rental car from the lake toward the airport. But as I did the math, I realized even if I were lucky enough to catch a flight right away, between returning the rental car, the time it takes to board and disembark, picking up another rental car on the other side, and the forty-five minute flight, I’d barely make it there any faster than I could drive. So instead of exiting for O’Hare, I headed north toward Madison. I couldn’t risk that a flight might get delayed or that there wouldn’t be any seats left until late tonight.

When I started, the GPS said the drive would take me about three hours, but apparently they didn’t know what speed I’d be going. Because two-and-a-half hours later, I was parking outside The Spotted Cow.

I had no luggage, no hotel, and a rental car that was supposed to be in another state, but none of that mattered. I’d asked Belinda to stall Molly for as long as she could, but not tell her I was in Chicago. My heart pounded in my chest as I opened the door and saw Molly sitting in my usual seat.

It felt like it took forever to get to her, even though she was just at the end of the bar.

Molly jumped down from her stool and landed clumsily on her feet. “Oh my God, I thought you’d never show.”

Unable to touch her fast enough, I wrapped my arms around her and drew her in close. “I can’t believe you came here.” I squeezed. “God, Molly, I missed you.”

“It was a spur-of-the-moment decision. I had to see you.”

I moved back to look at her face. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming to Wisconsin?”

She shrugged and smiled. “I don’t know. I guess I didn’t want you to say anything that might change my mind. I wanted to get to you before you could talk me out of it. I needed to see you before you left for California.”

I pulled her in for another hug and spoke in her ear, “I have so much to say to you. But we need to go somewhere and talk privately.”

When our eyes met again, she asked, “What took you so long to get here? Where were you tonight?”

“Well, funny you should ask…” I laughed. “It took me forever to get here because I was driving back from Chicago.”

Her eyes widened. “What?”

“I went to see you.”

“Are you kidding?”

“No. You can’t make this shit up. I was looking for you. You weren’t answering my texts. I was losing my mind, Molly.”

She put two and two together. “Wait, does that mean you’ve already checked out of your room here?”

I chuckled. “Yup. I’m homeless as of right now.”

Belinda interjected, “No, you’re not. You’re going to my place. I’ll spend the night at my sister’s. Been meaning to catch up with her anyway.”

“I can’t let you do that. We can go back to the hotel. I’m sure they have a vacancy.”

Belinda slapped her dishrag against the wood of the bar. “No way I’m gonna let you do what you need to do tonight with bedbugs as your audience.” She reached into her pocket and removed one of the keys from her keyring. “Take my damn key and go upstairs.”

Belinda lived right above the bar in a loft-style apartment. While I’d never been inside, I suspected it was nice. I also suspected I’d be wasting my time if I believed she’d take no for an answer tonight. And it was a relief not to have to waste time finding a room.

“I won’t fight you on this, Belinda,” I said. “Thank you.”

While Molly gave her a hug goodbye, Belinda flashed me a thumbs-up. I guess I officially had her approval.

Placing my hand on the small of Molly’s back, I led her out of the bar.

As we climbed the stairs to Belinda’s, my heart raced. I gathered my thoughts and wondered what had prompted Molly to come all the way here. Was she freaked out that she might not see me again, or was it something more?

I turned the key to enter Belinda’s apartment.

“Wow. Nice place,” Molly said.

Belinda had plants throughout the space, and the bright décor was just as vibrant as she was. It was one big space with a kitchen that opened to the living room, and a large bed in the farthest corner of the room. Everything was meticulously clean.

Molly looked around, and then finally at me. “I’m so confused, Declan. I thought you were never going back to Chicago. Obviously, I wouldn’t have come here if I knew you were headed to me.”

I placed my hands on her shoulders. “I wasn’t planning to go to Chicago. But then I got my head out of my ass and realized I would regret it for the rest of my life if I didn’t come see you.” I took a deep breath. Here goes. “Things with Will and you are at a point that if I waited any longer, I would never get a chance to tell you how I feel—”

Before I could elaborate, Molly interrupted me. “There is no more Will and me, Declan.”

I cocked my head. “What?”

“I broke up with him.”

My heart felt ready to explode, bursting with hope. “When was this?”

“A couple of days ago.”

“What happened?” I tried to seem sympathetic, though I wanted to dance.

“I realized one night—when I randomly started crying at work because someone named their baby Declan—that I’m…totally in love with you.” Her chest heaved.

She’s in love with me?

Molly is in love with me?

I should’ve immediately told her I loved her back, but my overwhelmed brain wasn’t there yet. It hadn’t caught up