“Hey,” Rebecca said. She gave me a hopeful smile. “Thanks for coming out on such short notice. I know I could’ve waited for you at home…but I don’t know, this is probably better.”
I nodded. “Yeah,” I said. “Um, thanks for apologizing. That means a lot.”
“I was just such a jerk,” Rebecca said. “I’m jealous of your time, Molly, and I realize that’s totally not healthy. We’ve just always been so close, you know?”
I nodded. “I know,” I said. “Trust me, I get it.”
Rebecca sighed. “I’m just sorry I acted like that. It’s kind of…hard to imagine you with my brother, and I just don’t want you getting hurt.”
“Well, probably nothing will happen with Alex,” I said, sighing moodily. “So, it’s not like you have much to worry about.”
“Have you seen him this week?”
“Seen who?”
The sound of Alex’s voice made both Rebecca and I jump. He grinned, then lowered his muscular body down into a chair next to me. His face was red and sweaty, and I could smell beer on his breath.
“Alex!” I said. “What are you doing here?”
Alex smirked. “Having a drink. God, Molly, you would be the only person in a bar without a beer in front of you.”
Rebecca rolled her eyes. “She obviously just got here,” she said. “If you care so much, go get her something.”
Alex cocked his head to the side and stared at me. “Only if she promises to thank me for it,” he said, raising an eyebrow.
I blushed hotly, grateful for the dark cover of the bar. “Of course,” I said. My voice was barely above a whisper.
Alex grinned and vaulted out of his chair.
“I can’t believe he just showed up!” Rebecca said. She shook her head. “I should go.”
“No,” I said. “Don’t.”
“Really? You don’t want to be alone with him?”
I did want to be alone with him – more than anything else in the world. But being in a bar wasn’t really like being alone, and I felt like the nature of my friendship with Rebecca was still slightly more precarious than it should be.
“No,” I said. “I mean, stay, you should really stay.”
Rebecca nodded. She took a sip of her wine. “If he gets mean, I’m leaving,” she said. “But don’t feel like you have to come.” She yawned. “I’m exhausted.”
“Me, too.”
Alex set a frothy mug of beer down in front of me. He smirked. “All yours,” he said.
“Thanks,” I said shyly. “How much do I owe you?”
Alex waved his hand dismissively through the air. “Don’t worry about it,” he said. “I’m sure you can think of a way to pay me back later.”
My blush darkened to a crimson red and I nodded. Alex sat down, scooting his chair close to mine. When I felt his hot hand on my leg under the table, I shrieked.
“Molly? Are you okay?” Rebecca asked, her voice tinged with concern. “What’s wrong?”
“Molly’s just feeling a little jumpy tonight,” Alex said. He moved his fingers higher up my thigh, pushing the skirt of my sundress into my lap. I bit my lip and resisted the urge to squirm.
“Yeah,” I said. “Don’t worry. I’m fine.”
“So, sis, Rob was talking about you today,” Alex said. His fingers moved higher and higher, until they were practically in my crotch. I shifted, spreading my legs slightly to allow him greater access. He pinched me and I squeaked, covering my hand with my mouth.