It was clear she could use a friend, and Jordan didn’t like the idea of her alone and depressed. So she’d dropped a ten on the bar for Little Bobby and abandoned the second half of her beer.

It was only a few moments before Molly appeared at the door. She was smiling, but the semi-red eyes indicated that all was not as well as she tried to play off. She wore gray yoga pants, a light blue T-shirt, and had pulled her hair up into a ponytail.

“You didn’t have to come, you know. I’m sure you were wrapped up in something way more exciting and I’ve gone and ruined it.”

Jordan followed her in. “I think your idea of my life is a lot more exciting than the actual reality of it.”

“You’re trying to make me feel better.”

“A little. But it also happens to be true. So why the rough night? I take it the date didn’t go so well.”

“If you like lunatics it did.”

“Oh no.”

“Oh yes.”

“Tell me about it now or later?”

“Definitely later.”

“Done. But I feel strongly that we should take advantage of this opportunity.”

Molly plopped onto the couch and pulled her feet underneath her in the most adorable move. “What opportunity is that?”

“The feel-sorry-for-ourselves, veg-out-on-the-couch opportunity, of course. They don’t come along all that often. I’m boldly suggesting a movie. I love movies.”

“I’m aware. People pay you to make them.”

“Oh, you noticed. Can I check out your collection?”

“I’m not sure I could stop you.” But she was smiling so Jordan pressed on to the shelf lined with DVDs and perused. “You actually have quite an impressive little group here. I never would have guessed.”

“I feel there’s a veiled insult in there somewhere.”

“Not true.” She held up the case for The Godfather . “Did you know Sofia Coppola appeared in this film as Michael’s baby daughter in the christening scene?”

“I do now, movie person.”

“Hey, are you feeling dark and violent or sweet and heartwarming?”

“I’m feeling dark and violent, so maybe sweet and heartwarming as a counteragent?”

“Great idea.” She selected a DVD. “Eighties gold. Do you approve?”

Molly sat up straighter to read the title. “ Say Anything . Perfect.”

They settled in on the couch and watched as everyman Lloyd Dobler did his damndest to woo the smart girl in school. At several points, Jordan stole glances at Molly who seemed lost in the story, laughing and sighing appropriately at all the classic moments. As the credits scrolled, Molly pushed herself up into a sitting position, a dreamy expression on her face. “Can I just say that I love that movie? That’s how it’s supposed to be. Organic. You meet someone, fall for them, and do anything and everything to make it work, against all the odds and then…you know, live happily ever after.”

Jordan smiled, enjoying the light that had sparked into Molly’s eyes. “That’s the idea.”

Molly lifted the remote and turned off the TV. She stared pensively at the blank screen before turning back to Jordan. “But it never works out that way, you know? And I want it to. I want the movie.”

“What was your favorite part?

Molly thought a moment. “I love that no one would have ever put them together. But they fit. In spite of the obstacles tossed in their way. Now you.”

“Um, the big gesture. Radio in the air, heart on his sleeve, vulnerable as hell. It gets me every time.” Because no one had ever done anything like that for her.

Molly stared. “I love how big a softie you are. Everyone thinks you’re so tough, throwing elbows on the soccer field.”

“That was only twice.”

“But you’re a complete romantic, you know that?”

Jordan looked skyward in jest. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

They laughed and then the room fell silent. “It makes me think of Cass and me. That movie. They’re young, in love. Everything’s easy.”

Jordan’s stomach tightened and the words tumbled out of her mouth before she could stop them. “But it wasn’t always perfect. Between the two of you.”

Molly’s eyes widened slightly. “No, it wasn’t. But it was love. We were in love. And now…”

“You look sad again.”

She raised a shoulder. “I just think I’ll never have that again. No one will ever love me in the same way.”

“Don’t say that.”

“Well, it’s true. I want to be with someone who lights up when I walk in the room, who wants to stay at home and cook pizza together and get in water balloon fights on the Fourth of July. But that person doesn’t exist for me. At least not anymore.” The emotion in her eyes was raw now, and Jordan, damn it, hated that.

“Hey,” she said quietly, needing to do something, anything to help. “Come here.” She moved to Molly who fell easily against her and held on, finally letting go of her emotion.

They stood like that for several long moments before Molly stepped back, slowly brushed away the stray tears, and took a calming breath. “Well, that was…completely indulgent.”

“No, it wasn’t. And you’ll find love again. Just as soon as the time is right.”

But that seemed to just garner another look of hopelessness. “It’s worse than you think. I have two gray hairs and I’ve gained six pounds. Did you hear that? Six pounds .”

“I’m going to level with you, Molly. You’ve never looked so good.” Damn it, it was the truth. She was positively stunning and sexy for days, as much as Jordan wished to God she wasn’t.

“Don’t look at me like that. I don’t need your pity looks.”

But all Jordan could do was look at Molly. At how soft and thick her hair looked, at her incredibly long eyelashes, and then there was the generosity of her mouth. She wasn’t sure what pushed her into action, but in that moment there had seemed like no other action to take. Before Jordan fully realized what she was doing, she leaned in and captured that mouth with her own.

And the result was so achingly wonderful that she lost herself.

It was a simple kiss and the warm press of her lips against Molly’s only lasted a moment, but it was enough to push her into a haze of longing. As she pulled away, she found herself looking into Molly’s eyes and the tiny traces of gold that danced in the brown.

*

Hold the phone. Jordan had just kissed her.

As Molly stood in her living room, staring in utter surprise into vibrant blue eyes, that was the only thought her mind was capable of producing. Jordan had kissed her.

And though her intellect wasn’t exactly working at the moment, her body seemed to be firing on all cylinders and had definite ideas on the topic, as the next thing she knew, she slid her hands into Jordan’s long, dark hair and pulled her back in, meeting her mouth eagerly, searchingly and then some.

It was explosive. That was the word for it, explosive in so many ways.

Jordan responded immediately, her hands moving to Molly’s waist and then pulling her in firmly. Once her lips parted, Jordan eased her tongue into the warmth of her mouth and she felt the results everywhere. Her heart raced and a dull ache moved from her center downward with alarming speed.

It wasn’t enough.

She aggressively walked Jordan backward toward the sofa, breaking the kiss for only a heartbeat as she eased Jordan into a seated position and followed her down, straddling her lap and settling her mouth decidedly on Jordan’s once again. It was a runaway train that continued to pick up speed, and she couldn’t help but let it roll on. It was crazy, breathless, and Molly lost track of everything.

That’s when hands began to move.

Jordan’s were first and settled on the small of her back before slipping under her T-shirt to the skin beneath. Her insides fluttered at the contact and she felt herself pushing desperately against Jordan’s stomach as the aching escalated. All the while, her mouth savored every moment of the tantalizing kiss. The flash of desire was staggering and her hands drifted from Jordan’s face, to her neck, down her collarbone to her breasts. At the briefest of touch, Jordan took in air, pulling her mouth away. Her breathing was ragged, her eyes unfocused. “Wait a second, Mol. Wait.”

And it all came crashing down.

At the sound of Jordan’s voice, reality infused Molly’s conscious thought and she tumbled back to the land of the present, the land of rational, and the land of what the hell? “Oh my God,” she whispered. “What just happened?” She moved off of Jordan and backed away as if she’d been burned. She ran her fingers through her hair because she didn’t quite know what else to do to erase the past three minutes. But somehow she had to erase them.

Jordan watched her from the couch. “Calm down. It’s okay.”

“It’s not okay. It’s not okay at all. You’re Cassie’s sister. You’re Jordan, who’s like ten years old. You’re a child.”

“I haven’t been ten in a long time. We’re both adults, Molly.”

“You have to go.”

Jordan stood and held up her hands. “Okay. I’ll go. But please don’t blow this out of proportion. Nothing unrecoverable happened here. We kissed. It happens.”

“And it was a mistake.” God, it was a mistake. What had she been thinking? What was wrong with her?

Jordan stared at her for a beat and then nodded once, her expression unreadable. “We’ll just pretend this didn’t happen then.”

“Exactly. Because it never should have.” She crossed her arms in front of her defensively and watched as Jordan made her way silently to the door. Alone in her living room, she sank in the chair as a multitude of self-recriminations surfaced and swirled.

She’d acted impulsively. She’d betrayed Cassie with her sister. She’d forever ruined her friendship with Jordan. And God, for a very brief time, she’d enjoyed it.

That was the part that upset her most of all.

Chapter Eight

“What does a man have to do to get his coffee made to his liking?” Mr. Jeffries held his cup across the counter, just shy of Molly’s chin. She took a breath because, man, she was not in the mood for him this morning. Channeling her inner Donna Reed, she forced a polite smile.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Jeffries. What exactly is wrong with your coffee?”

“Only one sweetener. I take two packets in my coffee. Everyone knows that.”

This was true. She’d made his coffee every day for as long as she could remember, and she’d never once screwed up. But having not slept at all the night prior had her grappling for focus. “Sorry about that. But in good news, it’s easily remedied.” She took his cup and added the additional packet of sweetener. “Here you go. And tomorrow’s is on the house.”

“Well, it’s the least you could do. Don’t you think?” He shook his head in disgust and walked back to his favorite table. “Of all things,” he muttered angrily to himself. Twenty minutes later, Mr. Jeffries placed his hat on his head and took off for home, leaving the place customer free. Molly slid into a booth and rested her cheek in her hand.

“You okay, sugar?” Eden wiped down the now vacant table. “You look a little glazed over.”

Molly couldn’t disagree. It’d been a rough twelve hours. She’d played back the night prior with Jordan a hundred times and still had very little understanding of how it could have happened. Those thoughts had kept her tossing and turning until it was time to head into work. Now, in desperation, she decided to seize the opportunity to talk it out. “Could we chat a minute in the kitchen?”

“You bet we can. Louise, sweetie, will you watch the counter for me?”

Louise didn’t even glance up from the Pennysaver. “On it.”

Once safely behind the swinging door, Molly pushed herself up onto the counter and stared hard at Eden. “Have you ever done something that you’d give anything to take back?”

A smile spread across her face. “Oh, I think I’m gonna like this.”

Molly exhaled impatiently. “Shut up and focus. This is hardcore serious. Have you?”

Eden thought for a moment. “Sure, sweetheart. Of course I have. Let’s see. I wish I’d never married Carl, the two-timing idiot from Oklahoma who stole my Chevy in the middle of the night.”

Molly shook her head slowly. “I don’t even know what to say to that. I think your life is a perpetual country music song.”

“Call it whatever you will, but the cops caught up with him in Tuscaloosa and threw his sorry ass in jail. Wonder which one of us is crying now?”

“Again, just further proving my point.”

Eden winked and slid herself up onto the counter across from Molly. “I guess you’re right. Now you. What horrible thing do you regret doing?”

“Okay, but if I tell you this, it cannot leave this room. You have a tendency to share things with the free world, and while I love you anyway, this cannot be one of those things. Do you understand me, Eden Young? Top secret.”