Molly's Chat

By the time I was done with my shower, Molly was sitting on my bed, practically bouncing in her eagerness. I stepped into the room, and she pounced on me.

“What happened? How did it happen? How are you doing?” she shot at me, her eyes wild with enthusiasm.

“Whoa, whoa,” I called, holding my hands up and chuckling. “How did you get by my mom?”

Molly looked confused. “No one answered the door, so I walked in. I heard the shower running and figured you were in there. So, I came into your room to wait. I didn’t see your mom, nor did I hear her.”

I couldn't remember the door closing, but that didn’t mean my mother didn’t leave. My mother was furious with me, and I wouldn’t put it past her to avoid me.

“Wait,” Molly said, grabbing my attention. “Does your mom know?”

I twisted my lips and nodded. “I left my phone over at Noah’s, and he brought it back. Mother didn’t really have to jump far to come to the right conclusion.”

“Ohhhh, shit,” Molly gasped. “I’ll bet she flipped her lid.”

I rubbed my hand over my face and took a deep breath, shoving the gut-wrenching concern down. “That’s putting it nicely.”

“I’ll bet.”

I shook my head hard and straightened my shoulders. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t regret what happened. Even if my mother makes my life a living hell because of it. I was in heaven last night.”

Molly grinned widely. “That’s better! Now… what happened?”

To hide the bright blush that crossed my cheeks, I hurried to my closet and started picking out my clothes. I hated my blush, especially now. I had just lost my virginity. Shouldn’t these stupid childhood reactions to talking about sex stop now?

“What do you think happened?” I asked with a giggle.

“I knooowww what happened, Becca! But I want to HEARRRR it!” Molly whined.

I opened my mouth, trying to explain everything that happened last night, but I just couldn’t. The things we did, the way he made me feel, were the definition of intimate, and I didn’t want to share that.

“Well… he… ummm… I…” I stuttered, trying to figure out what I could say that didn’t feel like I was giving away too much.

Molly flopped on the bed, holding her stomach as she laughed at me. “Ohhh, Beccaaaaa. You’re still so sweet and innocent.”

That made me mad. Molly’s words echoed the reasons why Noah hadn’t wanted to sleep with me. He was afraid of taking away my innocence.

I spun around and glared at her. “Why don’t you tell me what is going on with you and Scott?”

Molly’s eyes widened, and her face went slightly pale, then flushed a bright scarlet. I had definitely struck a nerve, and I knew it. What I hadn’t expected was the sadness and despair that came over her face as soon as I mentioned Scott.

I rushed to her side and grabbed her hands. “I’m so sorry, Mol. I didn’t mean… it’s okay. I don’t care one way or another. I just want you to be happy.”

Molly pulled her hands away and brushed me off. “Nothing is happening, Becca. I would never do anything with my STEP-brother. That would be wrong.”

She was lying, and I knew she was lying. But I also knew that stubborn posture of her shoulders. Molly would take whatever secret she had to the grave. It was one of the reasons I adored her. No matter what anyone did or said, I always knew she had my back.

I wanted to push her to open up to me. But I knew if I did, she would walk out the door, and I would not have the chance to get it out of her. I was going to have to approach this very, very carefully.

“How can I help?” I asked her softly.

Molly straightened her shoulders and lifted her head, then her happy smile was back. It didn’t touch her eyes, but it was back.

“Tell me about you and Noah,” she told me.

I nodded, understanding that she wanted to move on. I would go along with her for now. But I silently promised myself that I would get to the source of her pain.

“Well… I spent the night with Noah, and we… well, you know,” I admitted, finally ducking my head shyly.

Molly bounced on the bed and squealed. “Yes! I’ll bet it was amazing! Wild and crazy and fantastic!”

I didn’t agree or disagree with her. Suddenly, she grabbed my hand and was completely serious.

“Did you use protection? We don’t need your mother to have a heart attack just yet,” she pointed out.

She sounded so adult and worldly that I couldn’t help but shake my head at her. She was acting more like my mother than my mother had acted.

I rolled my eyes. “Yes.”

“Good!” she proclaimed. “I won’t press you anymore. But I had to know. Sometimes the first time can be so crazy that it’s forgotten.”

“Oh my god! Molly! Can we just move on?! I promise it was fantastic and safe. I even had my safe word!”

“Ohhhhh,” Molly teased. “A safe word even!”

I flushed and threw my pillow at her. We both flopped back on the bed and giggled hard. It was nice to see a moment of happiness cross Molly’s face. But I could still see the cloud of misery over her.

I spent the day with Molly, trying to decipher everything she said or did to figure out what was going on with her. By the end of the night, I was no closer than I had been when she had come over. I had wanted her to spend the night, but as soon as we heard the front door open, I knew our time was over.

As soon as I got back from walking her to her car, I heard my mother call my name from the kitchen. I took a deep breath and squared my shoulders. She hadn’t dragged me down earlier, and I wasn’t about to let her do it now.

Ingram was seated at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee. She looked as if she was about to go into a business meeting. Which was not a look I was used to her having.

“Sit down, Rebecca,” Ingram said, pointing to the chair next to her. “We have a lot to discuss.”

I openly rolled my eyes at her. “Mother, I don’t know what else there is to say. I have made my choice, and I will not change my mind.”

“You need to understand the consequences of your choice, young lady,” she replied in an even tone.

“I think I understand well enough, Mother,” I told her as I sat down.

“I need to make sure. Your father and I have worked hard to get where we are now, and I will not let you destroy it because you want to fling yourself at every man that winks at you,” she began.

“Mother, I don't fl—”

“Let me finish,” Ingram snapped.

I shut my mouth. Maybe if I just let my mother get this out of her system, the conversation would end, and I could go back to my room.

“So, here is the deal. Since no one really knows what happened between you and….” I glared at her, daring her to call him something insulting, but my mother bit it back. “The man next door. We will just keep it between us. However, if it gets around or you continue this behavior, you will be out of our house.”