There was a dance floor in the middle of the room, which seemed unique to Molly. The bar took up the entire back wall of the place. There were booths along the two sides, with a hallway leading to the restrooms and tables surrounding the well-worn dance area. Currently, several couples were swinging each other around, just as the music suggested.
“This is fun,” Molly said, gesturing to the program.
“Thank you. I hardly did any of it, though. Naomi drew all of that by hand,” Sarah said with pride. Naomi was a nineteen-year-old who’d been letting herself into Sarah’s art studio to use the materials. When Sarah found out, instead of pressing charges she’d arranged for the girl to work off what she owed. It hadn’t taken her long, but Naomi had stayed on with Sarah. Molly was happy to learn that the formerly homeless teen was staying in a basement suite owned by Chris’s parents.
“She’s amazing. I love the cartoony way she represented the cast. So cute,” Molly said.
The guys were discussing basketball, arguing over who would make the final four in the college league.
“How’s she doing otherwise?” Sam asked, joining the conversation.
“My parents love having her downstairs. She’s shy. Keeps to herself and goes to work. Pays her rent on time and planted a bunch of flowers for my mom,” Chris said, his brow furrowing.
“Then why are you frowning?” Molly leaned into Sam, picking up her Strawberry Spirit Sipper. She didn’t drink very often, but when she did she preferred sweet to sour.
“That’s his default expression,” Sarah said, gazing at him affectionately.
He laughed and slipped his arm around her shoulders. “Funny. I’d just like to see her become part of the community. She keeps to herself so much, sort of like she’s ready to flee at any moment.”
“She hasn’t yet. Give her time. Sometimes the ones prone to take off and search for something new get sucked in and find a reason to stay,” Sam said, his eyes moving over to Molly.
She poked him in the side. “Subtle.” She’d been more than a little gun-shy about her relationship and the rate at which she’d fallen head over heels for the town’s favorite mechanic. Sam was right though. Sometimes, all a person needed was a reason to stay.
“So, what’s your take on Magnolia?” Sarah asked the group as the music switched to a slower pace.
Before Molly could answer, their server approached the table. “How are you four doing?”
He had a bright, engaging smile, slightly mussed dark hair, and more than a little hint of shadow across his jaw. With his tanned skin and dark eyes, he looked more like a model than a server, but as she knew, this was often a gateway job for college kids.
“We’re good. Actually, you guys want to share some nachos?” Chris asked, looking around the table. When the others nodded, he looked back at the server. “A plate of nachos, no olives or onions, please. And I’ll take another cola.”
The guy nodded, then glanced down at the program. “Oh, that’s fantastic. Are you guys part of the play they’re putting on?”
Sarah shook her head but offered, “We’re just helping out backstage. None of us are actors. Are you?”
Molly caught Chris’s frown at Sarah’s question and almost laughed but Sam caught her attention by slipping his arm around her shoulder.
The waiter picked up the program and opened it, obvious admiration in his gaze. “No. Not at all. But I love the theater. I’m writing a play, actually, and I stopped by to see if maybe I could chat with the great Magnolia Sweet. You know, ask for some pointers? I’d read online that back in the day, she wrote a few episodes of the soap she worked on.” He set the pretty program down and shook his head like he was shaking off a memory.
Molly’s guess was that it wasn’t a pleasant memory if Magnolia was involved.
“Uh-oh. How’d that go?” Sam asked, picking up the same vibe as Molly.
The server gave a humorless smile. “You work backstage? I’m betting you can guess. Oh well. That’s what online courses are for, right? I’ll be back with your drink.” He hurried away from the table and the gears in Molly’s brain turned, shifting into place.
She leaned in and kissed Sam’s cheek, then scooted out from under his arm. “Back in a minute.”
She followed their server to the back of the bar, impressed with how quickly he weaved in between the tables and around patrons, and still managed a smile and wave for customers. When he stopped at a table right before the bar, he caught sight of Molly and frowned.
“Did you need something besides nachos?”
Molly pulled in a breath and spoke over the music. “You said you’re a writer? I was wondering if it was a hobby or a profession.” She’d always believed in signs. One she’d stumbled across online at three in the morning, sitting in a dowdy motel room, unable to sleep, had brought her where she was today.
He grabbed a couple of empty glasses off the table and straightened, looking down at Molly with suspicion in his gaze. “A little of both, but mostly the former while I work toward making it the latter.”
Molly grinned. “You work here full time?”
He glanced around toward the table she’d just left, then back at her. “No one works full time. They have to pay benefits that way. Listen, lady. I’m flattered but I don’t date people I meet at work and your guy seems really cool.”
With a heavy guitar riff opening up the next song and Molly’s shock blocking her speech, it took her a minute. “What? No. Oh my gosh. I’m sorry. I’m not…hitting on you or asking you out. Oh my goodness.” She wondered if he could see the deep shade of red she felt herself turning.
“Uh…okay,” he responded with a slight wince. “My bad. Sorry.”
Molly forced herself to laugh off the embarrassment rolling over her in waves. “Let me try this again.” She stuck out her hand. “I’m Molly Owens, editor-in-chief for the Britton Bay Bulletin. We’re looking for writers for our newspaper as we’re currently very short-staffed.”
His expression morphed into one that made him even more handsome. Not that she was interested. At all.
He took her hand and shook it. “Ahh. Okay.” He laughed. “Gavin Bright. Nice to meet you, Miss Owens.”
She shook her head and laughed. “Molly.” She glanced back and saw her friends and boyfriend watching her with amusement. Yup. She loved to provide amusing anecdotes. They were going to love this one.
When she dropped her hand, she let out a relieved sigh. Awkward moment mostly gone. “If you do any freelance writing, I’d be happy to take a look at a sample. I’m not sure if you’re looking for work.”
“Any writer knows that the only thing better than writing is getting paid to do it. I don’t have anything on me but could I email you? I’m definitely interested, though I’ve never done any investigative pieces or anything. I’m actually finishing up my creative writing degree.” His voice lowered like he was somehow embarrassed by that fact.
“You
