“I’m sorry,” she blurted, turning to face him. John kept his gaze fixed through the windshield, even though they’d stopped moving, showing her his impressive profile and the small muscle twitching in his jaw.

“Sorry for what?” he asked, his voice stiff.

“Making you think I regret it. I don’t.” As soon as the words were out, Molly knew they were absolutely true. Her wild thoughts calmed down, and she reached for his hand, pulling it into her lap. “Not at all. I just freaked out for a second. It’s been a long time since I’ve cared about anyone besides my sisters, and it scared me how much I want you to stick around.”

He finally turned to look at her as his cool expression melted away, leaving the tender, warm look that was quickly becoming her favorite. “As long as you want me to stick around, I’m here.”

It was hard to believe, but Molly shoved away the thought of all Jane’s husbands and boyfriends who’d been there one day and gone the next. Even Lono, Molly’s own dad, had ended up leaving. Cramming all the bad memories into a back corner of her brain, she smiled at John.

“I’ll hold you to that.”

Chapter 20

Cara walked into the kitchen and stopped so abruptly that Norah bumped into her back.

“Why are you both…damp?”

“We took a shower.” Even though Molly was trying to act nonchalant, she knew her face was red.

“A shower?” Cara looked back and forth between them, a broad smile spreading across her face as Norah’s eyes widened. “Singular shower? Meaning you shared one? Meaning you’re finally doing it?”

“Doing it?” Molly’s lip curled even as John laughed. “Are you ten? What grown woman says that?”

Cara offered a fist to John. After a short pause, he tentatively bumped it. “Finally. I’m happy for you two. If you hurt my sister, I’ll cut you down the middle and make you wear your own entrails as a scarf.”

To his credit, he only blinked once before he gave Cara a serious nod. “Noted.” Sending a quick glance at Molly, the corner of his mouth quirked up as he added, “Sister.”

“Nope.” Molly tried to glare at him, but her usual eye lasers didn’t seem to be working. She felt too soppy inside to get up a good basilisk stare.

From John’s grin, she knew that he was well aware he’d pretty much obliterated her tough outer shell. “Sissy?”

“I’m going to veto that one,” Cara said dryly, leaning on the counter. “Congrats, you two. Now, time’s ticking if we want to crash that meeting.”

Norah was still studying them, and Molly felt a twinge of concern. “You good with this, Norah?”

“Of course. I mean, we all knew it would happen eventually.”

Molly huffed. “Everyone but me, apparently.”

Ignoring her, Norah continued. “I’m happy for you. You’re always so busy taking care of everyone else. It’s good that you have someone to take care of you.”