No one can wipe the smile off my face.
Walking out of the gym, I feel wonderful. I had a great class, and the kids I teach are really respectful and chill. They want to be there; they’re not forced to come. I sling my yoga bag over my shoulder and head toward my car.
But something stops me from taking another step. Every morsel of happiness is sucked out of my body.
I see Dylan at the café, sitting at one of the outdoor tables and talking to a woman with long, brown hair that falls to just above her waist. She’s leaning into him, but he’s sitting back in his chair holding his cup as he laughs at something said in their conversation.
I knew he was too good to be true. He’s not anything like he’s pretended to be. I should’ve known. He stares straight at me.
I can’t move; my feet are grounded to the spot. I can’t believe my eyes. This isn’t real.
Dylan smiles and lifts his hand to wave, but he quickly lowers it. His eyes become large, and his mouth falls open. I’ve caught him in his deceit.
Lowering my head, I find my strength and walk past him.
“Molly,” he calls. I ignore him. I’m so mad at me. I was allowing myself to feel something for him, and he’s with someone else. “Molly.” I have no right to be upset with him. We’ve only gone out twice and we haven’t discussed being exclusive. But it still hurts. It hurts so bad. “Molly!”
I can hear him running behind me. He grabs my arm and swings me around to face him. “Please, no need to explain,” I say trying to remain diplomatic, though really I’m kicking myself internally.
“Explain?” He tilts his head to the side. “Are you upset?”
“No, I’m not.” I muster all my willpower and smile at him. “I have to go.” I try to duck past him, but he stops me again. “Please,” I silently beg for him to spare me.
“Would you like to meet my cousin Gemma?”
I close my eyes, instantly feeling like a fool. “Your cousin.”
“My cousin,” he echoes.
I had jumped ahead and thought the worst of him, when he’s given me no reason to react like this. “I’m sorry,” I say, embarrassed. “I feel like an idiot.”
“Don’t be sorry. I get it, really I do.”
“You do?” I look up at him, still too ashamed to meet his eyes.
“I do. I was seeing a woman two years ago, and I had a gut feeling she was hiding something. It was niggling away at me. I asked her, and she said it was all in my head. It was sending me crazy. Until…” He closes his eyes and shakes his head. Opening them, he struggles to continue, but he does. “Until I saw her having sex with another guy in my car.”
“Oh man,” I say, clutching at my chest.
“Yep.” He screws his mouth up and looks away. “The point is, it devastated me, and I vowed to never make someone else feel like that. If I want to leave, I will tell the person I’m with. I wouldn’t ever cheat on you. I couldn’t do that because I know how much it hurts.” I nod, still avoiding his eyes. “Please, come meet Gemma. I was just telling her about you.”
“You were?”
“I was.” He holds his hand out, and even though my internal voice is still telling me he’s lying, I know he’s not. Self-sabotage at its best.
Hesitantly, I reach to take his hand. Linking our fingers together I notice how warm he is, and how well we fit together. “I’m sorry.” I know he told me I don’t need to be sorry, but I behaved like a crazy stalker.
“I know. Come, meet Gemma.” He leads me over to where he was sitting, and he pulls a chair out for me. “Gemma, this is Molly. Molly, my cousin Gemma.”
Gemma isn’t as blessed in the looks department as Dylan. She’s got a crooked nose, loads of freckles, and her teeth are a little wonky. Her smile is large, and she instantly comes across as really friendly. “Hi,” she says with the biggest smile I’ve ever seen.
“Um, hi.”
“Latte?” Dylan asks. I nod my head. He holds his hand up, getting the attention of the waiter. “Can I get a latte, and do you want something to eat?” he asks.
“Have you got the apple and cinnamon muffins today?” I ask.
“We do,” the waiter replies.
“I’ll have one of those please.”
The waiter writes down my order, and leaves.
“This is probably super awkward for you. So let me tell you a bit about myself. I’m Dylan’s cousin on his dad’s side. My dad and his dad are brothers. Dylan and I grew up together, and hung out a lot when his mom took off. I love long walks on the beach and reading.” She starts laughing. “Romantic movies, and sharing my life with the perfect person.” She sounds like a personal ad.
I can’t help but laugh as well. “Do you live around here?”
“I don’t live far from here. But Dylan and I have brunch once a week.”
“And you picked here?” I point to the café.
“I’m local to here, Molly,” Dylan says.
“Really? How local?”
He points down the street. “See that tall brown building?” I turn my attention to where he’s pointing and nod. “Third floor. I’m one of the apartments there.”
“Wow, that’s close. How have I never seen you here before? I love this café. The muffins are delicious.”
“I don’t know,” he shrugs. “We’ve probably crossed paths many times.”
“Kismet,” Gemma says. “You two could’ve walked past each other many times, and never known it.”
“Kismet? I like that,” Dylan says. “And I think you’re right, Gemma.” Gemma smiles and sips on her coffee.
“Latte, and apple and cinnamon muffin,” the waiter says as he places the cup and plate in front of me.
“Thank you.” I pick my coffee up and savor every drop of it.
“Dylan was saying you rescued a dog.”
“Yeah, from a guy at the dog park. The guy was playing with him, then snapped and punched him.”
“I wonder why he’d do that?” Gemma asks as she continues her coffee.
I take a huge bite of my muffin, and lift one finger as I chew it as quick as I can. “A few people think he could’ve been drug affected. But in reality, who knows? So now I have another dog. I already had one, Zhen, and he’s now got a friend, Zorro.”
“Oh my God! I love those names.” She laughs and crinkles her nose. “Zorro. What a cool name. Does he respond to it yet? Because this only recently happened, didn’t it?”
“Zorro’s been with us for about a week. But he’s fitting in so well. Actually, he has a strong attachment to Dad.”
“Awe, that’s so cute. You know, I’m glad you rescued him. I bet he’s getting spoiled now he’s with you,” Gemma says.
“He is.” I finish off my muffin in a bite, and drink the last of my latte. “Crap!” I say.
“What is it?” Dylan asks.
“I meant to make food for the dogs this morning. I have to go, I’m so sorry.” I stand and pick my bag up.
“Make the food for your dogs?” Gemma asks.