Page 38 of Restless Ink

Thea laughed and took a big bite, relief spreading through her even as the anxiousness of the paperwork and what was to come warred inside.

By the time her parents headed out, and Thea went back to the table to clean up and put away her paperwork—she’d kept an eye on the table the whole time so no one could come around and snoop—she was a little tired and very full but happier than she had been in ages about the potential developments. Her parents believed in her, they always had, and having them at her back meant the world. Soon, she’d tell the rest of her family her plans, but this hurdle was a big one.

She was just stuffing her papers back into her bag when Molly walked in, pulling off her big glasses.

“Thea, darling, oh good, you’re here. I’m dying for something sweet, and since I can’t evenlookat cake like you do, I need hot fruit tea. Anything sugarless you have.” She kissed Thea’s cheek before Thea could even get a word in. “Oh, what’s all this?” she tugged the last piece of paper out of Thea’s hands and read a few words. “Loan paperwork? Oh, no, are you in trouble?”

Thea winced. “Shh, Molly. No, we’re not in trouble. This is for something else. Everything’s fine.”

“Are you sure? Because you know I can help if you need it. Daddy can, too.”

Thea wanted to crawl into a closet and hide away from this conversation, but she might as well get over it. The fact that this was just one of many awkward conversations she’d had with Molly recently made her worry, but she didn’t have time for that kind of anxiety, not yet anyway.

She tugged on her friend’s arm and pulled Molly toward the office along with her paperwork. The bakery was filling up, and she didn’t want to have this conversation where everyone could hear. It had been different with her parents and the time of the day.

“What is it? Why are you tugging me? Do you need money?”

“I’mfine,” Thea repeated. “This is loan paperwork for an expansion. You know the empty part of the strip on the other side of me? Well, I want to buy it and make Colorado Icing into something even bigger.”

Molly’s eyes widened, and she clapped, her smile going into something so fierce that Thea took a step back. “Oh, that’s wonderful. Loan paperwork needs references, right? I never needed a loan since I’ve always been able to just use the money I have, but I’ve heard that.”

Thea held back from saying something not quite nice since Molly had money only because of her parents, but speaking about it wasn’t going to help anyone right then.

“Yes, loan paperwork needs references.”

“Let me be your reference,” Molly put in. “I’ve known you forever, and with my family name and connections it should be a breeze.”

And though that fact grated on Thea slightly since Molly hadn’t ever worked a paying job, what her friend said was absolutely true. Plus, the idea that Molly would so readily offer without Thea even having to ask was sweet.

“That would be amazing.”

“Yay! I’m so glad I can help. You know, if I cared about baking and could be near sugar, I’d totally buy the place next to you, and we could be partners.”

Thea blinked, wondering how the hell Molly had come to that realization since doing that would change everything and not work out in the slightest, but she assumed her friend must be joking. Surely.

“Ah. That would be…interesting.”

“But I run from sugar as most sane people do,” Molly said with a wink. “Just let me know what I need to do for the reference, and you have me. Now, I really need that tea before I get my nails done. Snow’s coming, and I can’t deal with that and wet nails.”

Thea just shook her head, lost as usual at Molly’s erratic train of thought. She walked out to the front with her friend and froze.

Dimitri stood at the counter, coffee in hand. He looked between the two and gave them a strained smile. Yes, this was awkward, yes, this was complicated, but damn it, Thea was happy to see him.

Even if Molly being there made things dramatically weird.

“Oh, hey there,” Molly said with a grin. “Seems we’re thinking the same thing. Tea for me. What did you get?”

“Hazelnut latte.” Dimitri cleared his throat. “Hi there, Molly. Thea. I’m headed out to a workshop but wanted something hot to drink. Late night with paperwork.”

“Same for me, probably,” Thea said as she moved to stand behind the counter to work on Molly’s drink. “Exciting, right?”

“You know it is. Anyway, I need to head out. Thanks for the drink. Have a good rest of your day, ladies.”

Thea knew it would have been too awkward for him to hug her, to kiss her, to do anything that stated who they were to each other when they didn’t know that for themselves yet. Doing anything in front of Molly would have just been weird and perhaps even mean to the other woman, so they were walking on eggshells and trying to figure it all out.

Slowly.

Thea watched as Dimitri walked out, and Molly leaned forward to pat Thea’s hand.