Out of the Blue (3 page)

“You’d bring Sean?”

“Well,” Nicole said, poking her cashew chicken, “he sort of knows the people there.”

“How?” Molly said, trying to pull the legs off one of the shrimp, cursing.

“He, uh, worked there.”

Molly’s shrimp slipped out of her hands and flew in the air to land on a nearby table, startling the diners. Oh dear. Nicole tried to sink lower in her seat.

But Molly had other plans. “I’m so sorry,” she said, walking over to pick it up. “I’ll take care of your check. Again I’m so sorry to disturb your meal.”

The couple looked up at her with shocked faces as she picked it up and walked away again.

“Sorry about that,” Molly said. “You shocked me. And these shrimp are so stupid. I couldn’t remember which one had eyeballs and legs. This time I’m going to memorize the name.” She stared at the menu. “Oh yeah, you said he worked there?” She raised an eyebrow and tilted her head to the side.

Nicole felt heat warming her cheeks. “Yeah,” she said.

“Interesting.” Molly said. “I’d prefer we went just us though.”

“Okay,” Nicole said. “I’m sure Sean would like time at the dojo anyway.” She waved at the waiter for the check. “So Tuesday at seven?”

“Sure,” Molly said. “Email me the address, and we’ll meet there.”

Nicole followed her out, wondering if this had really been such a great idea. She’d need to go to the club early to let them know about Molly. Maybe Justin could help.

Chapter 2

J
ustin grinned up from where he sat squished between four women on a couch. Nicole had poked her head around the door, smiled at him, and wiggled a finger to pull him over to the door. He worked himself out of the sea of arms and legs and apologized to the girls, telling them that he’d be right back. He pulled Nicole through the door and into a big hug, knowing he’d probably now be subjected to several unwanted hugs or risk being called unfair. But it was worth it. Nicole was one of those rare people completely unaffected by him. She treated him like a person, like anyone else. No, even better. Like a person she liked.

“So good to see you!” He pulled back to look her over. “I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to the wedding.”

“We’re sorry we eloped on short notice,” she said, blushing.

“Well I doubt Sean is. Still it’s good to see you.” He put an arm through hers and started to lead her to the bar, but she stopped him. “What’s up?”

“I need a favor,” she said, looking towards the door she’d just come through.

“Anything.”

“I’ve brought a friend,” she said.

Justin cocked his head at her, half smiled, and headed for the door. “Where is she? You’ve never left one outside before.”

“That’s just it.” Nicole folded her arms and looked down for a moment. “She’s not a normal friend,” she said. “She’s a really special girl, but, well …”

“But what?” he said, more and more curious about the creature on the other side of the door.

“She’s shy,” she said. Then put a finger to her chin. “No, that doesn’t really describe it.” She pursed her lips for a moment and rested her chin on her hand. Then she snapped her head back up, eyes lit.

“That’s it.” She snapped her fingers. “She’s introverted.”

“How so?”

“She just doesn’t go out a lot.”

“Ah,” he said. “Why, she a hunchback or something?”

“Oh no,” Nicole said. “She’s gorgeous. At least I think she is, but I’m sort of influenced a lot by how much I care for someone, so maybe I’m biased. No, she’s just never really been around guys much. Very much a homebody.”

“Okay,” Justin said. “And the favor you want from me is what?”

“Just be nice to her.”

“I’m nice to all the girls here. Bring her on in.”

“No, I mean, extra nice. I want you to be her escort.”

“The club’s pretty full Nick. Any of the other guys would do great—”

“I want you,” she said, poking him in the chest. “Please Justin? She’s loaded, too. I’ll make sure Hope knows you brought in a brand new customer with a big fat wallet.”

He groaned. That would win Hope over. Fine. Wallflowers were sort of his specialty anyway.

“I’ll do what I can,” he said. When she scrunched up her mouth on one side, he wiggled his eyebrows at her. “Of course, you know that what I can do is pretty awesome.”

She grinned. “Oh I’m so glad Justin. Thank you so much. I knew you would be the one to make Molly comfortable.” She walked back to the door.

“Molly?” Justin muttered, feeling like he’d just agreed to walk a few feet, and now was being told that it was a few feet across a frozen lake, and in high heels. No, what were the chances that it could be the same Molly? None right? He breathed out until there was nothing in his chest, then drew in a breath again. He went to the bar to get drinks for Nicole and her friend. Knowing it couldn’t be his Molly. Praying it wouldn’t be that Molly.

Nicole came back in and pulled a woman out from behind her into the club. Justin didn’t think this was one of those times he’d be grateful his prayers weren’t answered.

“Hello Molly.” Justin wished he had a secret lever to open a James Bond style trap door that he could disappear into.

Nicole had already started introductions, not noticing that Molly had stopped a few feet back, watching him with her head cocked, her arms limp at her sides.

It barely looked like her, but he knew without a doubt it was. It was in that unreadable face, the big blue eyes that took everything in and reacted internally in ways that no one could read. It was her hair, which was straight and shiny and hung to her shoulders but was still the same color, and he suspected, underneath whatever magic Nicole had worked on it, just as unruly.

Her body though, was tiny. He didn’t know if she had lost weight or just looked it because she was dressed in flattering clothing. A pretty blue dress with a little belt that nipped in at the waist, her boobs (his first time really seeing them) were smallish in general but looked good on her short frame. She had the same freckles, the same nose. But her face was more striking, more delicate. His Molly had become beautiful. And she was staring at him as if she was just watching wildlife in a field.

He wished he could count on her to be a normal chick. To run over and grab a vase or a lamp or something and slam it over his head and call him a cad. He deserved it. He’d hurt her, not that he’d meant to. And he’d abandoned her, though maybe that had been a relief for her after she figured out what a loser he was. What a loser she thought he was, anyway.

Nicole finally looked over her shoulder, and then walked back, looped an arm through Molly’s and pulled her forward. Molly kept the same, only slightly hesitant and inquisitive face on as she was pulled to meet him.

“He doesn’t bite, Molly,” Nicole was saying. “He’s just a guy. Just a person, like you or me.”

“I’m not stupid,” she snapped, pulling her arm away and startling Nicole. “I know he’s a person.”

Justin looked at Nicole’s shocked face and smothered a laugh behind a hand.

“What’s your name?” she asked. “I was distracted by the beautiful decor and didn’t hear Nicole introduce you.” She looked up at him innocently.

“Justin.” He kept his mouth from falling open only with the greatest effort. So she wanted to play that game? Fine.

“Nice to meet you Justin,” she said, extending her small hand.

He shook it briefly, using the moment to focus in on her face to try to detect any recognition there.

“So this is Club Blue?” She walked away from the bar and raised her arms to turn around and survey the room. “You didn’t tell me it was so beautiful.”

“You should see the view,” he said, coming up behind her. Did she really not remember him? At all?

“Nicole, will you show me?” she asked, walking past him. “Why didn’t you tell me it was so beautiful? I can imagine that this is just what it’s like looking down on Tokyo.”

Justin frowned as they left him behind. Shy? Yeah, sure. He was going to make sure and call Nicole out for that one later.

It was perfect. It was sort of perfect. It was also confusing, and a little bittersweet, seeing him here like this. Molly looked over the skyline, noticing in the reflection a dejected looking blond way back in the room watching her and Nicole. What kind of karmic joke was this, showing up to find him here?

By Justin’s face in the distance in the reflection in the glass, he definitely recognized her. She kept her eyes on the skyline and saw him pace out of the corner of her eye. He turned as if called by the girls nearby, said something with a shake of his head, and made as if he was going to walk towards them.

That’s it, she thought. Walk away.

“I guess it really is beautiful,” Nicole said. “I remember now thinking that when I first came in. After that I was too involved in the drama with Sean to notice.”

“I love the blue theme,” Molly said. “I was expecting Vegas, not New York. It’s classy.”

“I’m glad you love it,” Nicole said. She rested back with folded arms against the couch closest to the windows. The whole wall was just window, really, and at least twenty feet across. “You seem a little off.” Nicole looked at her with raised eyebrows.

“I am,” she said. “It’s just different than I imagined.”

Nicole nodded slightly. “Just don’t forget why we’re here. Maybe we should meet some of the other guys?”

“Sure,” Molly said, still facing the window.

“Unless you’d like to stay around Justin? He’s probably one of the best here,” she said. “Definitely one of the favorites.”

“Who are the other favorites?”

“Well there’s Chuck. And Logan looks like he’s here tonight. Okay, Chuck it is.” Nicole grabbed Molly through the arm, ignored the fact that she was slightly leaning back on her heels to avoid leaving the window, and dragged her straight over to where Chuck was playing with some girl’s hair while her best friend laughed.

“Hi Chuck.”

“Well hi beautiful.” Chuck turned, dropping the hair and smoothing it with one hand and reaching to hug Nicole with the other. “And who is this gorgeous creature?”

Molly liked him immediately. He had warm brown hair, thick and parted like a Ken doll, and a very normal face that leaned to handsome, if very ordinary. Straight nose, straight jaw. And well dressed. He’d do.

“I’m Molly. You’re Chuck?” she said, extending a hand that he took warmly in both of his.

“At your service,” he said.

“Do you do everyone’s hair?”

“Only if they ask.” He guided her to the couch.

“He’s just very good,” the girl said. She had short blond hair and a face sort of like Kate Hudson. Very non-descript and kind. Molly liked her as well.

“I can see that,” Molly said, taking a seat in an empty chair next to the small group. “It looks fantastic.”

Chuck beamed at her and came to sit on the ground by the couch.

“And what brings you to Club Blue?”

She grinned. She wanted to say the same to him. What was a gay man doing here? Actually, this was a perfect place for a gay man to be, she realized. She loved being with gay men. She’d grown up in the bay, the few boys she had liked being around in high school had been gay.

“Nicole brought me,” she said. “I have a special occasion coming up and I’m looking for a date.”

“Oh,” he said. “Of course. Just so you know, I’d be happy to.” He wiggled an eyebrow. “By the way Nicole, what did you say to Justin? He looks absolutely constipated.”

Nicole laughed. “I think he’s upset because Molly wasn’t very interested in his company.”

They looked over at Justin, who had sat back down with another group of girls, and was now impatiently brushing away their hands as they tried to mess with his hair.

Molly gave it ten minutes before Justin came over to try and badger her some more into revealing she knew him. Gosh she was grateful for her poker face. Justin couldn’t stand being ignored. This was a better revenge than she’d even hoped for. She turned and looked their way and Molly ducked away so he wouldn’t catch her watching. She kept her eyes on Chuck as he played with Nicole’s hair, exclaiming over the curls, until she heard a loud, irritated voice interrupt them.

“Chuck, you are wanted at table nine,” Justin said, looking down at them.

“What?” Chuck said. “I’m busy.”

“The girls on the couch over there. They want you to do their hair.”

“Pooh,” Chuck said, standing and brushing off his Chinos. “Fine.” He flounced away.

Justin let out his breath. “I guess you ladies will have to make do with me.”

“Is there anyone else I haven’t met?” Molly said, following Chuck with her eyes and not looking up at him.

“No one that isn’t busy.” He folded his arms.

Nicole looked from one to the other.

“Nicole,” she said, turning to her friend. “I’ve made up my mind. Can you go see if Chuck is available for the reunion?”

Justin’s head rose up sharply.

“Sure!” Nicole patted Molly’s shoulder. “I’ll be right back.”

Justin took Nicole’s seat when she left. “What do you think you are doing?” He narrowed his gaze on her, uncomfortably close.

“Picking my date? That’s why we came here. I didn’t realize I had to choose you.”

“No, Molly, I mean why are you pretending you don’t remember me?”

“I don’t know what you are talking about. You are making me uncomfortable.” She turned around but he got off the couch and came around the other side.

“Seriously? Chuck? You pick the gay guy?”

She glared at him. “What are you, a bigot?”

He sighed and sat back on his haunches. She looked him over. Same Justin. Hair a bit longer, maybe a bit highlighted, but just as soft and shiny and unfair. Face still breathtakingly beautiful, body still trying to overcompensate for it. In a suit he still somehow looked more casual than Chuck did in his Chinos and polo. It was silvery blue and Justin probably knew it set off his skin nicely.

Yes, he’d done well for himself, at least on the surface. Unluckily for him, Molly knew that his surface had very little to do with anything.

“My bad,” Justin said, standing. “Enjoy your date.”

Nicole cut him off, having come up unexpectedly from behind. “Sorry Molly, Chuck is booked that day. So is Jason. That only leaves—” She looked at Justin apologetically. “Can you?”