Seduced by Design

Talk to Us

Molly

“Moll’s…” Damon moaned softly, and I glanced over at him. “When is this going to stop?” he then asked.

“When is what going to stop?” I asked innocently. I wasn’t a fool. I knew exactly what he was talking about.

“Moll’s…come on, don’t do that,”

“Don’t do what?”

“Molly!” Vanessa exclaimed, and I blushed as I hung my head in shame.

“Sorry,” I whispered.

“You don’t need to apologize, Moll’s…we just want to…I don’t know, help you…” Damon sounded a bit unsure of himself, but it wasn’t because he didn’t want to be there for me. The problem was, he didn’t know how. And that wasn’t even his fault. It was mine. I had shut down and shut everyone out. I had become the female version of Jaden.

“I know,” I said with a nod. I had a feeling that they had planned this for exactly this reason. It was Friday evening and instead of wallowing in self-pity, Vanessa had invited me over for dinner. The food had been great. The company had been nice. But this conversation was enough to make me run away.

“Molly…we’ve had our ups and downs…but you know you can talk to me, right? I mean, I know you know that Damon is there for you…but woman to woman…especially me…I don’t know if you remember, but Damon put me through hell,” Vanessa spoke with a tenderness that made me consider talking to them about it. Maybe that was what I needed in order to move on. Damon had an idea of what had happened, but that was it.

“I just…when I first met Jaden, I was awestruck…honestly, it wasn’t just…it wasn’t just about how hot he was…” my voice trailed off as I thought back to that day.

“Tell me about it,” Vanessa urged, and I completely gave in.

“It was at Naomi’s place…it was such a nice day and…and there he was. f**k, he looked good, and I’ll admit that I was attracted to his looks first. Not going to lie. But then…then we got to know each other, and we talked a lot,” I said. Vanessa looked skeptical and I chuckled. “Trust me, I know. I mean, it was clear from the start that I had the hots for him, but we spent a lot of time just talking and getting to know one another. Everyone was always so busy with their own drama that they missed the fact that Jaden and I became friends…when Damon told me that the two of you were messing around, I considered offering that to Jaden…but I didn’t and now, I’m glad I didn’t. And then…one day, we were hanging out outside of the grocery store and…and I made a move. I flirted a bit more, I was a bit suggestive, and he told me…I mean, he was open and honest and upfront, and he said…you know, he has kids, and he has just been through a divorce and…and they are still finding their feet as a family. That he is still finding himself as a single father… and he just doesn’t have the time or the energy to engage in a relationship. Not with me…not with anyone,”

“Harsh,” Damon muttered, but Vanessa shook her head, and I agreed with her.

“No, he wasn’t harsh. He was being honest. He didn’t want to lead me on or anything like that. He was super apologetic and sweet about it. I mean, he said that if he wasn’t tied down with four kids…we’d be together,” I said with a sad smile. “And I accepted it. That doesn’t mean I didn’t flirt every now and again…it doesn’t mean I didn’t make suggestive jokes or tease him…but I kept my distance,”

“But something happened that weekend? Alastair and Jacob’s bachelor weekend?” Vanessa questioned me and I glanced at Damon.

“I didn’t tell her,” he said. “I mean, she figured it had something to do with Jaden…”

“I cornered him outside of the bathroom that first night. I begged him to kiss me. Just one kiss…and he did. He kissed me. It was, by far, the best kiss of my life…and it was the worst moment in history,” I admitted softly.

“Why? Because he regretted it?” Vanessa asked.

“Well, I have no idea if he regrets it. I know I do. Because now all I can think about is how compatible we are…I mean, before it was just like…like a fantasy. But now? No, now I know that there is fire between us and…and how am I supposed to look him in the eye and forget? It…it doesn’t even matter. Jaden acts as if nothing happened…I mean, maybe he doesn’t remember it. Maybe he does. Maybe he doesn’t care…or maybe he just couldn’t be bothered…he warned me, and I pushed. I got what I deserved,”

“No,” Vanessa stated firmly, and I shied away from her intense gaze. “You don’t deserve it, I mean, yes you pushed, and you got what you wanted and now…now you know how good it could be. But the thing is, attraction isn’t everything. He has four kids, Molly,”

“I know that,” I snapped, but Damon shook his head.

“That’s not what she meant,” he said. “What she means is that you can’t just connect with him. You have to connect with his kids. Jaden won’t consider you as anything more than a friend because…well, because that’s all you are. A friend. In fact, you are just the girl in the friend group,”

“What does that even mean?” I asked curiously.

“It means, you haven’t tried to be there for him outside of our circle of friends. Have you ever been to his place?” Vanessa asked and I shook my head. “And aside from catching him outside of the grocery store…have you seen him other than that?”

“Not really no. I mean, we talk a lot on the phone, and we text a lot…and we talk when we are together…at a friend thing,” I said as the realization hit me.

“Exactly. You need to connect with his kids so that he can see you as more than just that girl in the group that has a crush on him,” Vanessa stated, and I nodded. I hated that she was right, but she was.