Chapter 6 Inks Game 6

Molly 

Working with Ink, was like working with an annoying brother. Not that I had ever had a brother but I could imagine the annoyance was the same.

Ink was hot. But he wasn’t exactly tidy and most of my job seemed to be walking around after him and picking up things he seemed to randomly put down.

Maybe before I’d had Della. It would have driven me insane but I was used to tidying up after someone now. Ink was a lot bigger than my daughter.

He might even be messier.

And what was more, those two seemed to be as thick as thieves! always plotting and planning. Just yesterday I caught them giggling together over packs of salt with Clicks coffee cup close by.

It didn’t take a genius to figure out the prank they were pulling.

So yeah Ink reminded me of the brother I never wanted or maybe even my second overgrown child.

Except when I caught him looking at me because he looked at me like a man looked at a woman he was interested in and it always made me blush.

I wasn’t used to having men look at me like that, back home- I paused. My brow scrunching up. Well back home was in the past. I was never going back there. 

“Hey.”

I almost jumped out of my skin as Click sidled up beside me. Leaning his elbows on the desk, Ink used to draw designs on. And this close I could smell his aftershave and the worn smell of well lived in leather. It was kind of heady but not as heady as his blue eyes were when they locked with mine.

If Ink looked at me like he liked me, Click looked at me like he wanted to devour me and that made me nervous.

I took a step back and his eyes widened in surprise. Almost like it was a shock to him that any female would want to put distance between him and her.

“Hey Click.” I forced my voice to be neutral. Like I had seen on the tv. “I’m starting to think you don’t have a job. You always seem to be here.” I grinned but it didn’t really meet my eyes. “Maybe you’re after my job?”

His face was impassive. 

“I have a job, so no I’m not after your job. I’m after-“

Ink slammed the door shut. Making me jump out of my skin. 

“Do I pay you to sit around flirting?”

I blinked rapidly. Curling my shoulders in on myself. Shit, the last thing I wanted was to make Ink mad at me. He’d helped me out so much.

“I was just about to ask Molly, if her and Della wanted to come tonight.” Click said smoothly. Clearly unworried about the way Ink was looking at him.

“What’s tonight?” I whispered. Looking between the two of them.

They both looked at me like I was crazy. 

“Halloween.”

“Oh.” I knew that. “I completely forgot. I planned to take Della trick or treating.” I quickly searched Inks face to see if that was the right answer. “You helped me with her costume.” I reminded him. “She’s excited to wear it.”

I was babbling and I didn’t know why. 

Knowing about Halloween was such a normal person thing and I’d filed it away to remember and promptly forgot it. And now they were looking at me like I had grown a second head.

“Is there something else I should know?” Again I looked between them. Clearly I was missing something.

“The fair is in town. All things spooky, artery clogging food. Lots of fun for the whole family.” Click said softly. “We all go.”

I stared at him blankly. 

“The Lost Reapers.” Ink confirmed. “It’s kind of one big family night.” 

“And I’d like to extend you and Della an invitation.” Click cut in. “I’ll pick you up at seven ok?”

Without waiting for my reply he walked past me. Only pausing slightly to whisper. 

“Don’t forget your costume Molly. Where something cute.” He didn’t say goodbye to Ink , who glowered after him.

Silence wrapped around us. The only noise was Dellas giggle from the back office.

“You don’t have to go.” Ink said finally. “If you didn’t want to. It’s not like Click gave you much of a chance to say no.”

For a second I stared at my feet. The front of my trainers were threadbare. But maybe just maybe I would be able to  afford some new shoes when I got my first pay? The idea excited me for a second. None of my clothes were new. They never had been. 

And then I remembered everything else I had to get to make our lives a little more comfortable and that excitement dwindled.

“I think I want to-“ I muttered.

Across from me Inks face fell. Literally fell. I didn’t understand it. Blowing out a breath he ran his hand through his dark hair. “Well I guess that’s that then. We should close up so you can go home and get ready. Big date and all-“

I sucked in a startled breath. “Date?” I mumbled in a rush. “He didn’t say it was a date.”

Ink studied me steadily. “He meant it to be a date.”

I swallowed hard. “He invited me and Della. Said it was a family thing.” I rambled. Nervously plucking at the hem of my shirt. Ink followed the movement.

“It is a family thing.” He said quietly. 

“I don’t think I’m ready to date right now.” I gushed. And his eyes widened. 

“Sometimes you remind me of a little bird, Molly. Like you’re seeing the world for the first time. It’s refreshing but unnerving.”

I blinked at him rapidly. Sometimes he really scared me with how much he saw. 

“Do you want to go to the fair tonight? You and Della?”

I bit my lip. “Yeah, but not as a date.”

It might have been my imagination but I was sure he grinned for just a second. “Then let’s all go as friends. I’ll make sure I’m at yours before seven so don't worry.”

“Della might be disappointed that we aren’t -“

Throwing back his head, Ink laughed. “I’ll bring her some sweets and don’t worry she will have so much Candy that she'll be sick at the fair.”

That didn’t sound like a great thing but I couldn’t help but smile at him.

My first fair. I was kind of terrified. Kind of excited