Molly was no stranger to loneliness, but it never ate at her insides so voraciously until Liam got on the plane and left. She refused to lie in bed and cry. She also refused to stop talking, though she conversed with so few people now, it made little difference.
Though Liam was not thrilled with her choice in temporary roommates, there was precious little he could do about it. Molly lived just outside of town now, spending her days at work, and her nights on Johnny’s couch. They rarely saw each other. She was working from sun up until well after dark, trying to make up for lost funds. Johnny charged her nothing to stay with him, hoping this would help absolve him for how bad Kyle’s condition had gotten.
Molly was the best roommate he ever had. She cleaned the entire house, making it more pristine than when he had moved in five years prior. She cooked all his food and packed his lunch. She paid for all the food, and Johnny had to admit that having her around, even though they did not see each other all that often, was a welcome change. He was eating better, sleeping better, and he caught her doing thoughtful things to make up for her rent-free existence. One afternoon he went into work and found that she had gassed up his truck while he’d been sleeping. He began referring to her as his rent-a-wife.
One night, Molly had a hard time falling asleep on the old brown couch that served as her bed. When Johnny came home from the bar at three in the morning, she was still awake and sipping tea on the couch in the living room while she flipped through channels.
“Hey, little Missus. What miracle did you do for me today? It seems like every time I come home from work, you’ve cleaned a new spot of the place I’d totally given up on.”
“No cleaning today,” Molly admitted, sipping her hot beverage. “But I made you some tea.” She motioned to the cup on the coffee table that she’d made for him five minutes ago. “It’s still pretty hot, so don’t burn yourself.”
“Seriously? You made me tea? Thanks, kid.” Johnny flopped onto the other end of the couch, kicking his shoes off and propping his sweaty-socked feet up on the coffee table. “Best wife ever.”
“Thanks.”
“You’re supposed to say, ‘How was your day, dear?’”
Molly smirked at him. “How was your day?”
“I’ll overlook the fact that you didn’t call me ‘dear’. Saving all your love for Doctor Liam still?”
“You know I am. We said we’d give it one month long-distance, so hopefully it’ll get easier.” She handed him his mug. “Long night?”
“The longest. Been thinking a lot about the Kyle situation.”
Molly shifted uncomfortably next to him in her pink cotton pajamas. “I don’t really want to talk about that.”
“I know. But I do.” He looked over his mug at her. “Did I ever apologize to you for overserving Kyle?”
“Yes. You apologize for that at least once a day. For the last time, Kyle’s a grown man. He’s responsible for his own self.”
“Still, it was obvious he had a problem. I could’ve cut him off, but I didn’t. I’m sorry, kiddo. Seeing you all banged up like that? I feel responsible. Or irresponsible. Whichever means I’m the most sorry.”
“Johnny, if you need it, I forgive you.”
“I need it. Thanks.” He sipped his tea and leaned back into the cushions. “Just the way I like it. Thanks. After a night of everything smelling like beer? This is a good thing to come home to.”
“It’s really not a big deal.”
Johnny looked sideways at her. “Liam’s a fool to stay away. No job in the world’s worth being away from the girl who knows how to make tea the way you like it.”
Molly kicked the outside of her foot against his smelly one. “Thanks. We’re alright, though.”
“Hand me that remote. We’re not watching this,” he said with disdain of her infomercial choice. “Tuck in here, kid.” There was a platonic comfort for the two of them as Molly leaned against his side on the couch, his arm draped behind her lazily as they drank their tea.
It wasn’t long before Molly fell asleep against Johnny, who was too exhausted to get off the couch and crawl into his own bed. The two friends dozed off together, taking shelter from the world in the comfort of their shared couch.