Molly’s stomach pitched. The guy with the honey curls and light blue eyes? She remembered him in vivid detail, and she now realized why his voice—the one that brought tears to her eyes during a cover of “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters”—sounded familiar.
“Anyway, sorry to be calling you out of the blue like this,” Jake continued. “I asked my friend Jeb—the owner of the bar—if he knew you, and he doesn’t, but he got your number from his buddy—err—Calvin? The guy your friend was with.”
“Cash?” Molly cracked a smile, then wondered how Cash would’ve known her number. Had Nina given it to him? And if so, why hadn’t Nina mentioned any of this to Molly?
“Cash! That’s it.” Jake paused. “Look, I don’t normally track down girls I see in the crowd at my shows. I’ve never done this before, actually, I just … I saw you on Saturday and … would you by chance like to have dinner with me this week?”
Molly crossed Havemeyer Street, a gust of cold wind whipping her cheek. She hadn’t been on a date since November—her New Year’s resolution was to spend more time focusing on writing and less time dating, since the men she picked either turned out to be shitty, or didn’t interest her at all. Besides, she didn’t believe Jake “had never done this before.” He was hot—classically, incontestably hot—and the lead singer of what appeared to be a very up-and-coming band. He probably slept with a different girl every weekend.
“This week is…” Molly started, her voice trailing. She couldn’t stop seeing Jake’s face, the way he seemed to light up as he stepped close to the microphone, the way his eyes locked hers as he gripped his guitar, and she knew, with clear conviction, that she couldn’t turn him down. She couldn’t help thinking of Liz, either. If Liz knew she was being asked out by a hot guitarist and was considering saying no, she’d bang Molly over the head with a cast-iron pan.
“Molly?” Jake’s voice—that hint of a Southern drawl—sent a hot shiver down her spine. It was a bad idea, it had to be, but she felt herself nodding into the phone.
“I have a big assignment due for school tomorrow, but I’m free later in the week.”
“Great. How’s Thursday? And I didn’t realize you were in school.”
“I’m getting my MFA at NYU.”
“That’s amazing. I can’t wait to hear more about it. Thursday works?”
“Yeah.” Molly couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face, ducking her head to block the wind. She pulled her hat down lower over her ears.
“Cool. What neighborhood are you in? I’ll make a reservation.”
“I’m in Williamsburg, but away from the water, toward East Williamsburg.”
“Across the BQE?”
“Exactly.”
“I’m not far. Roebling and North Tenth. We’re neighbors.” There was a flirtatious confidence to Jake’s tone, and she could picture him grinning on the other end of the call. “See you Thursday, Molly. Good luck with your homework.”
Molly knew Jake could’ve been teasing her, but she had the feeling he was being genuine. After they hung up, she immediately called Nina.
“Did you give Cash my number to give to Jake Danner?” Molly exhaled into the phone the second Nina answered. “Because he just called me and asked me out.”
“Oh! Yes!” Nina sounded surprised at having answered the question. “Hang on one second.”
Molly heard the sound of the TV in the background, then a door slam shut.
“Sorry, Moll. Oh my god. I’m at Cash’s.”
“Right now?”
“Yes. I haven’t left since Saturday! That was the best night ever.” Nina’s voice lowered to a whisper. “And I was here all day yesterday, and then Cash convinced me to play hooky with him today.”
“Wow, Neens, that’s grea—”
“Anyway, sorry I didn’t text you, I just haven’t had a second alone … but yes, I guess Jake texted Jeb, who texted Cash, asking for your number for Jake. Wait, he called you? That’s so romantic.”
“Is it?”
“Absolutely. I can’t believe he asked you out. I mean, I can believe it, but still. Danner Lane is, like, hot shit. Cash said they have a record deal. You have to go on the date. You’re gonna go, right?”
“Well, I wasn’t sure, but—”
“Molly.”