Page 110 of Not Dating Material

He gets one chance.

I can’t keep putting my life on hold.

“Seven.”

He glances up as I let myself into his room and slam the door behind me.

“I have to go to work.”

“No, you have to shut up and let me talk.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Yes, you goddamn do. Aren’t I at least worth that much?”

His face settles into a passive expression, and he crosses his arms. “So talk.”

Oh. Umm … yes. Talk. Right.

“The thing is … well …” Words, Molly. Goddamn, the one chance I have to lay it all out for someone, and it’s the one time I don’t actually have any words left in me. “I’ve enjoyed the dates, and the spending time together, and the sex.” Yep, this sure is telling him. “Like, really enjoyed it. Like, a lot.”

“Okay.”

“And I know you enjoyed it all too. I know you like me. I know you want to keep having sex with me, but for some dumb reason, you won’t let yourself. I know you’re not in love with Xander, no matter what my dad says, and if it’s not him, and it’s not anyone else, and you’re jealous about me going on this date … why, Seven? Why won’t you give us a chance?”

“There is no us.”

“Bullshit.”

“And I’m not jealous. The whole reason for the dates in the first place was to get you ready for this. You knew it was coming. I knew it was coming. I’m sorry if you took them for something they weren’t.”

My eyes narrow, and my face gets dangerously hot. “Fuck. You. Lie to yourself for all I care, but don’t try and lie to me. I’m so sick and tired of getting it wrong all the time, and with you, I know that for the first time in my life, I’ve gotten it right.” My eyes prick with tears. “You’re everything I want. Everything. You’re sweet and honest and hot as hell. You look at me like you don’t believe what you’re seeing and touch me like you can’t get enough. I know I’m not imagining these things. I know you feel the same way.”

He draws a deep breath and, with eyes full of regret, says, “I don’t know what you came here expecting, but I’ve been honest with you from the start.”

“You’re lying.”

“And you would know?”

“Yeah.” I step closer, close enough that I’m looking up at him. “I don’t know why you’re doing this. I don’t know why you’re fighting this thing between us. We both know that no one in this house will care if we’re in a relationship.”

He stays resolutely silent.

It’s breaking my heart. “I deserve better,” I choke out. “If you’ve shown me anything, it’s that. I want someone who’s going to fight for me as much as I’d fight for them. Who’ll put himself out there for me like I would for him. I don’t want to have to beg for attention. I don’t want to have to question and guess and never know where I stand. I’m done with that. And … I’m done with chasing you. I’m sorry that I’ve gone and fallen for you, but that’s the only reason I’m standing here right now. This is it, Seven. Your last chance to stop lying to yourself because if you can’t admit to yourself that you want to be with me, then I can’t wait around forever.”

“Tiny …”

I wait. And wait some more. I give Seven all the time to get out the words that his tone is heavy with. But he doesn’t.

And that’s my answer.

My head drops forward as I try to push back the tears, but they come anyway.

“I guess I should message Madden, then,” I say thickly.

I force myself to meet his eyes, and we keep contact the whole time I type out the text, and then I hold it up so he can see.

Tell Damien I said yes.

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