Page 113 of Not Dating Material

“I thought you were better than that.”

“When have I ever led you to believe I won’t do and say anything I can to see you boys living your best life?”

Well, she’s right about that. Aggy does love us, even if she has a funny way of showing it sometimes—like threatening to take us out of her will. If the house she owns beside ours is anything to go by, being on that will would be a life changer. I doubt it’s anything more than a running joke, though.

When she finally leaves, me not being as numb as I was before, I get up and walk over to the stereo system I have set up facing out of my window. Then I put on some music and crank the volume loud.

She deserves to have her windows rattle for an hour after playing the old lady card.

But I’ll do it early tonight. Because I maybe love her a bit too.

Chapter 32

MOLLY

My squirrel feeder comes. I’m not as excited as I was when I ordered it. It’s a dome that sits in the window and will let me watch the squirrels when they climb inside to feed.

Maybe a cute, fluffy animal will boost me up again.

Because I’ve never felt so horrible in my life. I’ve barely been able to work because my eyes have been permanently brimming with tears, and my whole body feels heavy.

I push the living room window up and try to wriggle the feeder into the space. The window keeps slipping every time I pick up the feeder, and just when I’m about to throw the whole thing out, Seven walks in.

He takes one look at my panting, sweaty form, then, without a word, walks over and holds the window open. I bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from crying as I finally push the feeder into place. Even with the job done, my breathing doesn’t ease up. The frustration doesn’t stop simmering under my skin.

Maybe this is why we should have listened to the rules and not hooked up.

“Thanks,” I manage. Only the one word because anything else and I’ll cry. It’s the last thing I want to do in front of him because then he’ll want to help, and I don’t want help from someone who’s only giving it out of obligation.

Seven knows I’m hurting without the tears.

Just like how I know he’s hurting too.

But I have to respect his choice, and if he’s not willing to finally break that guard down for me, then I have to let him go.

After all the date practice we’ve done, I’ve finally learned something. Pity the thing I learned was how to deal with a relationship ending, not starting.

“Molly …”

I wait. Give him a chance. Pretend like I’m not doing everything I can to hold myself together.

Instead of saying anything though, Seven snarls, scuffing his hands through his hair before storming out again.

I fill the feeder like he never appeared at all.

Then I head to the office to work, calling Dad as I go.

“Hey, bub—”

“I hate it.”

“Hate what?”

“You were right, and I’m in love with Seven and he doesn’t want me, and it hurts.”

“Molly …”

“You can say I told you so.”

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