Page 127 of Not Dating Material

I sink into the rush of belonging that one word brings.

All I ever wanted was to be someone’s whole world, but with Seven, I’ve realized how off base I was with that thought. How ridiculous. Friendships are so important, and without them, can any relationship actually work? He’ll always have Xander, but then, so will I.

And that’s something I won’t give up easily.

I’ve never wanted to be someone’s whole world; I’ve just wanted to be a priority. Not the afterthought, not the plaything.

Loved.

Seven gives me that and more.

Epilogue

SEVEN

One year later

Hot damn, I’m nervous. Molly’s beside me, bouncing up and down, zero chill in sight, all while I feel like I’ve sweat right through this shirt.

I’ve spoken to Molly’s dad, Keller, and his best friend, Will, a few times over the phone. I know Keller didn’t approve of our relationship at first, was worried Molly would get hurt or I’d screw him over or whatever. I still think he’s half-convinced that I’m going to run off with Xander any day now. He’s not the first to think that, and he won’t be the last, but all that matters to me is that Molly knows the truth.

And he’s never once been jealous or put out.

“I can’t believe we’re doing this,” I mutter.

“Too late to back out now,” Molly reminds me.

“I know. I just … parents scare me.”

He presses up onto his toes to kiss my cheek. “I know. But you’ve also never seen a good one. And I promise, my dad is one of the best there is.” His voices softens. “And he’s yours now too.”

Well, that’s getting ahead of ourselves. I still need to get him to like me first.

Molly squeals, latching onto my arm. “There they are.”

I glance over to see two men, one tall, tanned, and blond with a backward ball cap and a backpack, who shouts out to Molly and starts running. Molly heads for him too, but I don’t even see them hug because my gaze has moved to the older guy.

The man with the longish dark hair, short beard, and all the confidence of a goddamn runway model.

Is Molly’s dad … hot?

Will starts to laugh. “I think your boyfriend is broken,” he tells Molly.

I’m not quick enough to hide my shock before Molly looks back at me, and his eyes widen comically.

“Oh, no, no, no.” He strides over, finger pointed right in my face. “You’re not allowed to think my dad’s good-looking. No. Nope. I forbid it.”

I stare down at my horrified boyfriend and burst out laughing. “Oh my god, I’m sorry.”

“Holy shit,” he says, stunned. “Our relationship’s over. Just like that. Poof. The end.”

I link my arm around his neck and tug him close. “I’ll make it up to you.”

“Oohh, how?”

“Yeah,” Keller says, crossing his—kill me now—muscular arms over an equally muscular chest. “How?”

This is not going at all the way I thought it would. “I probably shouldn’t answer that.”

---