Page 18 of Not Dating Material

“Nuh-uh. No fake, no boyfriend. We’re not going around pretending to keep up an act. If anyone asks, we give them the truth. But between the two of us, you’ll act exactly like you would with any other guy you’re dating.”

He watches as he wriggles his toes into the carpet. “Sex?”

“Definitely not. Point out to me at which point you’d do it, and when you’d normally ask for it and whatever. But this is purely education. Like … training. I’m your dating coach.”

“Dating coach.” His smile is so big and pure I’m kinda understanding what Xander meant. Molly is not like us. “That sounds fun. But it’s a big commitment for you. Why are you offering this?”

“You helped me, now I’m returning the favor.”

“All I did was untie you.”

“No, you helped me out of a gross situation and kept my secret. That’s loyal as fudge.”

“It’s cute that you don’t swear.”

I scowl. “I’m not cute.”

“Cute little Seven with his squeaky-clean mouth and tattoos and piercings.”

I glance over at his tone. “Piercings?”

His face falls, and it’s almost comical how animated he is. “Face piercings. Nose. And ears. And …”

“Dick?” I grin. “You looked, didn’t you?”

“They caught the light.”

I crack up laughing at how mortified he looks. He’s tan enough that he’s not blushing, but I could swear his cheeks look darker. “Hey, if you want to catch the light as well, I’m happy to pierce you wherever you want.”

“No way. It seems so painful. And you have to abstain from sex for—”

“You looked them up.”

He shakes his head. “I’m going to stop talking now.”

“You could just ask me, you know.”

“He asked Madden.”

We both turn to the voice in the doorway and find Xander there. He’s dressed and smiling innocently. That damn innocent smile he gives me when he thinks it’ll help him get away with anything. It usually does.

“What part of private don’t you get?”

He shrugs. “I felt left out.”

My hand scruffs through my hair as I debate whether to get mad at him or not. But … it’s Xander. I understand him. I’m as attached to him as he is to me, and neither of us has been able to find a healthy balance with our relationship. Some days, I wonder if either of us even wants to.

“You can’t just listen in on people’s conversations,” I point out, trying to be reasonable.

“But you’re not people.”

“It’s okay,” Molly says. “I don’t mind.”

“If you give Xander an inch, he’ll take a mile,” I caution.

But it’s too late. Xander has already shuffled into the room and thrown himself over the bed.

“Are we still talking about the piercing?”

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