Page 49 of Not Dating Material

“Can’t help but notice how you’ve changed the subject,” she muses.

“If you mention Molly—”

“Can I just say how much I adore that his name is Molly? His parents must be fucking awesome, and I want you to get married so I can meet them one day.”

“Sure, I’ll get right on that,” I deadpan. From what Molly’s said, his dad is awesome and his mom isn’t, but I’ve never thought to ask which of them actually named him. Not that it matters. Molly is just Molly. He’d be weird with another name.

“I’m so excited to meet him,” Elle says. “I’ve heard so much that I feel like I already have.”

“Let me guess, Xander?”

“He might have mentioned it.”

A groan rumbles through me. “What matchmaking plans do you two have in play?”

“What? Us? No. Nothing. Not a thing.”

There is no way I’m believing that. Xander’s always overstepped in every part of my life, but apparently, now he has an accomplice. “Don’t.”

“You don’t even know what we have planned.”

“I don’t give a shot what you have planned. Just don’t. There’s nothing there.”

“Well, I guess I’ll see for myself on Saturday. Ooh, maybe I should bring Darcy? From what he’s said, he prefers big bulky guys like you, but I’ve known him to go for a twink or two. Oh my god! A Molly/Seven sandwich. He’d be in heaven.”

I’m not even going to respond. I know what she’s doing. The second I tell her he can’t come, she’ll assume I’m jealous, and I’ll never hear the end of it. I won’t fall into her trap.

“Molly and Darcy could be like a Cinderella story,” she continues.

I grunt.

“The handsome, insanely rich prince, sweeping the newbie off his feet—”

My jaw tightens.

“Taking him back to his castle on the hill, to make the newbie squeal all—”

“It’s family only.”

She smiles, tapping her stylus against her digital notepad. “Random, but okay.”

“Oh, the levels of hate you bring out in me …”

“Who knew you had such strong feelings?”

“Only for you, babe.”

“It’s honestly atrocious you haven’t introduced me to Molly yet. I think I should be offended.”

“Yeah, after Saturday, I’ll be able to gesture at you and be like this, this is why.”

“Well, just for that, I’m going to be on my best behavior.”

“Right.”

“I’ll be the most demure flower you’ve ever seen.”

“Don’t threaten me with a good time.”

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