Page 52 of Not Dating Material

“No pinky swears for you. We’ll do nose kisses instead.”

I take a huge step back. “I’ll do nose kisses when I’m dead.”

“Too late,” he sings.

I shake my head as I walk off. “Saturday.”

“I’ll be there. And I’ll wear something extra slutty. Just for you.”

Chapter 14

MOLLY

“Here kitty, kitty …” I call to the ugly ginger thing sitting on the boundary between Big-Boned Bertha and the house next door.

As expected, he stares at me and lets out a low-level mewww.

I scowl right back. “I just want to love you.” Giving up, I toss the kibble I’d been baiting him with into the center of the yard and watch him creep forward, one eye on me and the other on the bird that lands nearby. He doesn’t stop watching me the whole time he eats.

Stupid cat. He’s my one roommate who hasn’t been overly welcoming.

Just thinking about my roommates brings a trickle of nerves with it.

This Saturday, I get to meet them all. The whole gang. And try to contain my flirting with Seven while I do it. The thing is, Christian is super important to these guys, and I’m worried about what will happen if he doesn’t like me.

I stretch out my back and then prop my elbows on the stair behind me. Cars drive past on the street beyond our stone front fence, mostly hidden by the large trees and overgrown shrubs. We might be right in the heart of the George Park District of Seattle, but it’s like our own little oasis.

The whole time I’ve been here, I’ve been waiting for homesickness to kick in. For that deep longing to head back to Kilborough to take over, but either it’s a delayed reaction, or it’s not coming. There’s a sense of rightness to being here, and while I miss my dad and Will, I know they’re only a flight away.

Here, I get to start fresh, and I like that more than I should. It’s one of the reasons I haven’t spoken much to Dad and Will since getting here, always making an excuse for why I can’t catch up properly. I don’t want them to think I’m happier being away from them—it’s not that, but trying to explain the freedom my new life gives me is hard. It would mean admitting how much I was hating myself before I left.

I can’t put it off forever though, and when I thumb through my contacts and land on Dad’s number, I figure now is as good a time as any. I’m in a sleepy, content mood and emotionally ready to handle a conversation with the both of them on the off chance Will’s home too. I’d pushed him to move in with Dad when I left because he had nowhere else to go, and even though I’m jealous of their … what would I even call it? Friendship? Substitute dadship? That doesn’t mean I wanted Will going home to his homophobic family.

At least they can look after each other while I’m not there, and maybe neither of them will notice I’m gone.

Ope, there’s that bitterness.

Shake it off, Molly.

Dad answers almost immediately.

“About time, kid. I was getting ready to jump on a flight and make sure you were still alive.”

I chuckle. “Sorry,” I say, and hearing his voice has me instantly feeling guilty. He’s been the best dad I could ever ask for; I know Will can’t replace me, but feeling rejected is my default. “I-I’ve missed you.” And it’s truer than I even realized until I say the words.

“Yeah, I bet, but some time away will be good for you.”

“Do you … miss me?”

Dad laughs. “Doesn’t that go without saying? I’ve always told you I’m happy to have you live with me until I kick the bucket. You’re my whole world, Mols, but I can miss you like crazy and still be proud of you for looking out for yourself.”

I smile down at my knees, hating that I ever doubted him. We argue and butt heads, but he loves me.

“Tell me about Seattle,” he says. “Oh, wait. Will wants me to put you on speaker.”

A tiny piece of jealousy niggles at me, but I ignore it as soon as I hear Will’s warm voice.

“Molly! I’ve missed you. Where have you been? Are you okay?”

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