Page 57 of Not Dating Material

All the air rushes from me. “You like?”

There’s something in his gaze as he looks me over, and then he smiles, one of the rare ones that meet his eyes. “Think we can smuggle this up to my room before the others catch us?”

“I’ll grab the forks and cups, you take that and something to drink?”

“Good plan.” He slaps my ass on the way past to the fridge. “Go, team.”

I need to remember to thank Agatha next time I see her.

Chapter 15

SEVEN

Having the lost boys together again feels like coming home. Christian and Émile are here, curled up together on one side of the table, Gabe fills out the opposite end to me, Xander is between Christian and Rush, with Molly, Madden, Elle, and Elle’s friend Darcy all down the other side.

As I look around at my band of misfits, I’m filled with a deep kind of warmth. The type of family vibes I never thought I’d get in my life. Bouncing between foster homes until I hit the one Xander was living in, alienating myself from our parental figures because of the abuse I’d already seen. The disdain thrown my way, the way some of these so-called parents would section off a portion of their house for the other kids. We’d eat separately. Sleep separately. Basically, all they gave us was a roof over our heads. No connection. Definitely no love. Xander’s issues developed due to his need for attention and blitzed his brain up royally. There are a lot of great foster families out there—apparently—but until my final placement, none of them wanted someone with my issues.

I’ve seen a lot of dark stuff. For a while, I didn’t think I deserved love. Or family. I hated that Xander attached himself to me and wouldn’t let go because he deserves someone better. Someone who doesn’t struggle to emote.

I didn’t know that I was simply waiting for my real family to find me.

Elle’s true to her word and has shown up dressed like something out of a period drama. Dress down to her ankles and hugging her neck. Flower crown resting over her shaved head.

I send her a silent look of “what the hell do you think you’re doing?” and she throws back an evil smile before turning to Molly.

“Hello, my dear child,” she says in a breathy voice. “It’s so wonderful you’ve joined my lost lambs today and they’ve welcomed you into the fold. I hold you all in my bosom and wish you nothing but the sincerest—”

Émile breaks out in laughter. “What, pray tell, dear sister, is this shite?”

Elle fakes a gasp. “The audacity of you, dear brother, to curse in the presence of a lady.”

“A lady? Biggest load of bullocks I’ve ever heard.”

I snort. “Yeah, you’re acting like I didn’t tattoo a PSA on your butt cheek.”

“Come again?” Émile asks, on the verge of more laughter.

“I have a small, professional artwork,” she answers, still in that weird-ass voice. “On my buttocks. But can we return to the heart of the matter, which is our dearest friend Molly?”

I lean forward and hit my head on the table. “This isn’t happening. This is not happening.”

“Promise it is,” Xander sings. “No idea why, but I’m enjoying myself.”

“Me too,” stuffy Darcy says.

So much for family only. At least she hasn’t tried to set him up with Molly yet though. The man is fucking fine.

Not that I care about him being set up with Molly. Obviously. I just know he’s not Molly’s type, is all.

And Molly’s still learning how to date. It’s too early for him to get back out there.

But almost as soon as I’m finished that internal battle, Elle leans back slightly, resting one hand on Molly’s shoulder and the other on Darcy’s.

“I don’t believe you two have met.”

“Actually, I don’t think I’ve met most of the people at this table,” Darcy points out.

“Irrelevant, dear one. This sweet face is Molly. And Molly, my love, Darcy is one of my oldest, dearest friends, and I’m told he has an incredibly big cock.”

---