Page 72 of Not Dating Material

I make the mistake of looking at Seven, who’s about a second away from rolling his eyes.

Oh no …

“Why’d you pick …” Don’t laugh don’t laugh don’t laugh. “Pick such a … a …”

Seven loses it first, and seeing him double over sets me off. Well, damn double shit fuck.

“You know what,” Madden says. “I don’t want to know.”

He leaves us with a stunned Xander, and it’s only the confusion on his pretty face that makes me pull it together.

“Are you guys in a fight or not in a fight?”

I sigh. “Not.”

“Then …”

“I wanted you to think we were.”

His eyes flick between us as he tucks a chunk of his blue hair behind his ear. “Umm … why?”

“Because you meddled. But not only that, I had to sit across from Seven and watch him stressing out over being somewhere he didn’t feel comfortable. Not cool.”

Xander drops his head. “Sorry, Seven.”

“I know you didn’t mean anything by it.”

I shoot Seven a look.

“But, uh … yeah. It wasn’t cool.”

Xander glances up at him, and then his eyes slowly slide to me again. “Are you angry with me?”

I cross my arms. “Now I know why Seven hates when I act all cute with him.”

“It’s an act?” he echoes.

I wave him off, attention still on Xander. “You’re supposed to love Seven. Don’t do that to him again.”

“I promise.”

“Thank you.”

Xander turns and jogs halfway up the stairs before pausing. “Just saying though … it was super cute of you to stand up for him like that. I hope one day I’ll have a boyfriend who’ll do the same for me.”

“He’s not my—” But Xander’s gone before Seven can finish his sentence.

Probably just as well, though, because Xander’s reminded me of everything I’m supposed to be aiming for. The only reason Seven and I were on a dumb date tonight is so that I can find my forever man. The person who’ll stick by my side. Yet here I am trying to force it again.

“He’s got a point,” I admit.

“We’re not boyfriends.”

I shake my head. “Not about that. Just that it would be nice. To have a boyfriend one day who’ll stand up for me.” I give Seven a soft smile. “See you tomorrow.”

I leave him in the foyer, wondering what it would feel like for Seven to be that boyfriend.

And knowing I’m getting it all wrong again.

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