Page 120 of Not Dating Material

“Every single part of you looks like it’s desperate to run after him.”

I hate myself because it’s true. The last thing I want is for Damien to walk away from tonight regretting it, but what’s the point in staying? Seven’s offering me a real shot at us, and I know the second I’m free of this date, I’ll be going straight to him.

One corner of Damien’s lips twitches higher. “Go. I promise it’s okay.”

“I’m sorry,” I say, already half out of my seat. “You were the perfect date. But I think that’s part of my problem. I’ve been looking for perfect, and it doesn’t exist. I need someone messy and raw and who needs me because I’m all of those things too, and no offense, but you’re not. I literally don’t think I’ve ever met a more put-together, emotionally stable person in my life.”

Damien actually laughs. Loudly. “The fact that you think any part of that was an insult is all the confirmation I needed that we wouldn’t have worked.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll get the bill.”

But even with my hurry to get out of there and with Damien’s offer, I stop and pay discreetly as I leave. Damien shouldn’t be stuck paying for a story that he’ll no doubt be relaying to Madden next time he sees him.

As soon as my card clears, I jog out of the front doors and toward the parking lot, but before I’ve barely gotten a few paces away, a strong arm loops around my waist and pulls me close.

Seven’s bodywash wraps around me, and before he can say a word, I jump on him, legs closing around his hips as I bring my mouth down on his.

His grunt is surprised, but his hand finds the back of my head and gives me what I want. He deepens the kiss, making those fluttery butterflies explode through me as happiness overrides everything else.

“You liked my comic?”

Seven gives me a wry smile. “I couldn’t open it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Seeing the work you put into the cover was hard enough. It ripped my darn heart out, Mols.”

“I love you,” I tell him. “I hate that it took you so long, and I hate that you thought you couldn’t make me happy because you do. Every day, I wake up excited to see you. Wanting to touch you and make you smile and exasperated and so, so happy.”

“I was wrong.” He touches his forehead to mine. “My phone’s been so empty the last few days. I want it full again. I don’t want you to play it cool or hide how excited you are to see me. I don’t want you to stop the nervous chatter and the messages, and hell—you can even dribble all over me on any one of our dates. I don’t care, Tiny. I just care about you. Exactly the way you are.”

A soppy whine gets caught in my throat. “How could you think for a second that you wouldn’t make me happy?”

Seven inhales deeply. “I’m scared. I don’t want to wreck this and turn you into, well, me. I don’t know how to be anything other than this grumpy, broken a-hole.”

“It’s shocking to me that for someone so perceptive, you can be completely oblivious to yourself. Instead of being scared you’ll bring me down, why don’t you trust that I can handle myself? I mean, fuck. Maybe I’ll boost you up instead. That smile you were wearing proves it’s possible.”

And so help me, the gorgeous smile comes again. “Trusting you is probably the easiest thing you could ask me to do.”

“Good. Well, let’s start there.” I kiss him again. “Because you promised me you’d fight. Forever. And I’m sure as hell holding you to that.”

Chapter 35

SEVEN

My heart is full. This isn’t a feeling I ever thought I’d be able to have. It’s not something I dreamed about, it’s not something I was looking for, it’s not even something I ever thought I’d want. But Molly makes me want. He makes me hope and dream and brings out so many feelings in me that are tee-totally terrifying.

All relationships are either forever or they end, with the odds being deeply in the ending column, so the idea that this could be forever—him and me—I’m not going to bank on it.

I’m sure as hell going to try, though, because I meant what I said. There’s no one else for me. No one else I’d willingly tie my life to. No one I’d want to.

Even if something happened and I had the chance to find this again, I’d say no. Molly’s the only man I want to experience this with.

He drags me upstairs, glancing back at me over his shoulder, cheekiness lighting up his eyes, and the force of my feelings almost makes it hard to breathe.

Yeah.

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