Page 42 of Not Catching Love

“With zero context, I can only assume you’re talking about the puzzle, and I’m doing it because we all do it.”

“Wrong answer.” Molly gives my hair a sharp tug.

“Hey.Ouch.”

“I have been way too invested in you and Derek since I met him for you to give up now.”

“Do you have a brain bleed? I didn’t give up on anything. He got sick of me, and now I’ll never see him again. Don’t worry, you’ll get used to people walking out on me. Y’know, if you don’t walk out first.”

“If you think you’re not every bit a part of my life as Seven is, maybe you’re the one with a brain bleed.”

Seven groans. “Don’t give him ideas.”

Lack of sleep … zero appetite … “You know, a brain bleed would explain a lot.”

Molly gives me a flat look. “Youdon’thave a brain bleed.”

“How would you know?”

“Because you’re still talking. About a lot of bullshit.”

“We’ll see, I guess. At least if I die in my sleep, you won’t have to play dad anymore.”

“It would save us from conversations like this too. Don’t you want a chance with Derek?”

“I don’t have a chance with Derek.”

“What was the last thing he said to you?”

I ignore Molly’s question, so he turns to Seven instead.

“Well …?”

Seven hesitates before carding his fingers together. “He said he cares about you too much.”

“Exactly.” I roll my eyes. “Too much. Too much is a bad thing. No one wants too much of anything.”

Molly pulls my hair again. “Too much, because he’s not supposed to care at all. It’s against the rules or the law or something.”

We’ve been over this so many times. If he cared—even a little bit, not even too much—he would have been there or reached out. Made sure I’m okay.

“When you think about it, it’s really romantic,” Molly says, his eyes getting all big like they always do when he’s especially sunshiny.

Seven pulls a face. “Doctor and patient. I’m sure I’ve seen horror movies about that before.”

Molly scowls at Seven. “And what did Derek say toyoulast?”

I throw Seven asuck shit now you’re in troublelook.

“He swore at me.”

Molly waves the answer away. “Before that.”

“Oh, when he thought it would be awesome to tell me to manipulate Z into doing what I want.”

“Exactly.” Molly crosses his arms. “Now would be a good time to do it.”

Excuse me?I swing my attention up to Molly, expecting to find him joking. But that’s his serious face.

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