Page 60 of Not Catching Love

There’s something deep in my consciousness that trusts him, and I try to tell myself to cut that shit out because it’s exactly how I’ll end up left and alone, but I don’t fucking learn.

I want him. I’m sure he wants me. I don’t understand why we have to jump through so many fucking hoops to make us happen. It waslast yearthat he last treated me; why isn’t that enough?

A text comes through to my phone, and I grin at Molly and Seven. “He’s here.”

“I guess we’re doing this,” Seven mutters while Molly lights up.

“Would you dim it?” I snap at him.

“What? I’m excited.”

“I know, stop it. You’ll get my hopes up, and they’re already doing a great job of being overinflated on their own.”

“Sorry.” He doesn’t dim. Just goes on smiling.

It’ll be a miracle if between Molly’s sunshine, Seven’s grumpy, and my horrible paintings that Derek manages to last long enough to show him my room. I’m going to hold out hope, though, because it’s not like there are any other hot men I want to drag up there.

Molly gets to the door first, and he immediately pulls Derek into a hug. I try not to be annoyed that I didn’t get to do that first, but when Molly releases him—after way too fucking long—Seven takes over before I can.

Derek’s whole face turns to shock when Seven hugs him too.

That’s almost enough to make the wait worth it.

“Ah … hey,” Derek says as they pull away. “I was expecting more of a punch to the face in greeting, but I’ll take it.”

Seven holds up his hands. “Despite how I look, I’m harmless.”

“I wouldn’t have blamed you being pissed after what I said last time I saw you.”

Seven glances my way. “Ehh. You were right.”

“Didn’t make it easy though.”

“Which is exactly why I didn’t punch you.”

Derek laughs. “I thought you said you’re harmless?”

“And I am. Unless someone messes with Molly or Z, and then I’ll flipping kill a birch.”

This is exactly why I love him. Not that I’d let him commit murder for me. Probably. It’s just sweet to know that he would.

“Do I get a turn yet?”

Derek’s attention lands on me, and I get a split second of that gorgeous smile before he catches what I’m wearing: one of Rush’s work shirts with only one button done up at the front and very thin cotton booty shorts. Derek’s eyes widen a second before I push onto my toes and hug him. His arms closearound me, and I get that familiar feeling of being so happy I could burst.

“We need to get out of the doorway before someone comes trampling through it,” Molly says. “Ooh, Derek brought wine. What a gentleman.” He sends a teasing look back over his shoulder as he drags Seven down the hall after him.

Derek lets me go, and his fingers dip into his neat hair. “I was so scared to see Seven.”

“Why?”

“Because I really thought he was going to have words for me after I told him to fuck off.”

I play with the bottom of my shirt. “He’d never. Yeah, I went off the deep end pretty fucking dramatically after you walked out, but we all know that you didn’t do it to hurt me. And I think they—and me,I guess—can see that maybe, possibly therapy hasn’t been a completely bad thing for me.”

“Maybe possibly?” His lips twitch.

“That’s the best you’ll ever get out of me, so take it or leave it.” I turn to leave when he grabs the back of my shirt and tugs me backward.

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