Mysmile tugged at my lips until it met my eyes. “Okay.”
Then,he was walking away with his long-haired friend, and I was alone on the deckwith my mother. Her crossed-armed taunting glare bore into me, saying she kneweverything that had transpired between Chad and me over the past twelve hours.The conversations. The confessions. The touching. The sex.
“So…” She sidled up to me and nudged hershoulder against mine. “Yougonnatell me about yournight?”
“Oh,Lord,” I grumbled and felt the heat rise from the collar of my shirt. “I’m nottellin’ you anything.”
“Well,I’m justwonderin’—”
“Whatarey’alltalkin’ about?”Connie asked casually, climbing the deck stairs with a glass of sangria in herhand. “Oh, Molly! Where’s Chad? I haven’t seen him all day. He stayed at yourapartment, didn’t he?”
Sheknew very well where he hadstayedand I had to biteback my grin. “Come on, you guys.”
“Ooh,Connie! She’sblushing!” Mama teased,reaching out to pinch my cheeks. Then, her eye caught ahold of something else.Something lower. “Oh, what’sthis?” She tugged the neck of my shirt downa little lower and revealed the fading bite marks at the base of my neck.
Ihastily brushed her hand away as my eyes darted toward Connie’s. “It’snothin’,” I replied as I righted my top.
Conniebrushed her shoulder against Mama’s as she muttered, “Didn’t look likenothin’ to me …”
“You’rechildren, you know that?” I huffed, hoping the firein my cheeks would put itself out.
Mama’seyes softened and her lips spread into a genuine smile. “We’re justteasin’ you, baby girl. Yougottaknow how excited we are fory’all.”
Isighed and nodded, unable to contain my own grin. “I know.”
Conniewrapped her arm around my shoulders and leaned closer. “I know it’s new, butthis feels right,” she whispered into my ear.
AllI wanted was to tell her that it did and that she was right. That I felt moreat home in his arms than I did on stage. That I was content and beyond ecstaticwith this recent development in our lives. But the words caught in my throat,sticking and clotting, and I could only nod.
28
MakeMolly Happy
CHAD
SEBASTIANBROWSED THEshelves in my room as I pulled out a clean shirt from oneof my suitcases. I was all packed and ready to hit the road. One more day andI’d be back out there, and I couldn’t wait.
“Jesus,dude. Was there any sport youdidn’tplay?” He picked up the field hockeytrophy from ’95 and blew off the dust.
Chuckingyesterday’s shirt into the open suitcase, I shrugged. “I was alwayskindacompetitive.”
“So,you actuallywantedto do this shit?Your parents didn’t force you into it?”
“Nope.I liked it.” I was suddenly struck with a memory and laughed as I pulled at-shirt on, shaking my head.
Sebcanted his head as he put thetrophy back onto the shelf. “What?”
“Nah,”I shook my head, “I’m justrememberin’ this time Iroped Molly intojoinin’ the soccer team. She was sobad.”
“Notthe only thing you roped her into,”Sebcommentedslyly, winking and reaching over to slap my ass.
Inarrowed my glare at him and asked, “It’s seriously that obvious?”
“Oh,Chaddington. You’re adorable.” He stepped forward and tapped the side of myneck. “If you don’t want anybody to know what you’ve been up to, hide theevidence nexttime,.You’re thirtyfreakin’years old, man. I shouldn’t have to tell you this shit.”
Iglanced in the mirror over my dresser and snickered at the bright red scratchmarks I’d acquired after yoga this morning. A fond smile stretched across myface. Who would’ve pegged her to be so damn rough? Not me, that was for sure,but would she have thought the same of me? Would she have suspected I had apenchant for biting?
God,we were so good together.
