Aslow smile spread across my lips at the mention, and I pulled from her grasp towrap my hand around hers. “Come with me,” I instructed, and tugged her towardSebastian at the beer pong table.
“MisterBear,” he greeted me with a nod. Then, addressing Molly, he said, “FutureMissus Bear. What can I do for you both?”
Istifled a groan as I handed him my phone and wrapped my arm around Molly’sshoulders. “Let’s do this.”
Heeyed the device in his hand with confusion. “What am I doing?”
Greysonsighed impatiently from beside his father. “He wants you to take their picture,Dad.”
“Oh!Duh!” Sebastian shook his head at himself as he pulled up the camera on myphone. “Okay, man. You get one shot at this‘causeIgottaschool this kid in beer pong. Make it good.”
PullingMolly against me, I captured her gaze and laid my palm against her cheek. Shesmiled and lifted her hands to my chest, gathering the material of my t-shirtin her grasp. Without a care of whose mother was watching or whatfuture planswere being made, I brought my smiling lips tohers and kissed her softly. She breathed out and loosened under my arm to meltagainst me. I held her, reveling in the sensation of being strong and needed,although I felt weak.
I’dforgotten that Sebastian was taking our picture, and when he cleared histhroat, Molly quickly pressed her smile against my lips once more, beforeregaining the strength in her knees to stand on her own.
“Well,you guys are officially the cutest thing, like,ever,” Sebastianassessed, and when I pulled up the picture, I couldn’t help but agree.
I’dheld her in my arms all night. I’d had her lips and her body, and the euphoricstate still hadn’t left my bones. If someone had told me I was dreaming, Imight’ve believed them. But now, with the photographic evidence in the palm ofmy hand, I couldn’t argue that she was mine.
“Welook so sickeningly happy,” Molly commented quietly, standing on her toes topeer at the screen.
“Iguess‘causewe are,” Ireplied as I opened Instagram. “And now, the whole world’sgonnaknow it.”
29
BeSomeone’s Hero
CHAD
“GOD,MAN.That fat chick keepsstarin’ at you.” I glared a warning at Travis. I had toldhim and the guys not to talk about Molly like that, and there he was, talkingcrap again. “Okay, I’m sorry, but what the hell should I call her, then, huh?”
“She has a name,” I growled,returning my attention to the sandwich in my hands.
“Oh, right.Molly,” he simpered. “I think she’s got a crushon you or some shit.”
“Whatever.” I shook my headand wondered why the hell I spent so much of my time with these guys. It wasn’tthe first time I’d questioned my choice in friends, but I hoped to God it’d bemy last.
“I think he likes her, too.”Brendon nudged my shin with the toe of his sneaker. “Right, Chad?”
My gaze darted across thecafeteria to find Molly sitting alone in her usual spot. She wasn’t staring atme now, but I didn’t doubt that she had been, or at the very least had glancedin my direction.
“You think she’s so hot, don’tyou?” Brad continued to tease.
“Shut the hell up,” I warned,turning my glare back to him.
“Come on, admit it. Youlike—hey!” Brendon exclaimed as I got up from the table with my sandwich andbackpack. “I’m justkidding, Chad. Come on. Don’t be like that.”
But I didn’t look back. It wasonly two days before the last day of school. I was attending Texas State in thefall, and I was never going to see either of these assholes ever again.
Starting now.
***
“God, thisis crazy,” Molly laughed gleefully. She rolled into my arms with her phoneclasped between her hands. “Listen to this,” and she read, “‘Guitarist ChadWilcox and singer Molly Dyer have officially become everybody’s ultimate couplegoal.’”
Ismiled at the bus ceiling. “That’s nuts.”
“We’reacouple goal,” she giggled. “Like,Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel are couple goals, you know? That’s notsupposed to beme.”
