I don’t say anything, but I do make a hmmph sound in my throat.
“Molly, can you just love me for the asshole I am?”
“Well…when you put it that way, how could I possibly resist?”
EPILOGUE
WESTON
“Let me know what happens at the end. Call me or some shit.”
– Rick Stevens
Here we are, one year later, although it seems like just yesterday we were standing in that parking lot, my heart beating out of my chest as I waited anxiously to hear if Molly was going to give me another chance.
I check my watch one more time, noting that if we don’t head out now, we aren’t going to make it on time. “Molly, babe, let’s go!” I call up the stairs. “If you’re not down in five seconds, I’m coming up.”
“Babe, I’m coming!” she shouts back. “Two more seconds.” I can hear low mumbled curses and her hopping around frantically on one foot, probably trying to pull boots on or something.
A voice interrupts me from behind. “Oh my god, dude, every time I hear you two ‘babe-ing’ each other, it makes me want to blow chunks,” Matthew Wakefield says, walking into the foyer and shoving a fistful of almonds into his mouth.
“Hey, give me a couple of those,” I demand.
He slaps my hand away, quite viciously I might add, and sticks the bag of almonds in the pocket of his hoodie. “Get your own damn delicious treats. Jeez, bro, isn’t it enough that I have to put up with your crap at school? Now you’re stealing shit from me in my own home? Back off.”
Yeah. You heard that correctly.
You’re looking at a freshman starter for the Wisconsin Badgers Hockey team, and I guess you could say the bane of Matthew Wakefield’s existence. Actually, Molly and I both go to Madison now and are only home this weekend for the homecoming hockey game—which, of course, we’re running late for.
Just as I’m saying, “Can you tell your sister to please get her sweet ass down here?” Molly comes racing down the hallway and down the stairs.
Out of breath, she leans into me and greets me by planting her soft lips on mine. “Mmm, thanks for waiting.” My arms immediately go to her butt and I pull her in.
“Don’t I get a hello?” Matthew complains and nudges his sister in the arm like a Neanderthal. “Hey, get your hands off her ass.”
“Shhh, go away, I’m saying hello to my boyfriend.”
“Seriously, knock it off or I’ll tell Dad you were fornicating in the foyer.”
Molly reaches around me and swats at her brother. “Go away, Matty.”
It never ends with these two.
“Fine, but just so you know, I’ll be listening.” Matthew points to his ears, giving me a piercing look before stalking off toward the living room with his bag of almonds.
“Finally, I thought he’d never leave,” I whisper.
“Do we really have to see the game?” Molly pouts, pushing my sweatshirt up and sticking her warm hands under my many layers. “We could stay home and do other…stuff.”
Not gonna lie: in the year we’ve been dating, I’ve become one horny bastard. Having a steady girlfriend is great, because I get to have sex with my best friend—like, all the time. For a second there I almost give in to her hands roaming my bare chest. One thing is for sure: if she’s trying to manipulate the situation so we’ll stay home by getting me turned on, it’s almost working.
“I can solve this problem by dragging you upstairs for a quickie. You do know that, right?”
Hmm, guess she hadn’t thought of that. “Ugh, fine. Forget it, let’s go.”
I laugh at her, pouting. “This is why I love you.”
She leans up and kisses me when I pull the front door open. “Ah, baby, I love you too.”
“I can hear you. Get the hell out of here already! I’m totally disgusted!” Matthew shouts from the living room.
Holding hands, we walk out the door.