“So let me get this straight, you actually like him now?”

Molly stares at me as if I have lost my fucking mind and have two heads.

By the way, you probably think by now that I’m a raging alcoholic, but I promise you I’m not. I just have a few occasional drinks with friends, every now and then. You just happen to show up in every chapter where I’ve got a drink in hand.

Okay, well maybe it’s more like three or four fucking times a week, but what does it fucking matter? I need to embrace the stress relief.

I nod my head.

“I think so.”

Molly looks at me and shakes her head. She’s unconvinced and I don’t blame her.

“I don’t think you know what you fucking want.”

“Well, in his defense, he’s really sweet to me,” I say.

“Yeah, and sweet when it comes to dipping his cock in your honey trap.”

“Oh my God, Molly, you are fucking insane.” I erupt with laughter.

“What? It’s true,” she says defiantly.

“Are you telling me I’m acting like a guy right now?” I stand up and tease her.

“If the shoe fits.”

“Oh please,” I inflect with my best valley girl accent. “I don’t even have a cock to swing around or use as a second brain.”

“Well then, his cock must be big enough to mind trap the both of you,” Molly laughs.

“It is spectacularly enormous,” I say dreamily and stare off into space.

“You’re pathetic.” Molly rolls her eyes and playfully punches me.

We’re at my house and it’s a Sunday. We try to unwind and prepare ourselves for the woes of Monday morning knocking its ugly fucking hand on the door.

“He has a lot of instability, but it’s all from emotional problems,” I say, coming to his defense.

“Let me guess, he uses sex as an excuse?” Molly drips sarcastically.

“Probably,” I laugh. “I don’t care, I get to have orgasms too.” I wink.

“You’re a dirty girl,” she says.

“So I’m told,” I say and laugh mischievously.

“Seriously, though.” I get back to my first point. “I think he’s been through a lot. His dad left him when he was just a kid.”

“How do you even know he’s telling the truth?” Molly crosses her arms.

“What do you mean?” I ask, coming to attention.

“Don’t you think he might be playing you? Like maybe he’s just saying he had a rough childhood so that you’ll pity him, and it will be easier to get you into bed?”

“You forget,” I say as we walk out onto the balcony at my house, “I’m the one who wants this baby batter contract.”

“So, you’re the one tricking him into bed then?” Molly’s eyes are twinkling with playfulness.

“I suppose that’s one way to put it.” I sit down in one of the seats outside. “I can just tell he’s softer now.” I gaze absently out into the tree-lined park below us.

“Oh…my…God,” Molly exclaims as if she’s having an epiphany.

“What?” I grin and look at her sideways.

“You’re starting to care for him!”

I scoff, or sort of snort. Maybe it sounds more like a wail of denial.

“No fucking way.” I shake my head so hard I feel like my brain might fucking fall out of my head.

“You so fucking are!” Molly shouts again.

I look up at her.

“Can you yell it a little louder? I don’t think that fucking jogger down in the park heard you.”

She sticks her tongue out at me.

“It all makes sense now,” she says in a rush. “You’re starting to care for him.”

“I am not; it’s just a business deal.” I continue to shake my head defiantly.

“You just don’t realize it yet.” Molly makes eye contact, grinning.

I stand up and look down over the edge of my balcony to the city streets below. What if she’s fucking right? Is it true? Can she see other factors to this relationship than I have yet?

Fuck. Not good at all.

“Are you saying my viewpoint is not as enhanced as yours?” I joke.

“Not necessarily, I just know you and I see the tell-tale signs,” she offers.

I shake my head again, refusing to believe there’s truth to her observation.

“No, there’s just no way. I mean Zane?”

I laugh again, albeit unconvincingly.

“He’s hot, but that’s all I’m in for,” I say. “To get filled up with that baby batter.”

“Yeah, he’s a fucking prick, no doubt,” Molly agrees. “I can just tell by your demeanor that you might actually like him now.”

“I suppose I have to like him to a certain degree in order to have the baby batter contract enacted,” I say. “I mean I do have to fuck him on the regular.”

“That’s right,” she agrees. “Which I’m sure is such a chore.”

“It would just be a huge mess if we actually became a couple,” I remind her, ignoring her jab. “We’re not good for each other.”

“You have the allergy too?” Molly looks at me.

“Huh? What allergy?” I have no fucking clue what she’s talking about.

“You know, the allergy that’s basically a sickness against arrogant assholes?”

I roar with laughter and nod.

“Yes, I fucking have that, and it’s fucking incurable.”

“It’s a terrible idea to get involved with him,” Molly says.

“I know, you are absolutely right, but I want this baby.”

Just that moment, there’s a knock at my door. Molly and I exchange a look and we both walk slowly to the door. After the encounter with David the other day, I’m fucking skittish that he’s going to show back up at my house and tase me or something.

I stare through the peep hole.

“Fuck!” I whisper in a hiss. “He’s back!”

“Who?” Molly’s eyebrows furrow.

“David!” I murmur again.

“Holy fucking shit!” Molly says a little too loudly, then realizes her mistake and covers her mouth.

“Piper?” David’s voice calls through the door. “I can fucking hear you, Piper. I know you’re in there.”

“So what? It’s my fucking apartment,” I retort. “Go the fuck away, David, before I call the police.”

“Just let him in,” Molly says.

I look at her like she’s fucking crazy.

“Are you out of your fucking mind?” I shriek. “The guy is certifiable.”

“I just want to know what he has to say,” she whispers.

“Okay, I’ll leave a note for our families to put that on our fucking tombstones then!” I say. “Here lies Molly and Piper, who were just too curious for their own fucking good.”

“He’s not going to hurt us,” she rolls her eyes. “It’s David.”

“He’s acting crazy lately,” I protest. “Seriously. He creeped me the fuck out last time.”

Molly swoops past me and opens the door.

“Molly!” I exclaim, but she’s right. I want to know what’s eating David alive to the extreme that he won’t leave me alone.

David is standing there, looking normal as fuck. In fact, he looks like he just stepped out of an Abercrombie magazine. Sort of. He’s wearing a blue North Face jacket and khaki pants. He’s the epitome of a fat brother.

“What do you want?” I cross my arms.

“This is your last chance Piper,” David warns, his fists clenching at his sides.

“Um, for what, asshole?” I laugh and look at Molly, who raises her eyebrows.

“To take me back,” he says firmly.

“Why would I want to take you back?” I ask.

“If you don’t get back together with me, I’m going to destroy you.”

Holy shit.

His eyes are malicious. I recoil but hold my ground.

“Screw you!” I shout, taking offense.

“Okay,” he says and holds his hands up. “I’m going to destroy you then.”

“Whatever!” I yell and slam the door in his face.

I’m seething, and my heart is racing in my chest.

“Can you believe that fucking guy?” I point a finger at the closed door. David doesn’t try to get back inside, thankfully.

“What do you think he means by ‘destroy you’?” Molly leans against the wall and I notice anxiety fall over her face.

“Don’t worry about that.” I wave a hand dismissively. “He’s obviously going off the deep end over our breakup.”

I look at Molly again and she seems shaken, which is odd because Molly never fucking falters.

Shit, am I in trouble? Is David more dangerous than I think?