Fighting the urge to scream and pummel my fists into the wall, I stared up at the sky, deep in thought.

What was I doing? My folks were never going to let me out of this marriage shit, and part of me felt like just giving in for an easier life, but more of me wanted to resist it with every ounce of my being.

Rolling my neck, I stared back up at Molly’s balcony. If I kept going down this road with her, I knew there was the very real danger that I’d never be able to let her go. I wasn’t stupid. Christ, she’d already gotten into my head and I’d barely even touched her, barely even scratched the surface of who she really was. But I was addicted nonetheless, and I had to decide right now if she was worth it… worth disobeying my folks… worth facing months of hell… worth lowering my barriers.

Thoughts of today’s game bolted into my mind. I’d asked her to be there for me, to support me, and although it wasn’t what she wanted, she came anyway, sacrificing her precious study time… for me. Having her there completely changed my game, that kiss relaxing me for the first time in such a long time. I couldn’t ever say that about my folks, or any other chick I’d f**ked. Too many people wound me up to the point of snapping, but not Molly. She listened, comforted, and calmed me right down. Who wouldn’t become desperate to have that level of connection all the damn time?

Molly made me feel good about myself. Christ, she made me friggin’ smile, and the way she’d coped with so much shit in her own life gave me hope, hope that maybe I could get through my obstacles too… one day… maybe with her help.

Fuck it! She was worth every shitty text, every aggressive slur, and every strike I’d have coming my way.

After I’d been sitting debating my predicament for nearly an hour, I rose to my feet with a new sense of determination, scooping up more gravel as I went, and set to launching them at Molly’s closed balcony doors. I figured if that weedy f**ker Montague could get his prize this way, I had a pretty good chance of doing so as well.

Shadows danced behind the white curtains and the balcony doors opened slowly. “Shakespeare?” I called softly, checking the grounds of the sorority house to make sure no one was around.

There were a few moments filled with shuffling sounds before a mass of long brown hair fell over the balcony rail and a pair of taped-up glasses looked down at me.

“Hey, Mol,” I said, my chest already feeling lighter in her presence.

“Hey, you. What are you doing here?” she asked, her eyebrows pulled together to form a deep frown.

“I came to see you.”

She straightened some and asked, “You did? Why?”

Because I can’t stop thinking about you. Because I want to kiss those damn lips again so bad I can’t bear it… Then I want to continue south until I taste you on my tongue as you come and writhe against my mouth… Only to then strip you bare and f**k you until you can’t stand. I didn’t think the truth would go over too well with a girl like Molly, so I simply replied, “Because I noticed you weren’t out. And I wanted to make sure you were okay after today. I’ve been thinking about you all night.”

Pushing her broken frames back on her nose, she asked, “Shouldn’t you be with Shelly?”

Those words caused my back to stiffen, and I snapped, “Why the f**k would I be with her?” The very fact that Molly thought I’d be with Shelly of all people, had me steaming with rage. Shelly! Why did everything always come back to her?

Clearing her throat, Molly answered, “She was with you after the game. The two of you looked cozy. I thought you might have wanted to celebrate with her tonight.” Although she’d fought to hide it, I caught the disappointment in her voice. I got it. She’d heard all the rumors about me, about me f**king any piece of ass that moved, so why should she trust me? Why think she was different to me?

I needed her to be convinced.

Standing directly below her and pinning her with my gaze, I pronounced, “Let’s get this straight right now. She’s not f**kin’ anything to me. Never will be.” Molly’s entire body visibly relaxed and a small smile broke on her lips.

Wait—

“Is that why you bailed on the party? Because you thought I’d be with that conniving bitch?” Even in the dark, I could see the guilty blush smother her cheeks.

Shit. That was why she snubbed my party and why she wasn’t there for me at the end of the game.

“Rome, I just didn’t fancy the party tonight, that’s all. You go and enjoy yourself. You don’t need to check on me.” She was trying to push me away. I knew I was a scary concept to her—hell, to most—but this was one fight I wasn’t going to lose. She was one chick I wouldn’t just throw away.