“I love you too,” she says softly. She leans in, kissing me again. “We’re gonna be okay, yeah?”
“Yeah.”I hope so.
God, I hope so.
55
Unwelcome Fixation
Niall
December, 2007
“DON'T BE Agobshiteabout it, Niall.”
I glance sideways at my girlfriend, a grin tugging at my lips despite myself.
“Who taught you that word?” I ask, raising my eyebrows.
“You and yourgobshitefriends say it all the time,” she huffs, her eyes fixed on the road. “Now stop backseat driving me.”
“Okay, okay, I'm stopping. Just want to make sure we get home in one piece is all.” I hold up my hands in surrender, leaning back in my seat.
The day after her seventeenth birthday—and the insane party at my house that Finn, Chloe, and JJ threw for her, wherein we mostly hung out in my room for the duration—Molly went with her mother after school to take the written portion of the driving test.
She passed with flying colors, because of course she did. She’s Molly fucking Lockhart.
“She's doing great—youre doing great, Mols,” Finn says from the back. I see him nudge JJ.
“Class, Mollsie.” JJ chimes in, leaning forward between our seats. “A natural.”
I glance back at both of them, and they give me a pair of innocent smiles.
The lads have been worried about Molly since last Saturday, but I told them sternly that it was her business and she wasn't ready to tell anyone. Still, they have been overly kind to her ever since.
Not that I’m complaining.
Fitz is taking Claire home, since Finn wanted to ride with us while I let Molly drive and because my sister thinks she needs five hours to get ready for the dance. I know she's nervous, but I hope she remembers that it's supposed to be a fun thing.
Molly's been begging me to let her use my car since Tuesday, and I finally gave in. Not because I'm a stern rule follower when it comes to license law (obviously) but because this car is special to me. It's one of the last living pieces I have of my father.
Not that I ever needed to worry. Molly is a great driver.
Still, she admitted she only ever drove automatic cars so I've had to do a bit of teaching. She’s a quick study though, and she’s already got the hang of the clutch.
“Easy!” I say as she jerks the car into second gear.
“Easy!” she mimics, sticking her tongue out at me. Finn and JJ laugh from the backseat. She turns onto Kilmore, heading for her house.
“You live in the haunted gaff?” Finn asks Molly, leaning forward between our seats. His eyes are wide with mock horror, and I know what’s coming.
“What?”
“Ohhhh yeah,” JJ says, nodding. “Remember? We used to dare each other to go inside when we were kids.”
They must not have seen the warning glare I sent their way.
“Stop lying,” I say. “Molly, don’t listen to them.”