My heart sank at the memory. "Yeah."

"I never thanked you for that, by the way."

"Thanked me for what?"

"For always taking up for me the way you used to." He turned to face me. "For giving me a safe place to hide out when life got too heavy." He shrugged almost helplessly when he whispered, "For being the only person to ever catch me when I was falling."

"That's what best friends are for," I breathed, heart racing wildly, eyes locked on his. "Right?"

"Right," he replied softly and his warm breath fanned my face.

We were close, too freaking close, but still, I couldn't tear my eyes off his. I couldn't stop myself from studying every dip and groove on his beautiful face and comparing it to the face of the boy he'd once been. To the face that I had once stared at every day for ten years.

"Molls?"

"Yeah, D?"

"I still dream about it." His eyes seared me as he spoke. "Every night."

I swallowed deeply and rolled onto my side, giving up on the movie playing in the background. "The fire?"

"Yeah." Daryl mirrored my actions, rolling onto his side and giving me his undivided attention. "Except in my dreams I can't get you out."

"But you did get me out, D," I breathed, feeling weak now as I cast the excruciating memories aside. "You saved me," I added, forcing a small smile. "I'm right here."

"Yeah." He exhaled a ragged breath and nodded, nose nuzzling mine with affectionate strokes. "You are."

Don't do it, I willed myself when his hand cupped my cheek, drawing me closer to his big body. He'll change his mind. My gaze flicked to his full lips and I held my breath. Don't make a fool of yourself again.

"Night, D," I squeezed out, heart thundering in my chest.

His hand stilled on my face, his lips a hare's breath from mine. "Night, Molls."

And then I did the responsible thing.

I rolled over and gave him my back.

11 Molly

Daryl ended up spending the entire weekend at my house. With the exception of slipping out for football practice, after which, he came right back, we didn't leave each other's sides.

Unlike the previous weekend we spent together, this time we didn't blur the lines with sex, drugs, and karaoke rock and roll. Instead, we filled the days with Netflix, food, and catching up. For real, this time, and I couldn't describe how good it felt to be back in this place with him. To have my friend back.

It wasn't as hard to be around him as I had thought it would be. After the sex, I thought everything would be different, and sure, in a way it was, but with a little effort, we were able to maintain a balance of sorts. Besides, I'd loved Daryl King my whole life, so keeping those x-rated feelings I felt for him under wraps came as easy as breathing to me.