"Shh," she whispered, keeping her small hand on my hand. "It's okay. It's just anxiety. State is only a couple of days away. This is your adrenalin spiking. Don’t worry about it. Just breathe. Panic attacks happen to everybody at some stage."

"Not me."

"You're human, babe."

Babe.

She called me babe and told me she loved me on a daily basis.

Fuck, I didn’t deserve this girl.

"Love you," I managed to strangle out, as I continued to use the railing to hold me up.

"Love you, too," she whispered, resting her cheek against my shoulder blade as she continued to rub my back. "And whatever happens at the game this weekend, state championship or not, I want you to know that I'm hella proud of you."

We stood there for at least thirty minutes, with me leaning over the railing, and Molly stroking my back, until I was finally able to function again.

"Want me to drive back?" she asked, entwining her small hand with mine as we walked slowly back to the parking lot.

"Nah." Shaking my head, I unlocked the truck and held the door open for her to climb in. "I'm good."

"Are you staying at my place tonight?"

"Can't," I replied, glum. "Wren's on my back again. I need to keep the peace, which means I need to go home tonight."

"Oh." Her expression fell. "Okay."

When we were both inside the cab of my Chevy, I cranked the engine and blew out a shaky breath. Kip Moore's Young Love wafted from the truck stereo, and I turned to look at her. "I'm sorry about that." Embarrassed, I shrugged helplessly. "It won't happen again."

Unbuckling her seat belt, Molly climbed across the console, not stopping until she was straddling my hips. "Don’t do that," she whispered, small hands cupping my face. "Don’t apologize for being human."

Exhaling heavily, I let my head fall forward, brow resting against hers. "I need you in my life." Closing my eyes, I took comfort in the feel of her body on mine. "You're the only one that makes the noise in my head stop.”

"I need you in my life, too, D," she replied, fingers tangling in my hair. Nuzzling her soft cheek against my stubbly one, she peppered my face with soft kisses. "And I'll always be here for you." Her breath fanned my cheek and I shuddered. "Always. I promise."

God, I hoped so.

"I need in you," I admitted, voice gruff and torn, as my lips found hers. Starved for the connection that I had only ever found with her, I groaned, "I need inside you so fucking bad, Molls."

"I'm yours," came her breathy response as her lips dueled with mine. Reaching for the hem of her full-length skirt, she hitched it above her waist. "Take what you need."

Fuck.

The minute I tasted her, I knew I couldn’t pull back. Hands roaming over her small curves – curves that I took full credit for putting there – I pulled and tugged on her hips, fingers brushing over the small swell of her stomach, desperate to get closer to her.