𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐅𝐔𝐋 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐎𝐒 | SPINOFF

Bonus Chapter | Molly : Sophie

MOLLY

Before Sophie and I became friends, I harbored the biggest, most ridiculous crush on Ace. A colossal, all-consuming crush. He was everything I wanted but couldn't have, and it gnawed at me. Sophie and Ace were never part of my world back then. They dated briefly in freshman year, a fleeting, picture-perfect couple who ended things amicably, deciding they were better as friends. When Sophie and I grew closer, I finally confided in her about my childhood obsession with him. She'd laughed, a little too casually, before admitting she'd only broken up with Ace because she wanted his brother instead.

That was Sophie—a master of secrets and selfish moves.

Last summer, before everything went to hell, she was sneaking around with Ace's brother while Ace and I were left alone at Lance's beach house. The setting was almost too perfect to be real. The sun was setting, painting the world in hues of gold and crimson. I sat there in my swimsuit, trying to focus on the cocktail in my hand instead of the man sitting across from me. But then his voice broke the silence.

"I saw your diary, Molly," Ace muttered, his words slicing through the air like a blade.

I froze, my fingers tightening around the glass. "What?" I managed to choke out, feeling the blood drain from my face. "Why would you do that, Ace?"

"I didn't mean to," he said quickly, shifting in his seat. "When you and Sophie were talking about a secret crush, I got... curious."

Curious. That word felt like a slap. He tried to grab my wrist as I stood to leave, but I yanked it away, the cocktail forgotten on the glass table.

"Ace, it's old news. I don't like you anymore," I lied, the words rushing out in a desperate attempt to salvage my pride. "You're my friend. That's all."

Ace nodded, but his eyes bore into mine, searching for something I wasn't willing to give. "How long?" he asked softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Four years," I admitted, the truth falling from my lips before I could stop it.

He blinked, his expression a mixture of disbelief and something else I couldn't read. "And you never said anything?"

I shrugged, unable to meet his gaze. My eyes betrayed me, though, flickering to his lips. Don't do this, Molly. He doesn't want you. He never did. Don't ruin everything.

But I didn't listen. Instead, I shut my eyes and slammed my mouth against his, my childhood crush igniting into something reckless and raw. For a moment, he froze, and I thought I'd made the biggest mistake of my life. But then he kissed me back. His hands gripped me with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine, his body tense and trembling against mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer, my forehead resting against his as he pushed me back onto the couch, his weight pressing into me.

"Molly," he rasped, his voice rough and conflicted. "Don't."

My heart shattered at that single word. "You kissed me back," I whispered, my voice trembling.