I Got Hot, He Got Desperate Chapter 04
Molly’s POV
Three days after Ryan left, I sat on the Hawaiian beach staring at our text thread.
*Ryan: Just took off, already missing you*
*Me: You’re so dramatic, it’s only been three hours*
*Ryan: Three hours is too long*
*Me: (blushing) What are you doing now?*
*Ryan: Missing you*
*Me: Seriously!*
*Ryan: I am serious. You?*
*Me: Missing you too…*
Looking at that message I’d sent, my face turned red again. God,
when did I become so BOLD?
My phone buzzed again.
*Ryan: Once I handle things here, I’m coming back for you*
*Me: Really?*
*Ryan: I promised you our story was just beginning*
*Me: But I have to go back to school soon…”
*Ryan: Then I’ll come to your school*
Reading that message made my heart race. Would he really
come find me? Or was he just saying that?
*Me: You sure? My school’s pretty boring*
*Ryan: Anywhere you are can’t be boring*
This man always knew exactly what to say to make my heart
flutter.
But anxiety crept in. We’d only known each other two weeks- would he really change his plans for me? Was I overthinking
this?
Five days later, I stood in the airport with my suitcase.
Caroline walked me to security, her eyes showing both sadness
and pride.
“Remember, you’re not that timid little girl anymore,” she hugged me tight. “You’re Molly Baker–a beautiful, confident woman who DESERVES love.”
“Thank you, Caroline.” I was genuinely grateful. “Thank you for helping me find myself again.”
“Go show those blind idiots what a real goddess looks like!”
As the plane took off, I watched Hawaii fade away, emotions swirling. I’d miss this place that changed my life forever, but I was excited for what came next.
I wasn’t that invisible girl anymore.
In the airport taxi, the driver kept stealing glances at me through the rearview mirror.
“Miss, are you a celebrity?” he finally asked. “You have this special glow about you.”
I wore a white dress Caroline had carefully selected–simple yet elegant. My golden tan looked stunning against the white fabric, natural waves cascading over my shoulders. Most importantly, my eyes sparkled with newfound confidence.
“No,” I smiled. “I’m just a girl who found herself again.”
“Well, your boyfriend’s one lucky guy,” the driver said admiringly.
Boyfriend? I thought of Ryan, face warming slightly. We weren’t there yet… were we?
Walking across campus, I felt something different.
All conversations stopped.
Every gaze fixed on me.
I held my head high, walking confidently down paths where I
used to skulk around crowds. My heels clicked crisply on the
stone walkway, each step radiating confidence.
“Whoa, who’s that girl?”
“Jesus, she’s GORGEOUS!”
“Is she a transfer student?”
“Does she have a boyfriend?”
I heard the whispers but didn’t panic like before. I’d learned to enjoy being noticed.
Passing the football field, I saw familiar figures at practice. But I
didn’t stop, didn’t even glance twice. The guy who once made my heart race meant absolutely nothing to me now.
I had more important things to focus on.
Outside my dorm room, I took a deep breath, ready to surprise Emma.
I knocked softly. “Emma, it’s me.”
“Molly?” The door flew open immediately, then…
Emma’s jaw practically hit the floor.
“Holy shit…” She stared at me, eyes wide, looking me up
down. “Molly? Is this really YOU?”
and
“Hey, roomie.” I smiled, walking in.
“Wait, wait…” Emma closed the door, circling around me. “Did you go on vacation or get plastic surgery?! This is IMPOSSIBLE!”
“Just vacation.” I set down my luggage. “So, do you recognize me?”
“Recognize my ASS!” Emma shrieked. “Your skin, your body, your hair, and… God, your whole VIBE! You’re like…”
“A goddess?” I raised an eyebrow.
“YES! A goddess!” Emma waved her hands frantically. “Molly Baker, what the HELL happened to you?”
I sat on my bed and started telling the Hawaii story. From Caroline’s transformation plan to meeting Ryan to our heart–to- heart on the volcano.
“Hold up,” Emma interrupted. “You said you met a GUY?”
“Yeah.” Thinking of Ryan made me smile involuntarily.
“You two…?”
“Not yet. But…” I pulled out my phone. “He said he’d come find
me.”
Emma scrolled through our messages, eyes widening. “This guy‘
s smooth as hell.”
“It’s not smooth talk,” I protested. “He’s serious.”
“What about Albert?” Emma asked carefully. “Are you really
over him?”
Hearing that name, I paused for a moment, then realized I felt
absolutely nothing.
“I’m over him,” I said with certainty. “Completely over him.”
Just then, commotion erupted in the hallway.
“It’s that new goddess! She lives on this floor!”
“Has anyone seen her yet?”
“I’m gonna ask for her number!”
Emma and I looked at each other and laughed.
“Looks like your new life’s starting,” Emma said.
Indeed, my new life was beginning.
Over the next few days, the entire campus buzzed about the ”
mystery goddess.”
Nobody recognized me as Molly Baker. After all, who would connect that invisible bookworm to the campus goddess?
In hallways, guys would step aside for me, then whisper among themselves. In the cafeteria, countless eyes followed my every move. In the library, my table mysteriously attracted many ” studious” guys.
“Hey gorgeous, can I get your number?”
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
“Want to come to our party?”
I politely declined all these invitations. My heart belonged to
someone else.
Ryan.
We texted constantly, from morning “good mornings” to nighttime “good nights.” He’d share his work in New York, I’d tell him campus stories. Though thousands of miles apart, he felt close.
*Ryan: Almost done here, coming to see you soon*
*Me: Really?*
*Ryan: I miss watching sunsets with you*
*Me: I miss the Hawaiian beaches*
*Ryan: Let’s go back together*
*Me: (blushing) Okay*
Every message made me grin like an idiot. Emma said I was in love. I didn’t deny it.
Maybe this was what real butterflies felt like.
Fourth day afternoon, I walked past football practice with my books.
The setting sun cast golden light across the field. Alpha Phi players were training, sweat glistening in the sunlight.
I planned to walk straight by, but heard a familiar voice.
“Pass it! Albert!”
I stopped, looking toward center field.
Albert Sanchez, my former dream boy, was practicing throws. Golden sunlight hit him just like before, looking as handsome as ever.
But strangely, I felt absolutely nothing.
Just then, he looked up toward the stands, his gaze landing directly on me.
I watched his movements suddenly freeze, eyes going wide, the football dropping from his hands to the grass.
Then…
CRASH!
He ran straight into the goalpost.
“Albert!” teammates shouted.
The entire practice field erupted in chaos. Albert sat on the ground holding his forehead, but his eyes stayed locked on me.
“Dude, you okay?” Connor ran over to help him up.
“That… that girl…” Albert pointed at me, voice shaking. “She’s…
“Which girl?” Connor followed his gaze. “Whoa, that goddess? She’s HOT!”
“Bro, who IS that goddess?” other players crowded around. “She‘ s absolutely PERFECT!”
“She… she’s…” Albert struggled to stand. “She’s Molly…”
“WHAT?!”
“Molly?”
“No WAY!”
“That bookworm? You’re CRAZY!”
His teammates‘ reactions only confirmed Albert’s realization. That goddess silhouetted against the sunset really was Molly Baker, the girl he’d once mocked.
I watched their reactions, a slight smile crossing my lips.
Then I turned and walked away.
Behind me, Albert’s voice called out: “Molly! MOLLY! Wait!”
But I didn’t look back.
Some people weren’t worth turning around for anymore.