Page 119 of Habits

Since the party at his house, we’ve become athing. We text a lot, he joins us during lunch in the cafeteria and we’ve even hung out anddancedat a few parties between then and now. I know he wants more; I can see it in his eyes. Sometimes when we talk and he looks at me, his eyes darken with desire. I’ve been brushing him off for weeks, but … maybe soon I’ll get the courage to actually let him do more than just kiss me here and there.

I take my time getting ready since Max is downstairs and it’ll take a bit for him to be done. I choose a dark blue dress. It’s casual and cute—knee-length, A-line with sleeves that reach my elbows. And for the first time in a while, I feel pretty wearing it.

I carefully put on my make-up and curl my dark hair just in time for Max to knock on my door.

As soon as we get to the party, he’s snatched by his friends, and I wander around looking for Nikki, Lana and Maddy.

Just when I’m about to turn the corner, my face plants into a chest. Raising my eyes, I can’t help but smile when I see the familiar blues looking back at me.

“Hi,” I squeak, blushing.

“Hi yourself, pretty girl.”

Patrick leans down, his lips brushing against the corner of my mouth.

“Just got here?”

I nod my head. “I’ve been looking for the girls, but I can’t seem to find them.”

He looks over my head, his eyes scanning the crowd. “They’re … somewhere around.”

“I presumed so,” I laugh. “What are you up to?”

Patrick lifts his cup. “Refill. Want one?”

“Sure.”

We chat on our way to the kitchen. He tells me about hockey, and I mention a project I’ve been working on for my chemistry class.

There are a few people in the kitchen, but my eyes narrow, looking at the just-closed door that leads to the terrace.

“Hey, was that …” I tip my chin in that direction.

Patrick looks through the window. “Oh, that …” He shrugs. “They’ve been at it for weeks now.”

My whole body goes numb.

Blue eyes lift as he fills his cup from the keg, looking at me worriedly. “I thought you knew.”

I open my mouth to say something, but no words come out, so I settle for a shake of my head. No, I didn’t know. I had no idea.

Weeks.

He’s been hiding it for weeks.

They both have.

Patrick keeps talking, but I tune him out as I walk toward the window. It’s one of those huge floor-to-ceiling windows designed to bathe the room in natural light.

And there, on the other side of the glass, even through the darkness of the night, I see them.

Max and Maddy.

Kissing like their lives depend on it.

I guess she finally got what she was after.

“You want something?”

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