Old Habits

by Tabatha Kiss

  “Uh…” She slowly rises a few inches. “What?”

  “Move in here with me,” I say again, feeling the logic fall into place. “You spend almost every night here anyway.”

  “Okay, yeah. I do, but…”

  “And you don’t need to be wasting seventy-five bucks a week on Hank,” I point out. “You don’t make much and he’s ripping you off out of spite, if you want my opinion. I have the space and you need to get out of there.”

  She blinks. “You’re serious about this.”

  I nod. “I am.”

  “Have you been thinking about this already?”

  “Not really, no, but it makes sense, doesn’t it?”

  Epiphany crosses her eyes. “You do have that spare bedroom...”

  “It’s all yours,” I offer. “I’ll clear out the weights and the treadmill and stick them in the garage. Then, you’ll have plenty of room for your stuff.”

  “I don’t have much. You don’t have to move anything…”

  “You deserve your own space.”

  “Then, I should pay you rent. I don’t want to freeload.”

  “I’m not charging you rent, Jove,” I say, shaking my head.

  “Okay, we’ll split utilities,” she argues. “That’s fair, right?”

  I smile. There’s no sense fighting against it. Even if I said no, she’d slip the money into my wallet when I wasn’t looking anyway. “Yes,” I say. “That’s fair.”

  She leans back, comfortably smirking. “We’re moving in together.”

  “Yes, we are.”

  “I like the sound of it.”

  “It does have a nice ring to it.”

  “And you know an awesome perk to living with somebody is?” she asks.

  “What?”

  “On-demand sex.”

  “That’s not why I asked you,” I chuckle, “but yes, that is awesome.”

  She laughs as I lean over her again. Our legs entwine and she reaches around me, her fingers sliding along my shoulder blades, igniting the blood in my groin as I kiss her.

  “Jovie…” I whisper her name and her lips curl.

  “Yeah?” she asks, kissing me back.

  “So, about Valentine’s Day…”

  She heaves a breath and her hands drop to her sides. “I knew it.”

  I push up onto my arms. “Hold on, now. It’s not serious.”

  “You buttered me up.”

  “No, I didn’t,” I lie.

  “Yes, you did. You made me all smiley and euphoric with talk of on-demand sex and spare bedrooms only to yank the rug out. Can’t we just pretend it doesn’t exist this year?” she whines. “Things are going so well. We’re moving in together! Didn’t you hear that part? That part was nice.”

  “We’re also newly engaged, or at least, the town thinks we are,” I say. “If we don’t make a big deal out of Valentine’s Day then they’ll get suspicious.”

  She grunts in defeat. “Fine. What’s your plan?”

  “Go to the dance with me.”

  “That’s it?”

  I nod. “That’s it.”

  Her brow furrows in hesitation. “Do I have to?”

  “Jovie...” I stare her down. “You’re a member of the party planning committee and you had no intention of even showing up?”

  “Hell no.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because I hate dancing.”

  “Old Jovie hated dancing,” I say. “New Jovie loves it.”

  “No, she doesn’t.” She fidgets beneath me. “I’m pretty sure that’s the one thing old and new Jovie are in full agreement on. No dancing. I’ll hang a few balloons and hire a band but my involvement ends there.”

  “Please.”

  Her eyes study me and she squints. “You’re really looking forward to this, aren’t you?”

  “I am.”

  “Why?”

  “Because…” I shift onto my side, “I don’t want us to batten down the hatches every February. I want us to forget about what it used to mean to us and redefine it into something we look forward to all year round just like every other normal couple. Now, do you think you can handle that?”

  “Maybe,” she says out of the corner of her mouth.

  “Can you try?”

  She nods with a smile. “Yeah, I can try.”

  “And…” I shrug, “I guess if it explodes in our faces, we can always go back to pretending it doesn’t exist next year.”

  Her brow bounces. “Assuming we even make it out of this one alive.”

  “Naturally.” I nod.

  “Okay,” she says, her voice a little more confident. “We can do the Valentine’s dance this year… but no gifts. I’m too broke.”

  “Small gifts,” I counter.

  “No gifts,” she repeats.

  I pinch two fingers together. “Just a little one?”

  “You already got something, didn’t you?”

  “Kind of.”

  She sighs. “Fine. What is it?”

  “I’m not telling.” I kiss her neck and she tilts away from it.

  “No, no. Tell me. I want to know.”

  “Nope.” I wrap my arms around her and pull her back. “Not until the fourteenth.”

  “Oh, come on,” she begs. “If you don’t tell me now, I’ll just tear this place apart while you’re at work until I find it.”

  “Sure, you could,” I say, sliding my lips along her collarbone, “but it’s not even here so you’ll be looking for a very… long… time.”

  “Where is it?”

  I laugh as I kiss between her breasts. “I’m not telling.”

  “Well, could you at least tell me a price range so I know what to get you?”

  “You don’t have to get me anything.”

  She scoffs. “Oh, that’s not fair.”

  “I don’t want anything,” I say, pushing back up to her lips. “This year, my gift is you.”

  “That’s just code for extra blowjobs.”

  “That’s perfect.” I kiss her. “Thank you, baby. I love it.”

  She slaps my forehead. “Shut the fuck up.”

  I fall back to her waist as she spreads her legs. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Jovie moans softly the moment my tongue touches her inner thigh. I lower to my stomach, easing into place between them while I lick my lips. Her scent fills my nose and I yield to being nothing more than a slave to her pleasures until she sees fit to dismiss me.

  “Will…”

  I glance up as her breasts heave and her back arches. This view. It’s always been my favorite with her squirming hips and her pink cheeks. The way her belly tightens and her thighs tremble against my shoulders. I don’t stop. I penetrate her to moisten my tongue before attacking her clit, tracing firm and fast circles around it the way I know she likes it.

  She whimpers, quickly nearing climax. I retreat my tongue back, sliding it down to her inner folds, and wait for that disappointing twitch in her eyes. She bites her lip and squints right on schedule as she takes a calming breath away from the edge. I slowly count to three in my head, giving the wave enough time to settle down before creeping back up to her tender bud again.

  A sweat breaks along her brow. Every breath rattles her body from the inside out. She wants to come so badly but I won’t let her do it. Not until she begs me for it.

  Jovie Ross. My Jovie.

  And she knows it.

  “Will,” she moans my name again. “Make me come.”

  I reach up her body to feel her breasts and she grips my hands. Our fingers entwine even tighter with every purposeful move of my tongue. It hurts in all the right ways, fueling my desire until she lets out one final cry and releases me.

  She falls away with closed eyes but her body still reacts to every touch and caress of my hands, whether she wills it or not. Goosebumps ravage her skin. Moans echo from her throat. Moisture drips from between her thighs.

  I pull a condom from the drawer and fit it on, moving as fast as I can
in desperate need to feel her tightness again. I rub the tip along her sensitive clit, drawing another breathy moan as she opens her eyes and smiles for me.

  My knees always turned to jelly over that smile before. Now is no different.

  I slide inside of her and her eyes close again while her lips part. Pleasure courses through her body as her pussy clenches around me. Warm blood pumps through my loins, fueling my desire to fuck her. I lean over her, letting my hips work her in until I can’t go any deeper and we grind our bodies together. She caresses my chest and arms and back, her touch still weak but just as loving.

  “Don’t stop, Will,” she says, biting her lip.

  I smirk. “You mean like this?”

  I halt my thrust and drop my lips to her neck, teasing her as a laugh shakes her chest.

  “Oh, not cool…” She whines. “That felt so good.”

  I slide out of her and sit back on my knees. “Not as good as this will…”

  She yelps in surprise as I take hold of her and flip her onto her belly. I kiss the small of her back and lick along the edge of her spine all the way upward, pausing to leave a kiss here and there when the tickling causes her too much grief.

  She twists her head around to kiss me and I reach beneath her to clasp one hand on her neck. Just a gentle squeeze, though I know Jovie could take much more. I feel her pulse thumping against my fingers, along with the moan just begging to be released from behind her limp tongue.

  I align my cock with her slit and slide forward, letting her cheeks hug my shaft for a few playful outer strokes, reminding myself how tight and perfect her ass was before. She sighs, teased to the breaking point, while I clench my teeth in anticipation. I guide myself lower, aiming for the warmth between her thighs and I squeeze her neck a little more when I feel that tight cavern open for me.

  I take her with a few shallow, firm thrusts, relishing in the way her body submits to me; the way Jovie’s always submitted to me. I feel her tension sway and her trust swell. I can’t betray it and I never will.

  I loosen my grip on her and she settles onto the bed, once again turning her head to meet my kiss. She massages her tongue along mine as her lower half shifts upward to meet my thrusts, sending my cock just a little bit deeper each time. I grunt with pleasure as she does. I take her hand to hold on to something steady and safe and she squeezes my fingers to do the same.

  She comes first, her body shaking wildly as she whimpers and moans for me. I take her in my arms, enjoying the sudden deluge in her wetness until it’s too much for me handle.

  I come with her. Every muscle I have flexes while all of my blood flows to my groin. I choke on my breath, feeling as dizzy as I always do when coming for Jovie Ross.

  I fall onto my back and Jovie wastes no time curling up with me beneath my arm. She lays her head on my chest and closes her eyes, breathing softly as I hold her against me. Warm and safe. Watched and protected for another night.

  I’d be lying if I claimed that asking her to move in with me wasn’t a little selfish. If she’s here with me, then I know where she is. I know what she’s doing. I may not always know what she’s thinking but knowing the rest of it at least helps me sleep at night.

  Valentine’s Day is a few days away, after all.

  I’ll sleep better once it’s over.

  Chapter 29

  Jovie

  I’m pretty sure I’ve spent more time in this gymnasium over the last two weeks than I did in all four years of high school but it’ll all be worth it in the end.

  Just two more days and this will all be over. Forty-eight hours until the fruits of my labor are complete and I’ll, hopefully, be able to wake up on Wednesday morning to a few bright, smiling faces rather than the usual judgmental glances. Even if I change just one person’s mind about me. Just one pebble can create a ripple that reaches to the far edges of the pond. That’s all I need.

  The warm weather gave us a break and Coach Rogers has taken PE classes outside, allowing us to set up the stage and hang up the decorations a few days early. Music at these things usually blares over an old speaker from a scratchy CD but not this year.

  This year, it’s live. Thanks to me.

  Natalie, Claudia, and I stand in front of the stage, watching the third and final swing band play their audition set. The others sway with the music, shimmying and shaking their hips while I keep still and watch the musicians as they play.

  I hate dancing. But I like music. More than listening, I like watching it. Music, especially live, creates an invisible wave, like a pulsing gust of wind. You can feel it on your skin, seeping into the depth of you to shake and rattle your bones — but only if the musician really cares. Anyone can play a few notes. It takes an artist to play a song.

  Out of the three we’ve seen today, this band has convinced me the most. The sound is a little sloppier than the first band — far better than the second — but the musicians here are having the most fun out of all of them.

  Fun is kind of the point, after all.

  Natalie nudges my ribs, pulling me out of my muted trance and I smile to signal my enjoyment. The song ends and the instruments lower while the three of us break out in applause.

  The band leader stands up from his keyboard and wipes the sweat beneath the brow of his hat. “So, whaddya think?” he asks.

  Natalie and Claudia look at me, their eyes slightly twitching with nerves, as if their opinions aren’t valid until I give mine. It’s strange, to say the least. I’ve never been that girl before; the one everyone looks at first to set the trend.

  “That was excellent,” I say.

  Natalie nods with enthusiasm. “Ahh! It was awesome!”

  “So great!” Claudia adds.

  The band sighs with relief and a few of them exchange high-fives with each other. They must be new to the world of professional gigs but that just makes them a little more endearing.

  “In fact,” I say, “I think you’ve got the job.”

  His jaw drops. “Really?”

  I glance to the girls and they instantly fall in line, bobbing on their toes and smiling wide.

  “Yes!” Natalie says, stepping forward. “So, you’re available on Tuesday, right?”

  I ease away, letting her take care of the details with them as my insides rumble a little more in my chest. The rhythm lingers for several moments as I stand over the corner table with long ribbons that still need to be sliced for the streamers. For a second, I catch a phantom whiff of cigarette smoke and gin.

  One blink and it’s gone.

  Natalie’s squeal beside me brings me out of it. “Getting a band was such a good idea!” she says, staring at them across the gym as they pack away their instruments.

  I pick up a pair of nearby scissors. “Well, with a theme like this, you need live jazz.”

  “I can’t wait to see the look on Sara’s face when she realizes how right you were.”

  I chuckle. “You and me both.”

  “Okay…” She picks up the clipboard sitting on the table. “What else do we need to get done?”

  I glance around the gym. “Tonight, we needed to book the band…”

  “Check!” she says, scratching it off the list.

  “Finish hanging the streamers...”

  She flicks her pen again. “Almost check!”

  “Did you talk to Lucky about donating ice?”

  “This morning.” She nods, checking it off. “She’s having twenty bags dropped off an hour before the dance.”

  “Will that be enough?”

  “That was more than enough last year but the RSVPs this year are crazy,” she says.

  I shrug. “People must love USO stuff.”

  “Oh, it’s not the theme. People are freaking out because word kinda sorta got out that there’s going to be a band. Pretty sure the last instrument played around here was the organ at Maude Granger’s funeral last summer.” She nudges my ribs again. “You may just be the cupid who saved Valentine’s, Jovie.”

&
nbsp; “Really?” I ask, letting my grin take over.

  “Or they just want to see in person how badly the committee will screw up now that you’re on board. It’s a real toss-up.”

  My smile fades. “Yeah, that’s equally as probable.”

  “I’m kidding.” She chuckles for a second, then stops. “Sort of.”

  I trim another piece of ribbon and set the scissors down. “Okay, the band, streamers, ice… that just leaves pulling the last few tables out of the storage room beneath the stairwell and…” I groan, “finding myself a dress.”

  “And shoes!” She points a finger at me. “Never neglect the footwear.”

  “Okay, that just leaves tables, a dress, and shoes.”

  She flashes a wink. “And when are you squeezing in the quickie?”

  I blink. “The what?”

  Two thick arms wrap around me from behind.

  I yelp as my toes dangle several inches off the floor and my heart leaps from the sudden upward motion. I twist my head around to see his handsome face grinning at me and my pulse relaxes.

  “Will, what are you doing?” I ask, my voice echoing across the gym.

  He sets me back down but holds me close to kiss my cheek. “Five-thirty, right?” he asks. “We need to swing by your dad’s house for your stuff before he gets off his weekend shift.”

  “Oh, right…” I glance at the unfinished decorations. “We’re actually really swamped here. May have to do it some other time.”

  “Jove, either we pick up more of your clothes tonight or you have to learn how to use my washing machine,” he says.

  I shudder. “You mean it’s not just a big vibrating house that’s fun to sit on?”

  He smirks. “Not always.”

  “Boo.” I pout. “Well, if anyone can make fabric softener seem sexy, it’s you.”

  “Oh, just wait until I teach you about bleach. It’ll drive you crazy.”

  I laugh and reach for the scissors across the table but Natalie snatches them first.

  “Go,” she says, nodding toward the exit. “Claudia and I will finish hanging the streamers.”

  “You sure?” I ask.

  She shrugs. “There’s really not much left to do tonight and you two are bordering on so-cute-it’s-gross right now, so…” She waves her hands. “Go. Shoo. We’ll meet up here tomorrow night to make the finishing touches and then we’ll stay late to re-do the things that Sara doesn’t sign off on… which is always basically everything.”