28. Maggie

CHAPTER 28

MAGGIE

I haven’t seen JT in almost a week. He had an away game and then I was deep in the study cave prepping for my exam. I had one free night, but of course my uncle kept them for an extra hour and by the time JT messaged that he was free, I was asleep.

I’m here in the library this morning hoping I can convince him to sneak off into the stacks with me. It’s foolish and desperate, but I don’t care. Our texting and sexting isn’t enough. I’ve had so much on my mind lately that I just need an hour in his arms for my world to feel right again.

I also need to come clean with him about some of the things that have me so stressed. Well, one thing, really.

I’m late. So late. But my periods have never been regular, and my boobs hurt like crazy today, so I’m totally sure Aunt Flo is on her way.

But if she isn’t…JT and I need to talk.

That’s hard to do, considering our schedules lately.

He’ll be at Uncle Hudson’s in a few days for Thanksgiving, but it’s not like we can talk then.

Today is our only shot, which is why I’m sitting at our favorite couch waiting for him. I might be a few minutes early but I’m nervous and sex-starved, so I’m giving myself a pass. I should probably crack open a textbook while I wait, or embark on another quest on the internet to see if stress can cause you to miss your period…

It can.

But it isn’t the only cause of a missed period.

Not helpful, internet.

Before I can work myself up into hysterics, I spot JT across the room. He’s got a brown paper bag and two white cups, and I could kiss him because I can smell the chocolate from here. And it smells good. It does not make me want to vomit. That’s good, right?

“Hey,” he says, setting his stuff down and taking the seat catty-corner to mine. We’re careful not to kiss in public. We do our best to look like two people who happen to be doing the same thing in the same place at the same time. I think we’ve gotten pretty good at it.

He slides the bag my way and I shoot him a smile. He opens his laptop while I grab my notes. A few minutes pass before a text comes through. I glance at my watch.

JT : I need to fuck you.

JT : Also, how are you? How was your day?

JT: Still need to fuck you.

Maggie : Same. And I also want to talk to you. There’s a lot on my mind.

JT : Count me in for fucking and talking. You pick the order.

Maggie: The thing is…how can we have a good conversation if our brains are lust-fogged?

Maggie : So, sex first is really the only answer.

JT : You make a good point.

JT : Rumor has it there’s a back room up here with a faulty lock. Feel like looking for microfiche with me?

Maggie : No clue what microfiche is, but yes.

JT : See the fake Ficus about twenty feet to your left ?

Maggie : Fakus spotted.

JT : In ten minutes, walk in that direction and turn right when you get to the bank of elevators.

I scan my surroundings, mapping my route just as he’s directing me to. Anyone looking on would think JT’s typing a paper and that I’m scrolling through my socials.

Maggie : Got it.

JT : There’s gonna be a coat closet on your left, and a door that says A/V on your right.

JT : Shit.

JT : Just

I stare at my watch trying to decipher his texts. I spare at quick glance at JT, but he’s too focused on his laptop screen to notice.

“Dude!”

The minute I hear Mickey’s voice, it all makes sense. I bite my lip to keep from laughing. We nearly got cockblocked by his bestie.

But when Mickey dumps his stuff on the table and takes the seat next to JT, my laughter dies.

He’s not actually joining us, is he?

“Dude. You said never said you were coming to the library. Now we can be study buddies. This is great. Because I have no fucking clue what the prof was talking about in Stats. Do you? That final is gonna be a bitch. Is this coffee?” he asks, reaching for my cup and taking a sip.

JT’s eyes go wide. “Jesus, Mick. That’s not my cup.”

Mickey makes a face and reaches for napkin. I have one, so I hand it to him.

“Holy fuckballs. That’s not coffee, it’s pure sugar. It’s like half a cup of chocolate syrup with a tablespoon of milk. That’s too sweet even for me. Is Theo on crack? Where the hell did you get that?”

“It’s not mine,” JT repeats, just as I wave my hand.

“Sorry, that’s mine. ”

Mickey stares at me for a long time. “Do your teeth hurt?” he asks.

“No,” I say with a laugh. “I may be addicted to sugar, but I’m really good about going to the dentist.”

“Good. Because…” he looks down at my cup. “It would be cheaper to just buy a bag of sugar and eat it with a spoon.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, thanks,” I say, before turning back to my work. I can’t help but share a look with JT, though.

We sit in silence for a while—well, JT and I are silent. Mickey’s not. When he finally takes a breath, JT intercedes.

“Dude, don’t you have class soon?”

“Nah, it was cancelled. Hey, are you gonna finish that?”

It takes me a minute to realize he’s talking to me and gesturing to my half-eaten muffin.

JT shakes his head. “Inside thoughts, man. You can’t just ask people for their food.”

“Right, right. Sorry,” Mickey says. I smile in return and share another knowing look with JT before forcing my eyes back to my textbook.

I’ve read two sentences when I hear a low whistle. “Hol-y. Shit. You two are fucking, aren’t you?”

It’s a good thing I’ve abandoned my drink or I’d be choking right now.

“Inside. Thoughts.” JT says before amending, “Also, what? No.”

Mickey’s eyes volley back and forth between us. “She’s Cinderella, isn’t she? You’re Cinderella,” he repeats, directing his statement at me.

I’m just staring back at him. My mouth refuses to form words.

“She’s Cinderella. Holy fuckballs. How’d you find her? I know you didn’t make her try on the shoe cause it’s still in your closet.”

JT does a doubletake. “What the— How do you…Do you just root around in my closet? ”

Mickey shrugs. “I needed a shirt. And that green henley really brings out my eyes.”

“What are you talking about? I’m pretty sure I don’t own a green henley.”

“Not anymore. It looks better on me. But it was in the wash so I went to borrow your blue one, but I couldn’t find it. I did find Cinderella’s busted shoe, though.”

“You have my shoe?” I ask, belatedly realizing my mistake.

JT blushes. “Just the one. You left it behind. I mean, yeah, it’s broken, but it would still cover the bottom of your foot, and I was worried you’d be walking back to campus barefoot so I may have grabbed your shoe and?—”

“And he searched all over campus like he was auditioning for a role on CSI: Bainbridge,” Mickey adds. “Nice to meet you, Cinderella. I’m the best friend, Brannon Mikalski. I’m on the hockey team with JT. I’m a defenseman. Most people call me Mickey. Some people call me Big— you know what? That’s an inside thought. I’m gonna keep that to myself.”

“You get a gold star, buddy,” JT jokes.

Mickey smiles broadly, then looks at me once again. I see the moment the lightbulb goes off and he recognizes me from when he stayed at Uncle Hudson’s last week.

“ You’re—” he sputters, then turns to JT. “She’s—Holy. Fuckballs,” he says with a whistle.

JT and I say nothing, because that about sums it all up.