Bad Habits Box Set

by Staci Hart

  “Hey, y’all,” she said as she walked up, her Mississippi accent heavy. The second our eyes met, the flush in her cheeks deepened.

  The Smile was one hundred percent unplanned.

  Everyone said hello as she took a seat next to me. She was only a few feet away from me, but it felt like a million miles.

  “Maker’s and ginger?” Rose asked with a smile.

  I admired Maggie’s profile as she smiled right back. “That’d be great, Rose. Thanks.”

  She turned on her stool to face everyone and hooked a boot in the leg of my chair. I couldn’t even look at her or my cover would be blown — my face would give me away.

  “It’s quiet in here tonight for a Saturday.”

  “Don’t remind me,” Rose groaned.

  “Oh, I’m sure you’ll get busy later, right?”

  “Probably,” she said as she handed Maggie her drink. “But I’m already in lax-mode.”

  “What’s that?” Maggie asked and took a drink.

  “Where you get lazy because you’re slow and start thinking about going home. So then when you actually do get busy, everything crashes because you were checked out. It’s all about the zone.” She tapped her temple.

  Maggie laughed. “I’d be the worst waitress ever. I can’t multi-task to save my life.”

  West smiled over at her “That’s true. I once watched her try to unload the dishwasher while she cooked dinner.”

  “Burned dinner,” she added.

  West chuckled and picked up his drink. “Lily said you’ve got a couple of leads on a job? We wouldn’t want Rose to feel obligated to give you one after learning your fatal flaw.”

  “Funny, Weston.” Maggie smiled and rested an elbow on the bar. “I found a couple of things today that I’m real excited about. Only a few at schools — the rest are charity outreach programs. I’m just so ready to get back to working with kids again. I only had a solid year of teaching before … well, before everything blew up. But I miss my Kindergartners.” She sighed. “I’ll see what happens this summer. Maybe I’ll end up back in a classroom after all, but I’m excited at the prospect of charity work.”

  I wanted to ask her about her job search and felt guilty for not asking when I’d seen her earlier. Not that Maggie was overly interested in talking. I smiled to myself, considering ways I could go about changing that.

  “Good,” West said. “Seemed like you were gettin’ bored.”

  “Maybe a little. I don’t know if I’ll ever see everything I want to see in New York, but I put a big ol’ dent in it. And I never thought I’d get through the pile of books on my tablet, but I did. It’s a terrifying, hollow feeling to have an empty to-be-read pile, I’ll tell you that much. I feel like my bookshelves are empty.”

  West raised an eyebrow. “Get real books and you won’t have that problem.”

  Lily laughed and made a face at him. “No, you’ll have an entirely new problem — where the hell to put all your books.”

  “Yeah, West still hasn’t figured out the answer to that.” Patrick raised his glass to me. “Didn’t expect to see you at Habits tonight, Coop.”

  I spun in the stool and leaned back against the bar, hanging my arm next to Maggie’s, feeling the small distance between us like it was tangible. “I was in the neighborhood. Figured I’d stop in and see what you guys were doing.”

  Patrick smirked. “It’s Saturday — don’t you have some club opening or penthouse party to go to?”

  “Right?” Lily added, her blue eyes bright. “Fun, fancy, rich people stuff.”

  I shrugged. “I haven’t decided yet. Keeping my options open.”

  “Oh, the high life.” Lily took a sip of her water. “Astrid’s around too. We came to meet her.”

  I saw Maggie stiffen in my periphery before she took a long pull of her drink.

  See, Astrid was my ‘girlfriend,’ which is in air quotes because the entire thing was a cover. Lily’s older sister and I had a long-standing arrangement. We’d dated at one point, but it never went anywhere because a) I’m a terminal bachelor and b) she met Sam. He’d been burned by the media and was a part of the social elite, but after what he went through, he wanted out. And Astrid was definitely in — an ‘it girl’ model who’d been living The Life since she broke out at eighteen.

  So Astrid and I kept ‘dating’ to throw their scent off of Sam. We met a few nights a week at hot spot clubs and restaurants and appeared together whenever we had an event to attend — all in an attempt to keep the rumor mill spinning. I had full permission to see anyone I wanted on the side, so I did, which kept people buzzing with speculation that I was stepping out on her.

  It was one of our favorite jokes.

  Astrid was my unlikely confidant, one of the only people who I could trust with anything and everything. She knew about Maggie and was the only one of our friends who really got what it was like to live The Life. We were both in the same place, and she understood the pressure that came with everyone knowing who you were. It was a relief to have someone who I could be completely honest with in a world centered around wearing masks.

  Maggie knew Astrid and I were a show, which was more than the rest of our friends knew. They at least thought Astrid and I hooked up, and we let them. In fact, I encouraged it. It was too easy, and Astrid needed my help. She hadn’t even told Lily — she was just too scared to lose Sam. She’d been hiding him for a long while, and she’d keep doing it or risk losing him. But I didn’t think Maggie fully believed me when it came to the ruse with Astrid. In fact, I didn’t think Maggie believed much of what I said.

  It was my own fault. I’d built the image over years, through the course of my adult life. It was what everyone thought, and that was how I liked it. But who knew what West had told her. Probably recounted the worst stories in his arsenal, and he had a cache that could take down my love life indefinitely.

  I was still lost in thought when the door opened once again and Astrid walked through, tall and skinny like all the models I knew, dressed mostly in black with her blond hair twisted into a sloppy knot. She smiled and took a seat at the far end of the bar next to Lily.

  “Hey, guys. Hey, Coop.”

  I winked at her and raised my glass.

  Maggie tipped her drink back until it was empty and set the glass on the bar top. Her cheeks were pink, though she smiled warmly at Rose, avoiding eye contact with me. “Can I get another?”

  “Sure,” Rose answered, not seeming to notice Maggie’s discomfort.

  I made myself look away, but I couldn’t stop my smile. She always got weird around Astrid, which shouldn’t have made me feel like a boss. But it did. I took a sip of my scotch.

  Lily turned to Astrid. “What are you doing over here?”

  “I was just nearby and wanted to say hi.”

  Lily rolled her eyes. “God, do you guys just wander around New York all day doing nothing?”

  I snickered. “Sometimes.”

  She shook her head at me before hooking her arm in West’s. “I can’t wait until this summer when we have a little time. I usually hate the end of the season. After working so much, a break is weird, like slamming on the brakes when you’re going a hundred miles an hour, so I usually end up at the theater every day anyway. But this year, I’m looking forward to it.”

  West looked down at her and smiled. If they’d been cartoons, little pink hearts would have been floating between them. “We might go to Mississippi at some point to see Mom and Dad.”

  “I really want to go to the beach, too.” She perked up. “Ooooh, could we go sailing, Coop? Maybe go up to the Hamptons?”

  “Sure,” I answered. “Just say when.”

  Lily looked to Maggie. “You’ve got to go sailing, Maggie. It’s my absolute favorite thing about summer, lying on the boat all day in the sun, the salty air, the sea — it’s amazing. And Cooper has a beach house in the Hamptons like a good rich boy.” She sighed. “I could stay there forever.” She eyed me, suddenly very serious an
d with a hint of authority. “Promise, Cooper?”

  I thought of Maggie on the porch of the Hampton house at sunrise with nothing but my tailored shirt on, and I smiled. “Promise.”

  “When does the ballet season end?” Maggie asked Lily.

  “At the end of May this year, sometimes at the beginning of June. We always perform A Midsummer Night’s Dream as the last show of the season. You guys should come.”

  “I’d love to,” Maggie said. “Maybe West can be my date.”

  “Or we could all go.” I took a sip of my scotch and glanced at her over the rim of my glass. A small smile played at the corner of her lips.

  “We should definitely all go,” Rose chimed in. “We don’t go to the ballet together enough.”

  Patrick smiled at her. “No, we don’t.”

  “Well,” Lily said, “I’ve got tickets with everyone’s name on them.”

  “Oh, Cooper,” Astrid said, “speaking of tickets — a courier dropped off my invitation to the Met Gala earlier today. Tell Jules I said thanks.”

  “I’ll let her know you got them.”

  Lily perked up. “I’d almost be willing to date Cooper if it meant getting to go to the Met Gala.”

  I snorted.

  “What’s the theme this year?” Lily asked.

  Astrid leaned forward, looking like a girl. “It’s called Spellbound: From Fairytale to Fashion, and I have this idea for my dress, but I don’t know if I’m going to be able to talk someone into designing it for me.”

  Maggie was drinking again. I watched her, hoping she’d look at me, but I had no such luck.

  “Oh, man I want to go so bad. Some day.” Lily sighed. “I can’t wait to hear about the exhibits.”

  Astrid grinned and touched her arm. “Come dress shopping with me next week. I’ve got appointments with Givenchy and John Galliano. You know you want to see the inside of their boutiques.”

  Lily’s eyes stretched wide. “Uh, yes, please.”

  Maggie set down her empty glass with a clink and dug her phone out of her bag. She glanced at it for a brief second and turned to the rest of us with a smile I didn’t buy. “My mom just texted me and needs me to call, so I’m gonna run.” She laid some cash on the bar and stood.

  Lily frowned. “You just got here.”

  West was frowning too. “Is Mom okay?”

  Maggie waved a hand. “Oh, I’m sure she’s fine, just a dry cleaning emergency or something silly. I’ll see you guys later.”

  Her eyes connected with mine only once before darting away, cheeks flushing as she turned and walked out.

  My brow dropped, and I slammed the rest of my scotch. “I think I’ll head out too.”

  “Good,” Astrid said with her eyes on me. “I’ll come with you.”

  Lily huffed. “God, everyone wanted to hang out, and now you’re all leaving.”

  Rose looked desperate as she pointed at Lily and West. “You two can’t leave too. What the hell will I do all night?”

  “Don’t get into any trouble.” I chuckled as I stood.

  “Have a good night, you guys,” Astrid added.

  “You too, I guess,” Lily pouted.

  “Bye, sister.” Astrid kissed her on the cheek, waving at Patrick and West before heading for the door.

  I held it open for her, and we stepped onto the sidewalk as I texted my driver.

  Astrid watched me. Eyed me, really. “What’s up?”

  I shrugged and slipped my phone into my pocket. “Not much. What’s up with you?”

  She rolled her eyes and smiled. “Nice try, asshole.”

  “Nothing’s up.”

  “I didn’t know you’d be at Habits,” she prompted as we passed under a street light.

  “It wasn’t planned. I was at Maggie’s and ran into West and Lily on the way out.”

  “Close call.”

  “Not as close as when Lily came home and I had to hide in the closet.”

  A surprised laugh shot out of her, and she gaped at me. “Dangerous, Coop.”

  “Trust me, I know.” We stepped up to the curb where Bobby had just pulled up in my black Mercedes. I opened the door for Astrid. “Sometimes going over to her place is the only way I can see her, and I wanted to see her.”

  She slipped into the car. “It’s not that simple. If Lily had caught you—”

  “I know, Astrid.” I climbed in after her and closed the door with a thump. “Hey, Bobby. Could you take us home, please?”

  He nodded at me in the rearview. “Sure thing, Cooper.”

  Astrid dug around in her purse for her phone. “I mean, it’s not like I’ve never seen you act recklessly before, but this is next-level. Even for you. What’s it been now, two weeks?”

  I leaned against the door. “Ever since we all went to Noir.”

  “I don’t know how you ever convinced her. I was certain she was one hundred percent anti-Cooper.”

  I smirked at her. “No one’s one hundred percent anti-Cooper.”

  “Well, she was at least a steadfast eighty percent.”

  I chuckled. “I don’t know how it happened. There was just this moment when Tricky was hauling West out of the club, and I just … I don’t know. It sounds crazy.”

  She raised an eyebrow and folded her hands on top of her bag. “Try me.”

  I thought back to that moment at the club, her small face turned up to mine, eyes wide and open. “When she looked at me, I just knew she was all I wanted that night. But it was more than just that …” I said, half to myself. “It happened that way the first time, too, at her reception. It was like deja vu.”

  “I still can’t believe that you hooked up with her on her failed wedding night.”

  My brow dropped. “She was hurting, put on a brave face and found a way to get through what had to be one of the worst nights of her life. She needed an escape. I was her getaway car.”

  She sighed. “I know. I mean, I get it — I probably would have banged you too if I’d just caught my fiancé nailing my maid of honor. Rebound sex is satisfying in its own right.”

  I shook my head.

  “Sometimes you just need sexual healing. Does she know you’re seeing other people too?”

  “I’m not.”

  She gave me a look. “What do you mean, you’re not?”

  “It’s part of the rules.”

  Astrid pressed her lips together to stifle a smile. “How long have you been … monogamous?” She busted out laughing and waved her hand at me. “Oh, my God. I can’t even say that without laughing, Coop. What the fuck?”

  I rolled my eyes. “It’s temporary.”

  She let out a satisfied breath and shook her head. “I cannot believe you agreed to these rules.”

  “She might have suggested I wouldn’t be able to do it.”

  “I’m with her.”

  “Clearly you’ve never seen me when I’ve put my mind to something.”

  She watched me with a know-it-all smile on her pretty face. “So what I’m hearing is that it’s just a game to you.”

  “I like playing the game with her. It’s not a big deal. I’m having fun. She’s having fun. Why mess with a good thing?”

  “Because your best friend will murder you.” Her smile fell a hair. “Are you sure you can handle this?”

  “Of course I can. I’ve got it under control.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “Do you?”

  “I do.”

  She made a face like she knew better.

  “West isn’t going to figure it out.”

  “What if you end up liking her? What if she wants more? What if you want more? What then?”

  I laughed again to cover for the fact that I didn’t have an answer. “What’s this more you speak of?”

  Astrid rolled her eyes and looked out the window, smirking. “God, Cooper. Don’t you take anything seriously?”

  “Not if I can help it.”

  3

  THE LIFE

  Maggie

&
nbsp; WITHIN MINUTES OF WALKING THROUGH the door, I was dressed in as much elastic and jersey as possible. My insane hair was tied in a little ponytail on top of my head, and I scowled at myself in the bathroom mirror as I slathered on an avocado mask.

  If I was going to spend Saturday night alone, I was going to do it right.

  I’d gotten all dressed up and paraded down to Habits to see Cooper, just like he’d asked, and then Astrid showed up all, Ooh, look at me, I’m so pretty and tall and know a million designers. Not that it mattered. Because it didn’t. Cooper wasn’t mine, and he wasn’t even dating Astrid.

  Technically.

  He said.

  I wrinkled my green nose at my reflection as I washed my hands. I looked like the Wicked Witch of the West. Green was appropriate because I wasn’t fooling anybody. I was jealous as hell.

  I took a swig of my bourbon — because you know the first thing I did was make a drink — and headed into the living room with a makeup bag full of nail polish.

  Doin’ it right, y’all. Doin’ it right.

  I flopped down on the couch and turned on the TV, scrolling through the movies saved on the DVR until I landed on my favorite movie. Mean Girls always made me feel better. I sighed and dug through the bag, lining up the tiny glass containers in a row.

  I was so annoyed, I was even annoying myself. I didn’t know what I expected going down there. I mean, he’d just left here, and I was sure he had some fancy plans. He probably didn’t even want to hang out with me. In fact, he was probably on his way to some club where he could hang out with socialites and actresses who were charming and beautiful and — dammit, I was jealous all over again. As if I’d ever stopped.

  I picked up a hot pink nail polish and sighed. Passion fucking Pink it is.

  The movie was already going, and I felt a little better when Regina George made her appearance. I was like Cady, and Cooper was like Aaron Samuels. And Astrid was Regina, obviously. Except she wasn’t anything like Regina. In fact, Astrid really was a decent human.