summary: it's normal to go back to your ex time and time again. everyone's done it. what isn't normal is to go back to your ex when you're dating his best friend who doesn't know about your past.
wc: 1.4k
cw: cheating (on art with patrick)
“Tashi, which phot-oh” You cut yourself off at the sight of Patrick sitting at Tashi’s desk chair, freezing in the doorway. He’s fully man spreading, and Tashi seems to be rolling her eyes at something he’s saying. “Never mind.” You sigh, turning off your phone and slipping it back into your pocket. Tashi straightens up at the sight of you, and she waves you over from where she sits on her bed. You sigh, walking into the dorm and joining Tashi on her bed. You feel Patrick’s heavy eyes on you as you join Tashi on the bed, but you don’t look his way, sliding your phone out of your pocket again.
“What were you saying?” Tashi asks, but you shake your head. “Not while Patrick’s in the room.”
Patrick rolls his eyes gesturing wildly with his arms. “Come on, I’m basically one of the girls.” You squint your eyes at him, glaring as you retort “You absolutely are not one of the girls.”
Tashi rolls her eyes. You and Patrick are the reason the four of you in the friend group never hang out together. Of course, you’ll spend half your time with Art, your boyfriend, and half your time with Tashi, your best friend, but you and Patrick can’t stand each other. Supposedly. Only you and Patrick really know why you can’t be in the same room.
“I’m going to run to the bathroom.” Tashi says, slipping off her bed.
“I’ll come with you!” You instantly cry, hopping off the bed, but she puts a firm hand on your shoulder, blandly stating “The two of you can survive five minutes together. I’ll be back.”
You swallow thickly as Tashi walks out of the room, and you turn on your phone to distract yourself, attempting not to glance at Patrick. “What, can’t even look at me?” He asks teasingly, and you lift your eyes from your phone just to stare at him. He rolls the chair closer to you, and you inhale sharply as he lifts a hand up to your waist. “Come on, what were you gonna ask Tashi?” Patrick asks, nodding his head towards your phone.
“I was going to ask her which photo I should send my boyfriend.” Your glare clearly doesn’t faze Patrick, who grins widely, asking “Which naked photo, right?”
Patrick makes a move to grab your phone, but you snatch it back before he gets that opportunity. “Let me take a look.” He commands softly. You sigh, turning on your phone and flipping over to your camera roll. You click on the first photo, turning the phone towards Patrick. He takes the phone from you, patting his thigh. You glance up towards the door once before sitting down. Like second nature, Patrick’s arm wraps around your waist. He smirks at the photo, humming to himself. “See? Not naked.” You argue, and Patrick squeezes your waist. Sure, you’re not naked, but all you’re wearing in the photo is the flimsiest pair of panties Patrick has seen in his life.
It’s a mirror photo taken in a fancy bathroom, and you’re leaning against your arm in a doorway to pose your body, one hand draped on the door frame, the other one holding your phone to capture the camera. Patrick swipes his thumb against the screen, and he chuckles, the sound deep in his chest. You’re much closer to the mirror in this one — one of your knees propped up on the counter next to the sink, one hand resting on the marble in front of your body. “I think…” Patrick starts, swiping back and forth between the two. “That you should send them both to me.” Patrick selects both the photos, but you snatch your phone back, scolding him as you say “And what he finds them on your phone?”
Patrick grumbles, both hands flying to your hips as you begin standing again. He pulls you back down onto his lap, and you turn to look at him with an annoyed expression. “Give me a kiss first and I’ll let you up.” You sigh, tilting your head to the side. Patrick smiles when you lean forward to peck his lips quickly, immediately standing up and climbing onto the bed again when you pull away.
“You know this has got to stop, Patrick.”
“Why does it have to stop when I had you first?” You huff at his response, glancing down at your phone. You and Patrick were long over when you met Art, and you had been surprised to discover that they were best friends, because what were the chances? Of course, you and Art were already romantically involved when you found out his best friend Patrick was your Patrick. Your favourite ex Patrick. Patrick, who you had agreed not tell any of your friends about when you were together so you could just enjoy each other’s company, and who you agreed with not to tell Art about your past when you first rekindled.
But of course, seeing your ex-boyfriend after a long time causes feelings to resurface. It wasn’t even one month into your relationship with Art that you and Patrick relapsed into each other. The worst part was that you couldn’t even excuse the hookup on alcohol. Art had pleaded you and Patrick to spend some quality time together to hopefully improve your relationship, and quality time did you have. Very exciting, sweaty, naked quality time. Patrick had remembered every detail about your body, and he had almost cried when you remembered his, but when all was said and done, you promised for it to never happen again.
Obviously, you were unsuccessful, but you’re happy with Art. And Art is happy with you.
The door to the dorm opens and closes again. Tashi sighs when she enters, looking between the two of you. “Have you two been sat in silence the entire time?”
“You said we can survive each other, you didn’t say we have to enjoy each other.” You argue, and you feel your face go hot when Patrick smirks at your works. “Enjoy each other.” He repeats with a scoff, still able to feel the softness of your lips on his.
“I knew this was where everyone was hidden!” Comes a new voice, and you grin widely when Art enters the room, coming into your sight as he walks past Tashi’s wardrobe.
“Hi baby.” You greet, and Art instantly makes his way towards you.
“Woah woah woah, respect the rule.” Tashi snaps, and you slowly slide off her bed, walking towards art, who slides his hands around your waist the second you’re close enough.
“It’s funny you have a rule that they can’t be on your bed at the same time when we’ve never seem them do anything more than kiss.” Patrick comments as you wrap your arms over Art’s shoulders. Art scoffs at his best friend’s words, then leaves down to kiss you slowly, just to make a point. You giggle against your boyfriend’s lips, hands smoothing down his chest. “Was looking for you all day.” Art mumbles in your ear, and you tilt your head to the side, saying “I thought you had class all day?”
“They kept being cancelled.” You frown softly, bringing your hands to cup your boyfriend’s face. “I’m sorry baby, I didn’t realise.”
Art smiles at you, nodding his head towards the door, and you immediately nod in agreement. “Okay, we’ll see you guys around!” You call out, letting your boyfriend guide you out of your room.
Twenty minutes later, when you’re sat in Art’s dorm while he goes to the bathroom, you check your phone, opening a message from Patrick. It reads: If you’re not satisfied, you know where to find me tonight. You shuffle on the bed, licking your lips. You turn off your phone, flipping onto your side, but you’re quick to turn it on again, quickly typing ‘10pm?’
Patrick smirks when he sees your message, his heart beating stronger in his chest when he gets a notification that says ‘2 attachments’. He opens the messages as quick as he can, immediately saving the photos you’ve sent him. In less then twenty seconds, they’re deleted, and so are your previous messages. Patrick deletes the message he sent too, both of you erasing your tracks.
Either way, Patrick knows he’ll find you knocking on his door in a few hours.
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