Writing the Rules: A Fake Dating Standalone Mariah Dietz (best novels to read .txt) 📖

“Indifference or confusion?”

“He had a year to reach out to me and never did. He moved back here in August and didn’t reach out until October.” I say the facts that I’ve been avoiding.

“He’s not worth your time. Fuck jealousy.” He wraps his arm around my waist again and starts following them. I’m still chapters behind, unclear of the plan.

When we get to the kitchen, Pax fills two glasses with water, handing me one of them. Mike and Maddie are near the keg, sipping beer.

“Not partying tonight?” Mike asks, nodding to our cups.

Pax doesn’t respond, and neither do I, but Paxton’s hand returns to my waist, a secure, borderline possessive hold on my skin. “The night’s still young,” Pax finally says.

Maddie smiles.

“I’ve heard you know how to party,” Mike says, eyes locked on Pax.

My jaw juts forward, offense coursing through me. Is he really going to bring this up here? Now? He doesn’t even know the situation, wasn’t here to see any of it. “We should go,” I say. “There’s a lot of people we need to say hi to before we leave.”

Paxton takes a drink, unmoving. “Rumors are so much better than the truth most of the time,” he says, giving a casual shrug. “That’s why I always work to learn both. Was the guy just faced with an impossible decision, or was he a spineless, dickless tool who ghosted because that was easier for him?”

He’s talking about Mike, and all of us know this except for Maddie whose brow is furrowed with confusion before she looks at me for clarification like this might be an inside joke or Brighton rite of passage.

I take a long drink from my cup.

“Good seeing you guys again,” Pax says. He finishes his drink and tosses it into the trash, then places both hands on my waist, his hips pressing against my back before he leads me away.

We pass through more people who greet us and others who don’t—those who don’t have any idea who we are, are becoming my favorite people.

I nearly trip when I catch the icy stare of Candace. She’s watching us from across the room, Derek Paulson at her side. I don’t know if it’s her glare or the fact that I hate Derek just as much as Pax does, but I twist in Paxton’s grasp so our chests brush. “Candace is here with Derek.”

His jaw flexes, another small reminder that he cares. His gaze darts to the side, finding them easily in a look so causal I doubt they notice him looking. I’m about to ask him how we should navigate the situation when he kisses me. My eyes are still open, my hands loose at my waist. His blue eyes open a fraction, and his hands press against me, a tiny growl of impatience in his throat for my slow reaction. He nips at my bottom lip and pulls my hips flush against his, the movement a flex of his strength that distracts me further. I close my eyes and wrap my hands around his shoulders, feeling the strength of each muscle. He makes another warning growl of impatience, kissing me harder, his lips reminding me of the rules until I stop thinking about his muscles and the room and the party and how Mike will act next week in class. When I match his pace, his tongue demands more as he parts my lips. His breaths are all that I hear, as I focus on each hiss and moan as we explore each other’s mouths, his taste on my tongue. I bury my hand into the hair at the back of his head, marveling at how soft it is as his mouth possesses mine. Then, his teeth nip my bottom lip, urging me to memorize the rules and push them to the farthest extent as his hand brushes down my side, leaving a trail of heat that is quickly followed by goosebumps.

We kiss until I’m breathless and my body is so hot I need to take off my sweater. Until I think I need a cigarette to commemorate the moment though I’ve never smoked before in my life. My hair is tangled around my earrings from his hands running through the strands, and my body feels a thrill of excitement and something heavy and restless.

“I see a couple of guys from the team. We should go say hi.”

“I need to use the restroom really fast,” I say.

He nods. “Want me to wait outside?”

I shake my head. “I’m good. I’ll catch up with you in just a few.” Once my heart stops racing, and I don’t want to keep staring at your mouth, that is.

His hands slip from me, and he walks away. I pull off my sweater, but it’s still a thousand degrees in here. I weave through the crowds, finding the front door and feeling a sigh of relief hit me as I step out into the cold night. My lungs protest the wintry temperature, but my skin rejoices. I have a thin layer of sweat over me, my cheeks likely heated and rosy.

“Nice try,” Candace’s voice makes me jump.

“Sorry?”

“You tried really hard not to look so virginal, but nobody bought it.”

I snicker. “I wasn’t trying to impress anyone or convince them of anything.”

She sneers. “Enjoy my leftovers. I hope you know that when you finally let him in your pants, it’s going to be me he’s thinking about.” She stalks off, looking like a runway model with each jaunt of her hips.

I feel rattled, and there’s still a restlessness coursing through me.

I head inside and search for Pax, wanting to push this agenda farther and kiss him again.

But when I find the team, I don’t find Paxton. I search for him, wandering through the kitchen and into the backyard, but he’s nowhere to be found. I check my phone to make sure he didn’t call or text me, asking me to meet him somewhere, but