In Love: Against All Odds

A Not-So-Subtle Jealousy Crisis

Jealous – Nick Jonas 😤🔥
"I still get jealous..."

----

Patrick wasn't exactly being subtle.

I wasn't even trying to pay attention to him—I really wasn't—but dude was making it hard not to.

The moment I laughed at something Flynn said, Patrick's head snapped toward us like a hawk spotting prey. And when Flynn leaned in slightly to explain a fabric detailing technique, Patrick's jaw tensed so hard I thought he might break a tooth.

Was he... jealous?

No way.

But then it happened.

Patrick, in his hyperfocused rage over whatever perceived betrayal he was cooking up in his head, completely zoned out while working on his sketch. And when Theodore passed by, looking over his shoulder, he did a double take before bursting into laughter.

"Dude." Theo pointed at Patrick's sketchpad. "What is that?"

Everyone turned to look.

Patrick, who had been aggressively shading, froze. He glanced down at his sketch—his entire page was covered in the word "FLYNN" instead of actual designs.

Silence.

Adri was the first to lose it. "NO WAY." She wheezed, doubling over. "YOU JUST—OH MY GOD—"

Flynn blinked, looking mildly disturbed. "Uh... Patrick? Are you okay, man?"

I clamped a hand over my mouth, trying so hard not to laugh. Patrick's entire face turned red as he slammed his sketchpad shut.

"It was a mistake," he muttered, avoiding eye contact.

"Yeah," Theo smirked. "A Freudian mistake."

Natalie, never one to let things slide, grinned. "Damn, Patrick, didn't know you were thinking about Flynn that much."

Patrick groaned. "Shut up."

Adri was still laughing. "I can't breathe—"

Flynn, meanwhile, patted Patrick on the shoulder, clearly enjoying this way too much. "Hey, man, if you wanted to write my name all over your stuff, you could've just asked."

Patrick immediately ripped the page out and crumpled it, throwing it across the room. "Can we move on?"

But, of course, no one was letting him live this down.

Adri turned to me, still breathless. "This is so embarrassing for him, but also... iconic."

I smirked. "Yeah. Karma works fast, huh?"

Patrick, still glaring, looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole.

And that was before Flynn opened his mouth again.

"So, Patrick," Flynn said casually, stretching in his seat. "You went to the same university as Adri and Kat, right?"

Patrick hesitated. "Yeah...?"

Theo raised an eyebrow. "Wait, then why didn't you tell us earlier?"

Adri, deadpan: "Y'all didn't ask."

Theo groaned. "Seriously? That's your excuse?"

Flynn, clearly still riding the chaos wave, leaned forward. "Wait, Patrick—if you were in the same uni as Adri and Kat, then you must know about Kat's ex."

Adri immediately went into panic mode. "Uh, Flynn—"

But he was already rolling. "Adri told me her past love story was tragic. Like, dude, her high school boyfriend cheated when she was in college. And then the next guy she dated? His parents trashed her, and he didn't even defend her." Flynn shook his head, clearly disgusted. "Weakest man alive, honestly."

Patrick went completely still.

Adri shot me a nervous glance before attempting damage control. "Okay, but—"

Flynn cut her off. "Nah, there's no but! You literally told me this guy didn't give a single damn about Kat. Like, imagine your own parents saying trash about your girlfriend and you just stand there like a potato?"

I cleared my throat, uncomfortable as hell. "Guys, maybe—"

Patrick finally spoke, his voice tight. "People make mistakes, Flynn."

Flynn scoffed. "Yeah, huge ones. If I ever meet that dude, I'd beat him."

Adri, clearly desperate, blurted out, "But he was a good guy!"

Flynn whipped around, his eyes narrowing into sharp slits. "You were the one who said he didn't care about her."

Adri stiffened, her throat bobbing as she turned to Patrick, her expression pleading. I didn't say those things. She mouthed the words only to him, her gaze almost begging for him to understand.

But Patrick's fists clenched at his sides, his jaw tight with anger. His glare bore into her like a silent accusation—You said it.

Adri's face twisted in distress, eyes flickering with regret. She hadn't expected Flynn to throw her words right back at her. Not like this. Not here.

And that was my cue to shut it down.

"Okay, enough," I cut in, my voice sharper than I intended. "Let's not have this conversation in the middle of the office, yeah?"

Flynn, still fuming, threw up his hands. "Fine. But I stand by what I said. Weakest man alive."

Patrick stayed silent. Adri looked like she was about to pass out. And me? I was just praying for the day to be over.

---

Back at the apartment, I barely had time to throw myself onto the couch before turning to Adri.

"Okay," I said, voice exasperated. "What the hell was that?"

Adri winced. "Listen, I didn't mean for it to blow up like that—"

"You told Flynn about Patrick?" I groaned, rubbing my temples. "Dude, what happened to keeping it lowkey?"

She threw up her hands. "I didn't name drop! How was I supposed to know Flynn would start dragging Patrick without knowing it was him?"

I sighed. "Obviously you didn't, but now it's a whole thing. Patrick looked like he was gonna explode."

Adri hesitated before mumbling, "Do you... think he still has feelings for you?"

I blinked. "What?"

She gave me a look. "Kat. He was jealous. He literally wrote Flynn's name like a crazy person all over his notes and then sat there looking like a lost puppy the entire day."

I frowned, thinking back to the weird energy Patrick had been giving off. "That doesn't mean anything."

Adri raised an eyebrow. "Doesn't it?"

I groaned again, flopping back onto the couch dramatically. "It doesn't matter. Even if he does, it's too late."

Adri sighed, sitting next to me. "Yeah, but if I'm right, it's gonna be a lot harder to avoid him now."

I didn't respond. Because, honestly? She wasn't wrong.

And that was the worst part.

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