Terrible Habits

Old Distractions.

I'm still a little wobbly, I had been hoping to sleep the day away, maybe even spend the night. I know that Marcus probably would have forgotten that I was even up here. I check the clock, it's only a few minutes after four. I haul the bag over my shoulder, stumbling under the weight of the clothes I shoved through its opening.

As I make my way down the staircase I can hear Marcus and his friends in the TV room. I feel my stomach flip, I had been hoping to evade the coming situation. There is a reason that I hadn't allowed myself to be at Hadley's house in a few years, too many temptations that I needed to avoid. If Marcus had the guys over, he was sure to be there and I felt my stomach flip imaging the last time I saw him. I swallow hard and walk confidently and quickly past them but I hear a whistle.

"Lenny?" I hear his enthusiastic voice echo from the other room. I slowly turn my head and force a smile on my face.

"Hi," I say, all their attention was away from the game and on me. "I was just leaving," I say and make my way towards the front door, praying that the cab I called was waiting for me.

"Wait," I hear his voice and out of the corner of my eye, I see him hop over the coffee table, closing the gap between us. Luckily Marcus and everyone's attention went back to the game.

I don't really have to look up to know who was standing in front of me, Baz. "How have you been?" he asks, a sparkle in his blue eyes. He is wearing a button up and khakis and I hate looking at him because he is the kind of perfect I had once adored. Blonde hair, blue eyes, heir to millions....

"Fine," I nod curtly and continue towards the door.

"Wait," he touches my arm to pull me back and I get goosebumps . "I haven't heard from you in a while," he keeps trying to make eye contact. "Everything good?"

"The absolute best," I reply sarcastically. I wasn't trying to be funny, I was trying to be short with him, but he laughs just the same and the way he smiles reminds me of my mistakes.

"I miss you," he says, stepping towards me, resting his hand on my arm. I am about to pull away from him when the front door opens and Hadley steps through.

She doesn't say anything, but her eyes immediately drift to Baz's retracting arm just as I step away. I watch her eyes narrow. She knows.

"Hattie," Baz steps forward and gives her a hug, she looks away from me and back to Baz, a beautiful smile enveloping her face. "How was the reception?"

"Very philanthropic," she responds sweetly, looking at me but I can hear the tone in her voice. She turns her gaze back to Baz. "Krista said you were working today." At the mention of Krista's name, my cheeks become stained pink and I look at the marble floor.

Baz had years of practice.

"I got off early, things were handled faster than anticipated," he responds quickly. I can barely detect his lie.

"Wonderful," Hadley smiles, "Do you mind if I talk to Eleanor for a minute?"

"Not at all," he steps back, retreating towards the TV room, his eyes still on me. "Great to see you Lenny," he says reminding me of the nickname he gave me all those years ago.

I return the smile, feeling my heart racing in my chest. I can't even bare to face Hadley, I can feel her stare boring down on me.

"What the hell are you doing here?" she says under her breath and I turn to face her. Her balayage brown hair is lying against her shoulders in perfect curls. She is accompanying her Lily Pulitzer dress with a pair of fresh pearls. "I told you to call first!"

"Well it may come as a shock to you, but maybe I didn't want to see you when I came to collect your last token of generosity," I hold up the check in my hand as her eyes flash to it. "Sorry Hadley, the whole world doesn't adore you," I turn to leave towards the main door.

"What, were you just going to grab my check, steal my clothes and get jacked on your old stash pills?" she crosses her arms over her chest. "Keep the check Len, but what are you going to do when that runs out? You are burning bridges left and right."

"At least I'm re-building new ones as I go."

She narrows her eyes, "Stay the hell away from Baz," she crosses her arms across her chest. She must see the recognition in my eyes at the mention of Baz's name.

"That's none of your business."

"Watch out Len, don't want to end up like Mom do we?" It would have been better if she slapped me across the face. I don't twitch. I don't want to give her the satisfaction.

"You don't know what the hell you're talking about," I say under my breath.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure your secret is safe for at least two years before I come clean," she shoves past me, leaving me behind. Two years, her words cut me deeper than she could ever know. But she doesn't know and never will. I turn around and watch Marcus envelopes her in a hug and kisses her as she giggles. I shake my head, trying to ignore her comments walk out the door and I climb into the cab.