Fake It 'Til You Break It(49)

Nico doesn’t say anything at first, but then hops down.

He nudges my knees open so he can step between them causing my inner thighs to rest against his ribs due to the added height of the stage.

A seriousness slides over his face and he holds my attention.

“You’re supposed to act like you want me. That is your job.”

After a moment I nod, reiterating what he said to me before, “Make people believe this.”

He shakes his head, reaching up to tuck a loose piece of my hair behind my ear.

“No?”

“No,” he confirms. “Not people.” He leans in skimming his nose across my cheek, his lips pausing at my ear. “Me. Make me believe it, D.”

Goosebumps spread across my arms, and his eyes fall as he notices, ever so slowly rising back to mine.

I’d be lying if I said they were caused solely from nerves.

Make him believe it, he said.

Why does it sound so enticing to try?

The challenge in it maybe, or the doubt I assume he has, that everyone will have soon when all they get from us is some middle school hand holding bullshit.

No way does Nico think I could possibly act so well that even he would believe we were an us. That’s where his challenge lies.

Or at least that’s what I tell myself when I drag my ass to the edge of the stage, my center pressing into his ribs, lips aligned with his, and wait.

There’s zero hesitation from Nico.

His hand shoots to the back of my neck, and an instant, low groan leaves him as he applies a heavy pressure to my mouth, one I feel between my legs.

My thigh muscles clench against him and his tongue attempts to pry my mouth open, but I tug away.

Holy shit my heart is beating like crazy, I’m pretty sure it’s visible through my shirt.

Nico frowns as he licks his lips, tasting mine on his skin and his hand lowers, now cupping my outer thighs.

There, we did it.

We kissed for our classmates to see.

For Alex to see.

For show.

Right?





Snack bag in hand, I drop beside Macy on the blanket. “Where are the girls?”

“They went to the vending machines to get us drinks really quick. Here.” She hands me a sub sandwich. “Trent’s mom dropped off a bunch of sandwiches for us.”

“Awesome.” I set it in my lap, pulling some pretzels from our bag while Macy chooses Hot Fries.

“Turkey and avocado, hold the cheese, Dem,” Trent shouts from where he and the boys are, a picnic table a few feet over.

I laugh, lifting it up in thanks.

Nico’s eyes tighten but when I tilt my head, not looking away, his lips twitch and he turns his attention back to his friends.

“You guys are so cute.” Macy smiles.

Krista and Carley walk up right then, lowering to the blanket.

“For you, my dear.” Carley sets a blue Gatorade in front of me.

“Thank you.”

Krista passes Macy a soda. “So.” She peeks toward the guys quickly. “I told you I’d find out, and I did.”

“Find out what?” Carley asks, filling her sandwich with potato chips.

“I found out why Nico and Josie broke up.” Her eyes cut to mine.

My muscles tense, but I try to hide it. “Tell me.”

Krista is a bit of a gossip mill, mainly just for us, but if she got the details, she made sure to confirm them first.

Her hesitation has me on edge.

“Out with it, Krista.” Macy rolls her eyes, tugging her mini jean jacket off.

Krista nods, leaning closer. “So you know how Nico and Josie had that fight at Trent’s bonfire over the summer?” She doesn’t wait for a response but keeps talking. “Apparently Nic found out Josie had fucked someone else.”

“But they’d broke up for the ten-thousandth time the week before that, right?” Carley asks.

My eyes slide to hers.

“Yeah, who cares.” Macy shrugs. “He can’t get mad after the fact.”

He can if he still has feelings for her and that’s what all this is really about.

Krista shakes her head. “The fight was because he found out the entire reason she broke it off with him when she did, was to try and hide that she fucked someone else earlier that morning.”

My mouth drops open. “Wait, so she cheated, then broke up with him right after, all so later she could claim it wasn’t cheating?”

“Exactly, she was hoping to play it off like she hoed-out after the split if he ever found out, when really she cheated, then broke up with him hours later.” Krista takes a quick bite of her sub. “I guess she showed up to the bonfire in the hopes of getting back with Nic, tried to use her planned excuse, but I guess he told her he knew what she did before she even broke it off with him. He was waiting for her to admit it.”

“And then he told her to fuck off,” Macy adds, remembering the tail end of the fight a large group of us happened to walk up on.

“Wow.” Carley chuckles. “Girl needs to have some class and stay away.”

“She needs to stay away period,” Macy snaps, then smiles all dreamy-like. “He’s Demi’s now.”

I give a tight chuckle, quickly covering it by taking a drink.

Krista eyes me and I slowly screw the lid back on the bottle.