Fake It 'Til You Break It(6)

My mom was bitter at first, even though she drove him away by never being happy with what he gave her, but she quickly decided she enjoyed blowing his alimony and child support checks better than she liked being his wife anyway.

Now that I’m old enough to basically care for myself, can drive, and no longer need her help with schoolwork, she’s living the years she lost – her words.

I know she loves me, and I love her, my dad too, really, but they’re both absent parents more than anything. My dad at least makes an effort where my mom is annoyed when she has to do motherly things, but I mean, I can’t complain.

It’s what most teenagers would kill for, freedom to do as we wish.

“Oh, and Demi.” My mom pulls the door open, her focus falling to my thighs as she says, “I’d say that’s enough carbs for you today.”

Wow.

I’m a fucking dancer, have been in hip-hop classes since I was five, what the hell does she expect? She should have put me in ballet if she wanted me to be a tighter stick, we work an entirely different set of muscles.

She goes to walk out but freezes mid-step, staring straight ahead.

What is she doing?

After a few seconds, a strong, heavy voice floats around the frame and into the house. “Ms. Davenport...”

Nico.

Nico!

My eyes widen, and I whip around to my friends, all who gape at me, Macy holding her hand over Krista’s mouth to block her laugh.

Macy whispers with a grin, “Aw shit, he’s playing the hot help me with my homework card I told you about.”

“Shut up!” I hiss back. “You know how she is!”

“She’s about to plan your wedding!” Macy wiggles her eyebrows.

“Or your departure to boarding school,” Krista adds.

Macy laughs. “Let’s bet!”

I shove her, making her fall over the edge of the couch.

“Go over there!” Carley whispers back hastily.

“No!” I gape at her, my eyes pointedly falling to my bikini.

“Here.” Macy tosses me her towel. “Go.”

I yank it from her hand with a frown, glancing toward the entryway again.

My mom, queen of the fakes and superficial as all hell, pulls out her old pageant smile.

I groan, quickly wrap the towel under my armpits and move closer.

I’m half a foot from the door when the towel is yanked away and I’m shoved forward.

I stumble toward my mom but catch my footing quickly.

My mom’s hand flies to her chest a moment before she composes herself, eyes wide and bright and settled on Nico, saying nothing at all.

I frown at her.

You’re really going to stand there silent and stare at him?

I move my scowl to Nico who doesn’t acknowledge my mother’s ridiculousness, but the corner of his eyes are stiff as hell.

“Hey.” He nods.

“What are you doing here?”

My mom gasps, a legit, mortified gasp for once, officially snapping out of her stupor. “Demi!” she scolds, apology in her tone – how dare her daughter not use her manners.

Cue eye roll.

“What?” I say innocently, annoyed that he showed up on the rare occasion that my mom is actually home. “He can’t be here, you’re leaving.”

“Oh.” My mom dismisses, flicking her wrist. “Don’t be silly. Your friends are always welcome, you know this. Besides, I’m sure I have nothing to worry about.”

Her digs are always coated in sugar, served with a bitchy smile, and left up to interpretation – is she saying he’s out of my league or I’m far from his?

The way her eyes continue to study him suggests she’s undecided, though I’m sure Nico isn’t coming to the same conclusion.

It’s funny, for someone who pushes me to be the best at everything and make the highest grade, you’d think it was because she wanted a big bright future for me so I’d never be in the position she was when my dad left her, when really it’s all about the bragging rights that come with the scholarly daughter she’s after.

I swear she’d marry me to the highest bidder with the prettiest face if she could.

“Nico, wow. It’s been some time.” She tilts her head slightly, taking him in more and I want to shake her. “You’re... all grown up.”

Oh my fucking god!

My eyes slice to hers.

I can’t even look at him.

“It has,” he agrees, his stare burning into my cheek.

“Well, it’s... very good to see you, and here, but if I don’t run, I’ll be late,” she announces, her eyes raking over Nico once more, before moving to me.

She gives me a bright smile, reaching out to give my arm a small squeeze that can only be taken as a good job.

I bite into my cheek as she squares her shoulders and moves down the driveway to her car, one foot in front of the other like she’s on a runway.

I force my expression to remain natural when really her boldness was so embarrassing, I’d rather slam the door in Nico’s face then stand here and make eye contact with him after that.

I take a small step back, glancing to the side to find the girls tiptoeing toward the slider, all three being assholes, mock sucking dick or flicking their tongues between their fingers as they disappear from sight altogether.