Fake It 'Til You Break It(70)

Trent meets my eyes in the rearview mirror. “Dem? You good with that?”

I pop a shoulder. “Go for it. This day sucks as it is, can’t possibly get worse.”

Nico shakes his head, tears his arm from around me and lets it fall to his lap. He scowls out his window the entire twenty minute drive to Downtown Daisy, the small diner in town and the only place open around the clock.

We’re seated almost instantly, choosing the open picnic area on the back lit patio instead of in the main room.

Krista laughs, knocking her shoulder into mine as she drops beside me. “I told you!” She grins. “And we haven’t been here since sophomore year!”

“Think of all the pancakes we’ve missed. Sad face.” Macy pouts playfully.

“Ohhh shit.” Carley drags out each word, her wide eyes glued to the screen of her phone.

Macy scoots over to get a glimpse, a smile spreading across her face, and Krista snags it from her hand next.

The boys drop across from us, eyeing them suspiciously.

“What is it?” Trent asks.

Krista’s smirk bounces from him to Nico and then lands on me. “Please tell me this isn’t why you’re mad at the boy, looks like he did good.”

“What are you talking about?” My eyes fall to the phone when she tucks it to her chest. “Wait, is that my phone?”

She nods, wiggling her brows as she turns the screen toward me.

She presses play right as I snag it from her.

Soft music sounds, but the screen is dark, and then slowly the image comes into focus.

The camera zooms out, and there we are, me and Nico in the school studio.

The lens focuses on the two of us right as I lock my feet around him, our bodies moving against each other’s, my hands latched tight on his arms while his are gripping my thighs. A moan follows, my moan.

Trent’s “what the fuck?” has my eyes snapping up.

I fumble with the phone, quickly turning off the sound and lowering it to my side.

“What is that?” Nico drags every word out slowly.

A slow sweat breaks across the nape of my neck at his heated tone, and I shake my head.

Krista snatches it back, wobbly on her feet as she jumps off the seat, Macy just as unsteady, joining her.

“You guys!” I shout.

Krista leaves the volume down but grins at the screen. Macy just as excited beside her and I swear my face burns bright red.

I chance a glance at Nico, who is still glaring right at me.

Did we really kiss that long?

“Wait...” Macy says, taking the phone from Krista. “Alex sent this to you?” She looks up, lowering it to her side. “I don’t get it...”

“Demi,” Nico calls sharply. “What the fuck is that?”

My muscles lock, and I jolt when the table bounces with Nico’s quick shoot up.

He has the phone in his tight grip before I even move.

He’s shaking, trying to open it but the password is back on and he doesn’t know the code like the girls do.

He stalks toward me, holding it out in front of my face so facial recognition opens it for him, and I just stand there and let him.

His lip curls, disgust and fury burning across his face.

He holds my gaze a moment longer before stepping back and forcing himself to glance to the screen. He presses play.

Everyone is quiet, looking on as he views the video of us, me so lost in his touch I had no clue it was all for show, or that we were being recorded.

I’m mortified, my stomach is in knots and I want to run away.

Slowly, Nico lowers the phone, confusion blanketing his features. “I don’t...” He trails off.

“Oh my god!” Carley’s eyes cut to mine a moment, before returning to him. “You heard the moan on the video, heard Alex is the one who sent it, and then what? Gave yourself two seconds to jump to the conclusion it was of her and him fucking around?”

My eyes fly to Nico’s, a tight pinch in my brow.

He ignores her and everyone around us.

His breaths are coming quicker now, and he edges toward me. “You... all that shit after, it was because of that?” he rasps, almost so low I miss it.

I don’t.

I can’t admit to it, right?

What right do I have to get mad over him doing what I agreed he could, making me want his touch, making others believe in the lie?

Making me believe?

He keeps coming for me, and I can’t move.

Carley snatches the phone from his hand and he lets her, not once turning away.

Nico’s palms land on the sides of my face, eyes moving between mine. “You saw him standing at the door,” he says for only me to hear.

It’s not a question, but I nod anyway.

“You thought that was for him.”

My gut tightens, my face wrenching up at his words.

He dips the few inches needed to make us at eye level. “Listen to me, right fuckin’ now. He is the last motherfucker on this planet I would ever... ever want to see you like that.”

My hands come up to cover his. “Don’t lie to lie,” I whisper.

His eyes glance to the side, remembering we have an audience who has no idea what’s really going on between us.

What is going on between us?

Nico walks me a few feet away.