Fake It 'Til You Break It(75)

He nods, looking to Krista. “I’m uh, I’m gonna go help her get the rest of the shit. Be back.”

He takes off right as Demi steps up.

She bumps her hip into me, setting out the paper coffee cups and making a full coffee station with straws and spoons and shit.

“Where do you want the snacks?”

“Oh!” She turns back to her little tub and pulls out two small buckets, setting them at the other end. “Here, I’ll pour them in there.”

She reaches out, but I tug them away, swinging the bags behind me.

A small smile plays across those thick lips of hers and she leans in. “I can do it.”

“I know you can, but so can I.” My eyes shift between hers. “You should kiss me now.”

A laugh bubbles out of her as she scrunches her nose. “Oh, yeah? Why is that?”

“Because I want you to, that’s reason enough.”

Demi pushes up, bringing our mouths even. “I’d say it is.” She chuckles, pats my chest and pecks my cheek before hurrying away.

“That’s not what I had in mind!” I shout after her.

“Oh, I don’t doubt it,” she calls from the other side of my truck.

Krista and Trent walk back with two trays full of enchiladas his mom made us for tonight, setting them on our table with the rest of the shit right as Carley and Macy walk back, Demi right behind them.

“Are we just eating and snacking as we want?” Macy asks, peeking into one of the enchilada trays.

“Yeah, no reason to make it complicated.” Demi nods, hopping into the bed of my truck.

“Cool, I’m going to go play water pong,” she says.

“Water pong?”

“They couldn’t exactly bring beer.”

“Demi, did you seriously bring your homework?” Carley whines.

I glance at Demi, who brought beanbags for us to sit on.

She laughs, pulling a blanket over her legs. “What? I have to get it done, and we have ten hours out here. Why not?”

“Ugh, I’m going with Macy. Come find us in a little bit or we’ll be back.”

“I don’t have much, I’ll be done quick. Swear!”

They tease her a little more as they walk off, but she simply smiles, her focus moving back to the notebook in her lap.

I grab my backpack from the floorboard of my truck, hopping in the back with her.

When I drop beside her, pulling my own shit out, she swings a grin my way, offering me a piece of licorice.

I lean forward, capturing it with my teeth and she laughs, biting from the same part I did.

We sit and work in silence, but only manage to keep focused for a little over a half hour before we give up.

Demi stuffs her papers in her bag, and drops her head against the window, looking at the sky. “Think you’ll be able to stay awake all night?”

“I can think of a few ways to make sure I do.” I slide my eyes toward her.

She laughs, shaking her head. “I bet you can.”

“Want me to name ‘em?”

She smiles, but doesn’t say anything, her attention falling to my mouth when I pull my bottom lip between my teeth.

Man, she’s gorgeous.

Wild green eyes locked on me, shiny, dark blonde hair she left laying long across her shoulders, and plump ass, pretty polished lips.

She shifts on her beanbag.

It’s not hard to tell she’s got something on her mind.

“Talk to me, D.”

Her tongue slips out, unease written across her forehead, but she doesn’t allow her concern to keep her from speaking. “What if I told you I needed this?”

“I’d tell you to be more specific,” I reply instantly. “I don’t like vague and I don’t like assumptions. If you mean it, say it. If not, don’t.”

She chuckles, reaching up to push my hair from my forehead.

“You’re kind of an asshole,” she says, her voice lowering with her next words. “But I kind of like it.”

“Liar.”

Her mouth drops open.

“You more than like it.” I smirk. “I should be an asshole more often.”

Her lips twitch, and she moves her blanket, covering my lap with it as she scoots closer. She shakes her head. “You’re good how you are.”

My hand slides over her jeans on her left outer thigh. “How am I, D?”

“Unexpected.” She thinks a long moment. “Do you think something built on a lie could ever...” She trails off.

My stomach muscles tighten as she tucks her lips between her teeth.

Keep talkin’, baby.

She hesitates, so I try to ease it from her.

“Ever what?” Reaching up, I slide my hand into her hair. “Ever... last?”

I swear she blushes and something pulls in my chest, but then we’re interrupted by a few of our classmates, and her focus shifts.

“Stop fingering my friend so she can come play with us,” Macy calls as she jumps up on the tire well of my truck.

Demi can’t hold it in, and a loud laugh leaves her.

“Go away, we’re busy.”

D cuts a quick smile my way.

“Please!” her friend Ava begs. “We need a couple more people.”