Fake It 'Til You Break It(81)

“A long time ago.”

“And you never felt the need to tell me this?”

“I didn’t think about it!” flies from me, and a wave of nausea rolls in behind it. “When we talked about my not being a virgin, I thought you were mocking me, using it as a way to talk crap or something. I figured he had told you after it happened. I had no clue he kept it to himself until later.”

“And still, not a fuckin’ word about it, huh?”

Damn it!

Anxiety builds in my gut.

I have nothing but the truth and it’s a pathetic one.

“I didn’t think about it,” I say quietly. “I get it’s messed up, and I’m sorry, but I... didn’t think about it.”

He shakes his head. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with that.”

“Don’t push me away over something that happened before we did. How was I supposed to know we’d be standing here two years later?”

“You were supposed to come clean when you finally woke up and realized I wanted you.” His anger dissipates as he pushes against me, his fingers lifting to brush across my cheek. “You were supposed to be mine and only mine.”

“I am.”

“But he had you first.”

“So have me last.”

His lips hit my ear. “I’m walking away, Demi. Let me.”

Sensing there’s no other choice at the moment, I do.





After Nico took off walking, I grabbed my blankets from the back of his truck and moved to my car in the parking lot. I texted Carley who told me Krista got home safe and none of them were coming back unless I needed them to, but I wanted to be alone, so I told them we’d chat later.

Right after, I called Krista and talked to her a few minutes to make sure her and I were okay, but Trent was pounding on her door the entire time, so I let her go to deal with him.

That was two hours ago.

Now I’m lying here trying to rest, but sleep won’t come, so it’s about to be a long ass day.

While seniors are allowed to skip the first half of their schedule after Senior Night events, senior athletes aren’t. We participate at our own risk, so after a night of zero sleep and high-strung emotions, in this gym for practice is the last fucking place I want to be.

It’s the last place I expected Nico to be, too.

I should have stayed home last night.

“Demi,” Miranda snaps. “Stop being lazy with your dip. Roll your hips all the way and tug them into your partner.”

I clench my teeth but nod and get back into step one, waiting for the music to end so she can replay.

“Are you going to talk about anything that happened last night or are you going to ignore me, too?” Trent asks quietly.

“I haven’t had a chance to talk to Krista or Nico, so why the hell would I want to talk to you?”

“Me and Krista are fine, Dem. You told her years ago, and I explained where my head was at last night. It sounded bad the way Nico said it, but it wasn’t like that at all.”

I shake my head, going through the moves lazily to keep attention off us. “And you and Nico, are you good? ‘Cause guess what?” I spin, pinning him with a glare. “We aren’t. I shouldn’t even be dancing with you right now! Why the hell did you have to tell him like you did? We could have talked to him alone, explained—”

“It wouldn’t have mattered, Demi. You don’t know everything, there was no breaking it to him easy. He would have reacted the same no matter what.”

“But it didn’t have to be then or at a school function with everyone around. I should have thought to tell Nico everything weeks ago.” I get back into position, facing forward. “Look what your way led to for you and Krista.”

“I told her everything.”

“You tell her I don’t really have a boyfriend?”

His hands tense, then fall from me as he steps around to face me with a scowl. “No. I didn’t, so I still feel like shit, like I’m lying to her.”

I shrug. “Might as well have told her. We’re done with the role play.”

“Demi.” Concern thickens his tone. “Don’t walk away from him when he gets mad and acts like a dick.”

“I didn’t walk away,” I hiss. “He did.”

“Fuck.” Trent’s eyes fall to the floor.

“Demi,” Miranda sing-songs. “Waiting on you. Again.”

My head snaps around and I glower.

Her hands find her hips. “You know what. Switch with Hammons, he needs the help anyway. You two can pair back up for the performance.”

“I’m not switching,” I refuse. “There’s no point.”

“You are, because I said so,” she bites out.

Alex steps up, moving right behind me when Trent bumps past him and moves toward the girl he’s now forced to work with.

Alex grins. “Hey.”

I offer a flat smile, quickly cutting my eyes to Nico.

He stands frozen, glaring this way with a scowling Miranda beside him.

She says something to him, but he isn’t listening, and after a moment, I have her attention too.

Slowly, a nasty smirk forms on her bitchy little face.

She steps toward the rolling speaker to press pause and drags it to the center of the room.