Fake It 'Til You Break It

“You guys were together a long time.” I nod. “I’m sure he cares about you, too.”

She scoffs a dejected laugh, and I swear sadness clouds her expression. “You’d be wrong,” she says, pausing as her gaze scours over me before lifting to mine. “He’s brave. I never thought I’d see the day, you two together.”

“Well you have, so get over it.” I push on the door, but she halts me once again.

“You need to be careful with him.”

That irritates me and I turn around fully. “And you need to mind your own business.”

“Like I said,” she snaps. “I care about him, so I’m standing here telling you to be careful with him. He has issues, Demi.”

“He’s my boyfriend to worry about, Josie, not yours.”

“Just watch yourself with him.”

“Not that he would, but I’d never allow anyone to walk all over me. I’m not some naïve little girl.”

She nods, one side of her mouth lifting as she throws her paper towel away without looking, stepping in front of me in the same move. “Funny, you automatically assumed I was talking about him hurting you.” Her tone is terse and as bitter as I’d expect from an ex of his, but it’s the concern laced through her gaze that confuses me. “Maybe you are as naïve as you’re pretending not to be. Have a shitty day, Davenport.”

She pushes out the door, leaving me to trail after her.

Trent and Krista are in the hall as we exit, and Josie flips them off as she passes while I take a deep breath and stop beside them.

“What was that about?” Krista asks. “Did she hit you up about Nico in there?”

I look to Trent. “Why’d they break up?”

His eyes widen, and he hastily shakes his head. “No fucking way.”

“You obviously know, just tell me.”

“You’re his girl, right?” His tone is laced with something I can’t quite put my finger on. “Ask him.”

“Come on, babe,” Krista whines, gripping his arm. “Please.”

“Nope.” He pulls free, kisses her quickly then starts down the hall. “Meet you after math.”

Krista and I fall in line together, walking to our next class. “Are you gonna ask Nic?”

“I think so.” Maybe.

I sort of have to. He and I need to sit down and talk this out, get on the same playing field or we’ll screw it up and people will question us.

“Oh, did you hear?” Krista turns to me. “Alex asked Ava to formal.”

I stop in my tracks and Krista slows, turning toward me.

“Does that bother you?” she asks with worry.

“No,” I say, maybe too quickly.

She gives a slow chuckle, and the two of us start walking again. “Are you sure, because it’s okay if it does. You and Nico are still new, and you’ve had a thing for Alex for years.”

“I’m a little surprised is all. I didn’t know they talked.” It’s the truth, but even more honestly would be admitting it doesn’t necessarily bother me. He dates all the time, so it’s not like I had a chance and lost it.

Right?

“You know how it is when dances roll around.” Krista chuckles. “Tons of people who have never dated start hanging out. Most of the time it doesn’t go past the after-party.”

I grin. “True.”

“Okay, see you at lunch later.” She walks into her next class a few doors down from mine.

I smooth my shirt down and pull my hair from where it’s gotten stuck under the strap of my backpack and walk into chemistry.

Alex looks away the second I enter, and I have to force myself not to frown. He’s ignored me all week.

I turn down a ride and he wants to act like a child about it and avoid me?

Ugh.

Nico is looking at his phone as I walk toward our table.

I don’t know what I expected from him, so I drop into my seat and continue to face forward, but not five seconds pass before he’s hooking his foot in the bottom of my stool and pulling it to him.

He shifts so his knees are spread wide, one in front of mine, the other behind me. His left arm comes around to drape across the back of my seat while he leaves his right laid out on the tabletop in front of me.

Nico leans in, so close I consider pulling back, but I can sense other eyes on us, so I stay planted where I am.

He gauges me. “How hard is it for you not to fidget right now?”

“Not hard.”

He leans in farther and I inhale.

His lips are less than an inch from mine when he asks, “How ‘bout now?”

“You’re going to get me in trouble.”

“Maybe you need to get in some trouble, Pixie,” he taunts, his voice liquid smoke.

I narrow my eyes.

So, he thinks he can play his little sex games and not get it back?

Sorry, Neek.

I lift my chin, my eyes purposely moving to his lips and back.