Fake It 'Til You Break It

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.”

Demi playfully rolls her eyes, stands and jumps to the grass, while my ass stays planted. “Let’s go, Neek. We’re needed over there.”

You’re needed right fuckin’ here.

I must be frowning because she chuckles, offering a flirty smile as she follows her friends, leaving me where I sit.

Half-cocked and blue balled like a motherfucker.In no hurry, I climb from the truck.

I finish off a full bottle of water, throw back a pack of peanuts and text my mom to check in on her as I head for Demi.

Some of my teammates are parked next to each other, so I stop and chat, making sure the girls are still where they’re supposed to be every few minutes.

A few minutes too long...

Sandra Black slides up.

“Hey.” She smiles, leaning in.

I go to give her a one-armed hug, but her shoe knocks into mine and she stumbles closer.

She giggles, her vodka breath fanning across my face as she looks up.

“Damn.” My head tugs back. “Gettin’ fucked up, or what?”

“It’s Senior Night.” She smiles, shrugging against me. “Why not?”

“Might wanna pop a piece of gum in your mouth. Campus security is scattered all around.”

“Or...” she whispers, her hands come up to pull my head down. “We could hide out in your truck, or my car. You up for it?”

I grip her wrists, freeing myself from her grasp. “Back up, girl. That’s not happening.”

“Oh, come on.” She pouts, running her hands through the ends of her long, dark hair. “We can even try for a quickie, even though we both know we need longer than that.”

I go to step past her, but she’s quick to wrap her fingers around my arms and peers up at me through her lashes.