Fake It 'Til You Break It

by Brandy, Meagan

  “Should we use code when we want the other one to do something, go all Peyton Manning and shout ‘Omaha’ when we need to cut and run?”

  “Cut and run?”

  She nods with a grin. “It’ll happen, you watch, and are you not impressed I know who Peyton Manning is?”

  “Everyone knows who Peyton Manning is.”

  “Thanks to his horrendous acting in those insurance commercials, right?”

  I laugh and she gapes at me, blinking hard.

  “Multiple laughs in a day from the silent killer?” she mocks.

  I shake my head, and lean closer to glance out the window, then wrap my arm around her outer thigh and pull her to me.

  Wide eyes slice to mine.

  “We’re coming up to the curve,” I tell her. “All the carts ahead of us will be able to look back as we round it, and then everyone will be waiting there as we climb off, too.” My gaze holds hers. “My girl wouldn’t be sitting so far away from me.”

  “Oh, no?” She cocks a brow, playfully. “And would she... simply sit right here beside you?”

  My head tugs back.

  She chuckles. “Did I surprise you?” She smiles, and I lick my lips. “I’m not shy, in case you thought different, I’m also not the in your face type, so of course you wouldn’t have noticed.”

  It’s not a dig at me, she’s only speaking what she knows.

  What she thinks she knows.

  “If you’re not shy, why haven’t you asked Hammons out already?”

  That has her pausing. It takes a second but then her eyes come back to mine.

  “I don’t know, maybe because while we’re friends he’s never shown interest past that. I’m sure he’d be down to hook-up or something, but I’ve never gotten the feeling he would want to date past that and I don’t know, I don’t want to waste the chance if there is one by going the fling route.”

  “So you don’t want to be rejected?”

  “Would you?” Her tone is sharp.

  “I’ve been rejected.”

  She scoffs, her eyes flicking upward.

  “I have.”

  “By who?”

  “You.”

  Her head snaps my way, a small frown pulling at her forehead. “What?”

  “Yup.”

  “You lie.” She crosses her arms, but her tone is unsure.

  “Nope.”

  “When?”

  “I invited you to wake me up with my dick in your mouth and guess what?” I lean in and her brows jump. “I woke up in an empty bed.”

  It takes her a second, but she busts up laughing, hitting my chest with her little hand and I can’t help but grin.

  We’re at the bend now, so before she can pull back, I grip her wrist to hold it there.

  Out her window, I spot our friends in the carts ahead, all of them looking around at the others, so I scoot closer and her laughter slowly dies.

  “People are watching now.”

  Something about the way he whispers has me swallowing.

  “Demi!” Krista’s shout hits my ears.

  I jolt, tugging free from Nico’s grasp and spin around to wave.

  She throws her hands up, letting out a loud scream that follows each cart after hers.

  Nico scoots up behind me and I lean over slightly so he can fit his head next to mine.

  Trent throws his arms out to his buddy and Nico’s low chuckle wafts across my neck and I convince myself the sensation it creates is a natural response to the warmth against my skin.

  “Is that Carley and Thompson?” he asks.

  I look in time to see them finish their kiss. Both of them start laughing when they realize they got caught.

  “Sluuuut!” Krista yells with a laugh, and then her and Trent’s cart disappears from sight, each other’s right after it.

  With a laugh I turn back, my breath catching as I do.

  Nico is right there, right against me, his hand sliding into my hair, mouth moving in only to skim across my cheek.

  My arm shoots up, gripping his wrist as a heavy knot forms in the pit of my stomach.

  “Almost, D,” he murmurs, the vibration of his word raising the hair on my neck. “Keep still.”

  My features pull, my grip tightening with his.

  What the hell is wrong with me?

  The whistling sounds have him pulling back, a smirk on his face as he releases me and turns for the door that the ride attendant is about to open.

  He climbs out and I sit there frozen, only moving when he pops his head back in, his hand extended for me to grab.

  I do, and he pulls me from the cart, yanking my body to his the second my feet touch the ground.

  He drops a chaste kiss to my cheek, slides a hand around my waist and ushers us forward, our friends waiting just a few steps away.

  While my girls give me wiggly eyebrows for a whole two seconds, nobody else dwells or makes a big deal.

  It’s as if seeing the two of us like this is normal, accepted, and we’re just another couple having fun on the boardwalk, laughing and smiling and ready for the next ride.

  I don’t hate it.

  As a group, we get in line for the rollercoaster, everyone chatting amongst themselves as we wait. After a few minutes, I take a second to look at Nico.

  His backward hat is covering the messy top of his hair, showing nothing but his perfect fade.

  He jokes with Trent and Thompson about something, laughing as he pushes off their shoulders. His fist comes up to his mouth when he smiles as if he doesn’t quite want to share it with the others, but from my angle, his white teeth shine.

  I’ve never really known him to laugh much, though, I assume it’s something he does often with his friends.

  I hope he does, he looks good doing it.

  Thompson swats Nico’s arm, and Nico’s stare slices over – the entire group catching me staring.

  His laughter slows, but the corner of his mouth stays raised.

  He winks, and I pull my lips in, biting down to keep from grinning back.

  Such a crowd pleaser.

  “Bet he winks like that right before he goes down.”

  My eyes widen and I’m positive I look like a deer caught in headlights.

  Nico’s questioning frown is instant, and his eyes fly to Macy.

  I whip around, hissing, “Shut up!”

  She smirks, turning her attention back to him. “Mm. Yeah, and that little stubble he’s got going right now, the light scratch it would put off against your inner thigh.” She nods to herself. “Oh my god, you’d be aching before his mouth even landed.”

  “Macy, for fuck’s sake,” I force past clenched teeth. “Sh!”

  “How often do you shave, Nico?” she shouts, leaning an elbow on me.

  This bitch.

  I drop my face in my hands, peeking at him through my fingers when he’s quiet longer than five seconds.

  “Usually every other morning.” He reluctantly moves his eyes to her. “Why?”

  “So, she needs to catch you late night.” Macy nods, crossing her arms over her chest.

  Nico’s gaze slides back to mine.

  “Ignore her.”

  “Oh, no.” He saunters over, licking his lips, looking all sorts of cocky. “I gotta hear it now.”

  His friends are right behind him, everyone in line turning to see what we’re all doing, huddling up like this.

  Well, this is awesome. Nothing to do but indulge her ass.

  I spin around, facing her. “Macy?”

  She shrugs, grabbing a piece of Trent’s popcorn and tossing it in her mouth. “Just wondering if you use the stubble as a tool. You know, slide it across the inner thigh, maybe the stomach first on your way.” Her eyes fall to his jaw and I gape at her. “We dig that shit.”

  “True dat.” Krista comes out of nowhere, raising her hand in agreement.

  Everyone starts laughing and I shake my head, right there with them.

  The line moves forward, so the group
shifts, going back to their spots and restarting their previous conversations.

  Nico slips in behind me, his chest at my back. “How ‘bout you, Pixie, that something you like?”

  A light laugh bubbles from me, but I keep facing forward.

  He interprets it correctly, my way of saying nice try, boy, and I’m about to tell him not to worry his pretty little head over it, like he did me, when he reminds me of the roles we are playing.

  “I know you disagreed already, but as your man.” He pauses. “I should know these things, yeah? ‘Case your girls ever try to pop quiz me.” His arms make their way around me and he squeezes. “Need to ace that test, D.”

  He has a point, sort of, even though he might simply be teasing, but nothing says I can’t tease back.

  “You know,” I lead with a grin he can’t see. “A real boyfriend has to work hard and learn these things about his girl.”

  The second it leaves me, I regret it, internally cursing myself.

  Why did I say it?

  I know he’s about to joke, throw out an offer, something, so I give him what he wants before he can. “Yeah, I do.”

  “So you’ve been eaten out before?”

  Heat spreads in my abdomen at his instant question.

  “I have,” I admit, quietly.

  Only a couple times, and for a few short minutes. It was sloppy, but the warmth of a mouth on me was enough to get me going. Unfortunately, not enough to keep me going either time.

  He doesn’t need to know that part.

  Macy was right, though. Us girls have talked about this before, and while the person who went down on me was smooth faced, it doesn’t take a lot to imagine what it would be like with someone who has occasional stubble.

  A prickly face is like a rough palm, I’d think, tantalizing all on its own. Raising your pulse with nothing but a slow slide across your body, forcing the arch of your back, even when you’re still standing.

  Yeah, I can get down with a rough textured hand.

  Suddenly Nico’s fingertips are grazing across my shoulder blades, his palms joining as they slide down the length of my arms in a feathering manner, the barest of touches against my skin that I feel down to my toes.

  “Like this?” he rasps.

  My body shivers in response, and his heated chuckle only makes it worse.

  “Good to know.” His arms fall.

  It takes me a second, but I glance at him over my shoulder.

  He’s as straight faced as ever, but those eyes...

  The hint of arrogance is expected, but I wasn’t prepared for the rest.

  Eager.

  Greedy.

  Wanting?

  Confusion draws my brows in, something else entirely burning low in my core.

  He doesn’t look away until Trent bumps into him from behind.

  With a rapid blink and a hint of a frown, he turns away.

  I face forward right then and not a minute later the ride attendant opens the chain, ushering me and Nico through.

  He steps ahead of me, choosing the front of the rollercoaster.

  He pauses before climbing in, shifting around to look at me.

  He nods his head, indicating for me to step past him into the small steel cart. “You first, girlfriend.”

  Tell me why my stomach clenches.

  Demi, Krista, and the other two run into the haunted maze with a bunch of other girls while us guys stay out front, both Trent and myself walking toward the exit the moment they disappear.

  Twisting the lid off my water bottle, I take a drink and offer one to Trent, but when I glance over, finding him eyeing me curiously, it’s obvious he’s got something to say.

  “What?”

  He hesitates. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but I don’t think what you’re doing is a good idea.”

  “Yeah, why’s that?”

  “Demi’s not like the girls you’ve dated, Nic. She stays out of drama, cares about school, thinks about her future.”

  “You think I don’t know all that?”

  “How would you, you’ve steered clear of her for years. All of a sudden you’re forced to be her partner in class, and you’ve changed your mind?”

  I glare long enough for him to look away, not speaking until he forces himself to face me.

  “You’re acting like you don’t know the ins and outs of why, man. You’re my best friend, or you’re supposed to be, but right now I’m gettin’ the vibe you’re against me here.”

  “I’m not,” he says. “But I don’t want to see this end up in ruins either.”

  “It’s been a fuckin’ day, bro. Less than twenty-four hours if you wanna be technical.”

  “That’s my point.” Trent frowns. “Less than a day, and all the girls believe it, you’re touching her, and she’s letting you?” his eyes widen. “And I don’t know if you just played it right or what, but it looked like you kissed her.”

  “And if I did? What’s the issue, Trent?”

  He shakes his head. “I’m just saying it’s kinda soon for you two to be acting this comfortable with each other.”

  “Maybe we are.”

  His head pulls back. “Are what?”

  “Comfortable with each other.” I toss my water bottle in the garbage. “Like you said.” The girls’ light screams have me stepping closer to the exit, knowing they’re coming out soon, but I keep my body facing his. “She’s chill. I’m chill.” I give a small shrug. “Faking it ain’t all that hard, my man.”

  The girls rush out in the next second, each one in small fits of laughter, and our attention shifts to them.

  Macy smiles but then lets out a small growl as she shoves Demi into me. “Spank her, Nico, she deserves it.”

  Demi’s hand plants on my chest and she looks up, green eyes full of laughter. “Sorry. She’s being a hater because I pushed her through the clown part ahead of us.”

  A low chuckle leaves me, but all I can focus on is the spank her part.

  Demi clears her throat, smiles and turns to her friends.

  “I’m hungry,” she announces. “Can we go get some food now?”

  “We just ate a few hours ago!” Macy points out.

  “Shellfish,” Demi argues, looking at her like she’s crazy. “I’m a normal human. I need hardcore carbs to fill me up.”

  “But the swing line is low!” Krista pouts and tries to reason. “There’ll be snacks out for us when we get back.”

  Demi’s shoulders fall, her head snapping my way when my arm lands across her.

  “I’ll take her to get some food while you ride the swings, and we’ll meet you on the next ride.”

  Krista crosses her arms, narrowing her eyes on me. “And no delaying for a quickie in the boardwalk showers?”

  Demi laughs goodheartedly, reaching out to pat Krista’s arm. “No, honey. That’s only you and your man who can enjoy the filthy, sandy, shower floors.”

  My head slices to Trent who rubs the back of his neck, giving a small shrug.

  I laugh, looking to Krista. “Where you goin’ next?”

  “Snacks, drinks, and a DJ will be set up in the conference room at the hotel at nine, so let’s do the skylight ride last, then we can head back and party?”

  “Sounds good.” Demi nods, looking to me for confirmation.

  I agree, and the two of us break away from the rest of the group.

  We get a few feet away when she nudges me in my ribs with her elbow.

  “You can take your arm off me now,” she teases.

  “Nah.” I tug her closer. “Others could be watching.”

  She chuckles. “Ah. Right.”

  I steer her toward the food court, but she turns me the opposite way, headed straight for Dessert Row.

  “I thought you were hungry?”

  “I am. For some deep-fried Oreos.”

  I laugh and she looks up at me, smirking.

  “What?”

  “Before this weekend I didn’t even know Nico Sykes knew ho
w to laugh.” Her feet stop moving so I’m forced to stop with her. “Now here you are, smiling, laughing.” She tilts her head to the side, a coy grin on her lips. “And to top it off, you’ve only had one or two temper tantrums today.”

  I glare. “I don’t have temper fucking tantrums.”

  “Mood swings, tantrums, random moments of dickishness. Call it what you like,” she mocks. “But careful, fake boyfriend, or I might start to think you’re having a halfway decent time.”

  “You clownin’ on me?”

  She chuckles as she pulls away, so I let my arm fall, shifting to face her as we step into the line.

  “Maybe I am, D.”

  She squints. “Am what?”

  “Not miserable.”

  She eyes me a second before a small laugh leaves her and she steps up to the order window. As quick as she pays, Demi’s being handed a paper bowl full of deep-fried Oreos covered in powdered sugar.

  “I’ll eat as we walk so Krista doesn’t strangle me for being gone so long.” She lifts one of her pieces up, biting into it with a soft moan. “So good.”

  We look at each other, and she chuckles.

  I’m sure she can see the need in my eyes, while hers only hold a playfulness I enjoy as she covers that sexy mouth of hers that’s still full.

  I’d like to fill it up with something else...

  “Sorry.” She fights a smile, wiping her mouth, before going in for another bite.

  “Moan like that again and—”

  The ringing of my phone cuts me off, and I drag it from my pocket to find my dad’s name flashing.

  My feet stop moving, tension wrapping around my shoulders as I glare at the screen.

  He never calls.

  “You can answer that if you need to,” Demi says and I look to her. “I can walk ahead.”

  No.

  I hit ignore, shoving it in my pocket and fall in place beside her, the two of us heading where we know the others will be.

  My dad calls three more times between the walk there and the end of the ride.

  We’re back with the group and entering the hotel lobby when it rings again.

  “Damn, who’s blowing you up?” Trent whispers. “Is it Josie?”

  I scoff and glance around to make sure nobody is in earshot. “It’s my dad.”

  “Whoa.” His eyes widen. “Why you think he’s calling?”