All the Pretty Lies

by Melissa Toppen

  “What a joke.” I snort.

  “Forget her. This week is all about us.” Camila knocks her arm against mine.

  “Damn right it is,” April agrees.

  “I just want it to be known that I fully intend to hook up with a hot guy this week. I need some major sugar.” Camila wiggles her hips in her seat.

  “Oh god,” April groans.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll put a sock on the door or something.” She laughs.

  I shake my head. These girls...

  “HEY P, I’M GONNA HEAD down to the beach. You coming?” Camila steps out of the tiny bathroom dressed in one of the bikinis she purchased earlier this week. It’s stark white and looks incredible against her brown skin. My self-esteem plummets slightly. She looks like a million bucks with a bright pink towel draped over her forearm.

  “Yeah, in a bit. I’m pretty tired from the drive,” I tell her, not moving from where I’m stretched out on the bottom bunk.

  The cabin is what you would expect to see at a summer camp retreat. A tiny room with two sets of bunk beds lined on either side. The smallest kitchen you’ll ever see, which is really only a countertop with a sink, microwave, and mini fridge along the back wall. And then, of course, the bathroom, which is barely big enough for one person. It’s cramped but cozy and will work just fine for me and my two friends for the week.

  “April?” She turns her attention upward where April is lounging on the bunk above me, already dressed in a light blue polka dot one piece that makes her look like a sexy school girl.

  “Yep. I’m in.” The bed creaks above me seconds before her bare feet come into view as she climbs down the rickety ladder.

  “I’ll meet you guys down there in a few.”

  “Okay. Don’t wait too long or we’ll have called dibs on the hottest guys and you’ll have to settle for a dud.”

  “Pretty sure I’d get a dud regardless,” I mutter under my breath. “Okay,” I add loud enough that they can hear me. “I won’t be long.”

  The two exit the cabin moments later, leaving me alone in the small space.

  “DUDE, ARE YOU SERIOUSLY sleeping?” My eyes shoot open at the sound of Camila’s voice.

  “Huh?” I shoot up, nearly taking my head off on the bottom of the top bunk. “What time is it?” I ask, looking around the room, my eyes still heavy from sleep.

  “Like six-thirty. There’s a big group hanging out by the fire. We’re getting ready to roast some hot dogs. Maybe you should think about getting up.”

  “Six-thirty? I feel like I only closed my eyes for five minutes.”

  “Well obviously it was longer.” She gives me a pointed look.

  “I’m up.” I swing my legs over the edge of the bed and push to a stand, stretching my arms over my head. “I don’t even remember falling asleep. I must have been more tired than I thought.”

  “Well we both know you don’t sleep well after a fight with your mom. But hopefully you’ve got sleeping out of your system because Tripp and Brock are getting ready to tap into the keg.”

  “They brought a keg?” I cock a brow.

  “It’s our senior trip. Duh. What did you think, we were all going to stand around looking at each other cross eyed all week? And there’s more where that one came from. I guess Tripp’s dad hooked him up. He had to drive the truck here to transport all the kegs.” She gives me a once over. “Now get dressed and meet me outside.”

  “Where’s April?” I ask.

  “She may or may not be hanging out with Brock.”

  “Brock Saunders? As in Callum’s friend, Brock?” I question, not knowing any other Brock.

  “That would be the one.” Camila winks.

  “Funny. I didn’t see that one coming. I thought she didn’t like Brock.”

  “Well, I guess she changed her mind. Now come on.” She spins toward the door and exits the cabin seconds later.

  I take my time moving around the room. Snagging a pair of cutoff jean shorts and tank out of my suitcase, I make my way into the bathroom to change and freshen up. While Camila, and I’m sure most everyone else, are still in their bathing suits, I have no plans to hit the water until tomorrow, so I don’t see the point in putting one on.

  Once I’ve dressed, brushed my hair and teeth, and thrown on a light layer of mascara, I make my way outside.

  The heat hits me like a tidal wave, and I can already feel sweat starting to form at my nape as I make my way down the front steps. God, Texas heat is stifling some days.

  I spot Camila standing with a few girls from our class, laughing at some of the boys who are attempting to start a fire. I’m half tempted to walk over and show them how it’s done, having been taught by my father on a camping trip at a very young age, but not wanting to seem like a know it all, I leave them to tackle it and head down the dirt path to Camila.

  “There she is.” She smiles when she sees me, making room for me to slide in next to her. “You’ll never guess who just stomped off crying.”

  “What? Someone’s crying already?” I ask, thinking it’s a bit early in the trip for that.

  “Sarah.”

  “Let me guess, Callum was involved.”

  “How’d you know?” She laughs.

  “Wild guess.” I roll my eyes.

  “I’m betting she was hoping for more and he shot her down.”

  “Probably,” I agree. “Any sign of Ethan?” I lean in so only she can hear me.

  “He was out on the dock with a few of the guys earlier, but I haven’t seen him in a while. Why? Thinking tonight’s the night you’ll make your move?”

  I shrug.

  Truthfully, I haven’t really thought much of this through. All I know is that if I don’t try now, I may never get the chance. Even if I get shot down, at least I won’t be left wondering what if.

  “Yeah you are.” She grins, knocking her shoulder into mine.

  It takes the guys working the fire another thirty minutes to get it going, but once they do, several more students join in on the festivities. We roast hot dogs, drink beer, and a few of the girls, Camila and April included, decided to turn a dirt patch into a makeshift dance floor so they could sway their hips to the music blaring out of a large speaker set up on the cabin porch two over from ours. I chose to snag a spot on a log a few feet from the fire and people watch while sipping beer from my red, plastic cup.

  I feel completely content. Happy even. Watching my friends and classmates goof around and make idiots of themselves, specifically the guys. For the first time in a long time, I don’t feel weighted by the pressures of my home or school life. It’s an incredible feeling and one I’m not ready to let go of anytime soon.

  My heart rate spikes when I catch my first sight of Ethan as the last of the sun’s rays disappear behind the trees. He looks so sexy in his board shorts and sleeveless gray tee that I can physically feel my skin heat. And this time it has nothing to do with the temperature.

  I shift, ready to push to my feet when I stop mid-motion, watching none other than Heidi Pratt, captain of the cheer squad and hands down one of the most popular girls in school, slide in next to Ethan and slip her arm around his waist.

  I feel like someone has punched me in the stomach as I watch him smile down at her before leaning in to lay a kiss to her lips.

  Tears prick the backs of my eyes as jealousy slides through me.

  I’m so consumed by watching the two that I don’t notice someone settle in next to me until his deep voice breaks the surface, causing me to jump slightly.

  “Ethan Ripley, huh?” Callum grunts, following my line of sight.

  “What?” I choke, my gaze swinging to where he’s sitting next to me, his long legs stretched out in front of him.

  Like most of the guys, he’s dressed in board shorts. His are black with red checkered. Only unlike the other guys, he has no shirt on. I find my eyes dipping to his bare torso, and even though I don’t want to think it, I can’t help but wonder when he got so ripped. I mean seriou
sly. It looks like his abs have been airbrushed on, they’re so defined and perfect.

  I’m not sure if I suddenly feel sweaty because it pisses me off, or because of how good looking he really is isn’t lost on even me.

  “Ethan.” He nods his head back in the direction of where Ethan and Heidi are standing.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I swallow hard.

  “You sure about that? Because given the way you were looking at him, I’d say you’re not happy to see him with Heidi.”

  “Don’t you have your own drama to deal with? Why are you over here bothering me?”

  “Word gets around fast.” He chuckles.

  “You think that’s funny?”

  “Kind of.” He shrugs indifferently.

  “You’re a real piece of work, you know that? I told you it wasn’t fair of you to use Sarah like that.”

  “Sarah knew what we were doing. Hell, it was her idea.”

  “What?” I draw back.

  “Surprised?” He arches a brow.

  “Then why did I hear she ran off crying after talking to you?”

  “Because clearly she was hoping our one night would turn into more.”

  “And it’s not going to?”

  “Nope.”

  Irritated and over this conversation, I move to wrap this up. “You realize people can see you talking to me, right?”

  “And?” He throws me a sideways glance.

  “And, you’re not worried I might make you look bad?”

  “Why would I worry about that? Do you think you make me look bad?” There’s humor in his expression. What I wouldn’t give to be the kind of girl ballsy enough to reach over and knock the look off his face.

  “Don’t you have someone else you can annoy?” I say instead.

  “Why, when I’d rather annoy you, P.”

  “Poppy,” I growl in correction.

  “My bad... Poppy.” A smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. “You know, it’s going to take a lot more than a pretty face and good grades to land a guy like Ethan Ripley.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “I’m just saying. Guys like Ethan, they like a certain type of girl.”

  “Certain type of girl,” I repeat slowly.

  “Yeah, you know, a certain type.” He gives me a knowing look.

  “You mean the kind that puts out.”

  “Well, that isn’t exactly what I was saying, but yeah. I guess knowing you’re sexually available doesn’t hurt.”

  “And I’m not?” My nostrils flare.

  “Not what?” He seems mildly confused, running a hand through his messy, dark hair.

  “Sexually available.”

  “You?” He snorts. “Not even a little bit.”

  “How the hell do you know that? What did you hear?” My paranoia over what he may or may not have heard last night rears its ugly head.

  “Nothing.” He chuckles, the sound deep and low in his chest. “It just means... Well, let’s face it. You’re not like most of the other girls in our senior class.”

  “Why, because I’m ugly?” I try to keep the hurt from my face, but I have no doubt that it shows through just the same.

  “I never said that. I was just simply pointing out that you’re not like Heidi. You’re not one of those girls that feels the need to throw her body in guy’s faces. You care about school and grades. Your priorities aren’t landing the next hot guy to sleep with.”

  “Well, good. I don’t want to be one of those girls,” I snarl.

  “Which is why you’ll never get a guy like Ethan. He wants someone forward and sexy. Someone who’s not afraid to put on a show to catch his attention. Let’s be honest here, Poppy, when’s the last time you put on a show for anyone?”

  “Why should I have to? Either someone likes me or they don’t.”

  “Listen, there’s really only one way to land a guy like that.”

  “And you know so much about Ethan?” I try to keep my temper at bay, but the cut in my words is unmistakable.

  “Guys like him, yeah.”

  “And how is that?”

  “Because I’m one of them.” He shrugs.

  I want to get up and stomp off. Tell him he needs to mind his own fucking business. But something keeps me rooted to my seat.

  “What’s the one way?” I ask after a few beats of silence stretch between us.

  “You make yourself unobtainable. Guys go crazy for that shit. They always want what they think they can’t have.”

  “And how exactly do I do that?”

  “You make yourself unobtainable. Make him think he doesn’t stand a shot in hell with you.”

  “And I do that how?”

  “I’ve got an idea.” His expression turns mischievous and my stomach twists in on itself. “You need to take yourself off the market. And not just with anyone. But with someone that Ethan is sure to notice. Someone like... me.”

  “You.” I gape openly at him. “Yeah, because that’ll happen.” I shake my head, turning my focus back to where Ethan is now full on making out with Heidi without a single care that they’ve got quite the audience watching it go down.

  “Hear me out.”

  I look back at Callum, not because I want to, but because if I stare at Ethan with his tongue down Heidi’s throat for another second, I might puke.

  “I’m not saying we should date. I’m saying we should make everyone else think we are.”

  “You want to fake date me?”

  To say I’m confused is the understatement of the year. Where the hell is this coming from?

  “Why not?” He shrugs. “It could be mutually beneficial.”

  “And there it is.” I smack my leg. “I should have known you’d get something out of it.”

  “I’m just saying. You want Ethan. I want to give Annika one last fuck you. Together we can accomplish both.”

  “So you want to lie and tell everyone we’re dating to help me land another guy and make your ex jealous?” I give him a doubtful look.

  “Pretty much.” He grins, pulling his legs in before resting his elbows on top of them.

  “Sleeping with Sarah wasn’t enough?”

  “Sarah was the ice cream. You’d be the cherry on top.”

  “You’re insane. You know that, right?”

  “Doesn’t mean I’m wrong. Seriously though, what do you really have to lose?”

  “My dignity for one.”

  “You’re overthinking it, P.”

  “Poppy,” I correct.

  “It’s all about perception.” He ignores my interruption. “People will perceive that we’re together, but we won’t actually be together. What’s the harm in that?”

  “I don’t know, maybe that we’d be lying to everyone. Besides, why would you ever want to publicly date someone like me? Don’t you have standards?”

  He seems a little taken aback by my question and honestly, a little mad, which only serves to confuse me more.

  “You seriously don’t have a fucking clue do you, Poppy?”

  “A clue about what?”

  “Never mind.” He shakes his head, his piercing green eyes coming back to mine. “Besides, you should know by now, I don’t discriminate. I love all women.”

  “Yeah, the string of girls that I’ve seen leaving your house over the past four years is proof of that.” I roll my eyes. “But don’t kid yourself. No matter how slutty, they all had one very important thing in common.”

  “And what’s that?”

  “They’re all beautiful.”

  “And you don’t think you are?” I feel like he’s mocking me, but his expression seems genuine, curious even.

  “Not like the girls you associate with, no.”

  “You really are blind. Do you really have no clue how beautiful you are?”

  “You’ve officially lost it,” I announce, pushing to my feet, not willing to entertain this ridiculousness for a second longer.

 
“Where are you going?”

  “Away from you,” I tell him, slipping my flip flops on.

  “Will you at least think about it?” he asks as I turn to leave.

  “Not a chance in hell,” I call back, throwing a little wave over my shoulder. “Goodnight, Callum. Hope to see you never.” With that, I take off toward my cabin with an ache in my chest and uncertainty in my mind.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  POPPY

  THE SUN FEELS INCREDIBLE on my face. I breathe in a deep breath and let it out slowly, relaxing further into my beach towel that’s stretched out across the sand. April and Camila are lounging next to me, talking animatedly about the events of the previous day. Mainly April and Brock’s goodnight kiss they shared outside the cabin.

  I’m happy for my friend, don’t get me wrong, but after what I witnessed last night between Heidi and Ethan, I’m not much in the gushing about boys mood. And then there’s Callum. I swear he must have been on something last night to suggest what he did. I mean seriously, the guy goes from acting like he’s too cool to be seen with me to wanting to pretend like we’re dating. What the hell?

  A shadow suddenly blocks the sun and my eyes slide open, spotting Callum standing in front of me through the dark lenses of my sunglasses.

  Seriously? It’s like the man knew I was thinking about him and poof, here he is.

  “Ugh.” I groan audibly. “Not you again.” I push up on my elbows, ignoring the gazes of my two best friends whose eyes I can feel on me.

  “Ouch, that hurts, P.” He clutches his chest, a radiant smile stretching across his face.

  Even though he infuriates me, my stomach does a little flip flop at the sight of him. I can’t help it. I am only human after all, and he looks way too good standing in front of me shirtless and soaking wet.

  “Ladies, would you mind giving me a second alone with Poppy?” He turns his attention to Camila and April.

  “Um, sure.” Camila gives me a sideways glance.

  “It’s fine,” I grumble on an obvious eye roll.

  The two girls clamor to their feet, grabbing their floats before heading out toward the water. Callum flops down on the towel next to me, rolling to his side as he props an elbow underneath him.