Page 35 of The Fake
“Mmmm, you taste spicy.”
He doesn’t pull away immediately. Our mouths linger, barely not touching, eyes locked. My heart races with the desire I see reflected back at me. I make the first move this time, hesitantly pressing our lips together. He lets out a little growl as he takes over the kiss. I part my lips just as his tongue sweeps in.
A pillow hits the side of my face.
“That’s enough, you two,” Sydney says.
Nathan chuckles and pulls away, but he keeps an arm around me, one hand on my thigh the entire show. A detail that no one else in the room can see, but I like it anyway. And that’s not good.
I can’t fall for my fake boyfriend. What if in a week or two, it blows up and we can’t stand to be around one another? All of this will have been for nothing. I close my eyes and try to ignore the tingles and desire I feel being this close to him.
* * *
“Is there a weird song that turns you on that really shouldn’t?” I ask as we’re cleaning up.
He takes the empty Chinese containers from the coffee table. “You mean like Nick and the ‘Humpty Dance?’”
I nod.
He thinks for a minute and then shakes his head. “I can’t think of one. Why?”
“Just curious.” I bite down on my lip.
“Uh-uh. You have one, don’t you? What is it?”
I bite my lip and his face lights up. “Oh, this is fun. Let me guess. ‘Genie in a Bottle?’”
I shake my head no.
“‘The Pony?’”
I scrunch up my face. “Seriously? Ginuwine should turn everyone on.”
He tosses the trash and then crosses his arms in front of him, studying me carefully.
“‘Ice Ice Baby,’” I admit quietly and watch his face transform into a huge smile. “Don’t laugh. It’s my jam.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” He presses his lips together tightly and goes back to helping me pick up. Under his breath, he begins to lightly hum the song.
“You said you wouldn’t laugh,” I say as he breaks out singing for real. He spits out the first verse as he walks to me.
When he finishes, we’re standing chest to chest, smiling at one another.
“Jerk,” I tease.
Our gazes lock, and I swear he’s going to kiss me. No witnesses, just us caught up in this happy fake relationship we’ve created. I have to admit, we’re good at pretending. So good that I think we’re both lost wondering what’s real and what’s not.
I can survive another year without a boyfriend, I remind myself. It’s my final shot to prove I belong—that I always belonged. No weaknesses I can control, and Nathan’s definitely starting to feel like a weakness.
“I’m tired,” I say and step back. There’s a note of disappointment in his body language as he watches me put distance between us.
“Yeah, I should go.” He walks to the door and doesn’t glance back as he leaves.
And now I’ve got “Ice Ice Baby” on the brain and no fake boyfriend to make out with.
13
Nathan
