Page 61 of The Fake
She nods and hugs me, making me miss her and adding a new sense of determination to be as tough as she thinks I am. “I’ve got your back. If you need me to come to Valley and kick some ass, just say the word.”
“You’d brawl for me?” I ask, thinking of Nathan and stealing his word.
“Hell yes, I would.”
* * *
Nathan
“Everything okay? You’ve been quiet tonight.”
Chloe walks just ahead of me to the cross streets where the Uber is supposed to meet us to take us back to Camila’s, her arms wrapped around her waist. “I just forgot how much I loved it here. I miss it and I’m already a little sad about leaving.”
She’s silent again for a minute before she adds, “I told Cam.”
I glance over and raise a brow. “And?”
“She was understanding. Felt good to tell her the truth.” She drops her hands in front of her and fidgets with her fingers. “Speaking of truth, I need to tell you something.”
“What’s that?” I ask, trying to prepare myself for the worst.
She glances back at me, her blonde hair blowing into her face and the blue dress making her body blend in with the darkness. “I like you.”
I chuckle out my relief, and my heart skips a fucking beat. “I like you, too.”
Stopping in front of me, she blocks my path. “No, I mean, Ilikeyou. The flirting, the touches, the kisses, spending time together—I wanted all of it. And not just because it’s helped with my roommate situation. Volleyball and proving myself is my number one priority, but I’m done pretending this is all for show. At least for me.”
It’s always been easy to be with Chloe. I’ve had to fake very little of our time together. I thought she knew that. I mean, she’s the one who keeps pushing me away. But the thing is, I’ve learned not to question the good. Grab it, swallow it up before the bad crashes in again. So I don’t question it, I just go for it.
I frame her face with both hands and bring my lips to hers. “It was never for show, princess.”
21
Chloe
The next morning,I wake up with a smile on my face. Stretching my arms over my head, I sit up and then jump out of bed to go find Nathan. After a lot of kissing, he pushed me into my room and insisted he sleep on the couch. I’m sure it was supposed to be some gentlemanly move, but I missed him beside me.
He’s on the couch, his long legs over one end and his head propped up on a pillow at the other. He’s got one arm over his eyes and a Golden throw blanket covering his lower half.
My mouth waters at his bare chest, and I press my fingertips to my lips. They’re tender from his bruising kisses and scruffy face, but I’m ready to do it again.
I make coffee and pour myself a cup and him some Gatorade into a mug with the intent of taking them into the living room and maybe snuggling in next to him on the couch, but his gruff voice comes just as I pick up the mugs to take them to the other room.
“Morning.”
I hand him one of the mugs. He glances down at the orange liquid and laughs. “Morning.”
I watch him over my mug as I take a sip. He does the same.
“What’s the plan for today?”
“I thought, if you were game, we could go surfing.”
“Hell yeah.” He nods. His eyes widen, and his smile is ridiculously adorable. “Can we go now?”
I laugh. “Yeah, just let me change.”
We get ready for another day at the beach, and Camila wakes up and decides to come too. I’d left my boards here when I moved so we take my hybrid and longboard. Nathan is a natural, and the waves are pretty calm out this morning so I’m able to coach him up onto the board for a couple rides.
