Page 45 of Gilded Fake

Happiness… That’s rare.

“And yeah, cocky too,” she adds with a smirk. “Is that a bad thing?”

I shrug off my melancholia. “In hindsight, he was gloating that I caught feelings and was blinded by love, so he used it to get what he wanted.”

“I don’t think so,” she says. “Royal’s cocky as hell, and I love it. It means he feels good about himself when he’s with me, that he’s proud of pulling a girl like me. That’s pretty fucking hot, you know?”

Suddenly my throat is tight, and I want to cry. “You think Colt would be proud to pull me?” I ask incredulously. “In case you forgot, I’m the fucking pariah now, and he’s a king.”

“I don’t think he cares about status as much as you’d expect,” she says. “You’re used to the Dolce boys being on top, and that’s what they care about. But he’s not like them. And come on, Lo. You’re still hot as hell, no matter your social position. Shit, I’m proud to walk around with you.”

I give a half-hearted laugh. “I thought everyone agreed I was a fat cow who let myself go.”

She gives me a look. “Come on, Lo. We both know that’s not what happened.”

“We do?” I mutter, picking at the button on my leather jacket.

“I’m not stupid,” she says. “I know it sucks, but you’re tough as hell, and you’re going to get through this, just like everything else. And when you want to give up, I’m going to tell you to pick yourself up and push through, just like you did for me by the bike rack that day last year. Deal?”

I nod, my throat too tight to speak. “I don’t deserve you,” I manage to choke out.

She laughs and throws an arm around my shoulders, squeezing me to her side. “Yeah, but lucky for you, I see the good in even the shittiest people.”

“Rude,” I protest, laughing and dabbing a fingertip to the single tear that squeezed out the corner of my eye.

“Or maybe just honest,” she says. “We’re all shitty people. You gotta be to survive this place.”

“Not everyone here is shitty,” I say quietly, wiping my cheek when more tears leak out.

“Tell me you don’t mean Colt.”

I just sniffle.

“You really are blinded by love,” she says, nudging me playfully. “Dude had his dick in you five minutes after he basically accepted the Perfect Couple award with his girlfriend. In front of the entire student body, who voted for them because he fooled them into thinking he’s the perfect doting boyfriend, I might add. And then five minutes after that, he asks her to marry him.”

“When you put it that way…”

“Look, I love Colt, but he’s a dog,” she says. “Always has been, probably always will be. But hell, maybe you can change him with your magical pussy. I try not to think about that, since you fucked Royal, but I seem to remember that being a rumor last year.”

“You must not have heard the rumors this year.”

“I have,” she says. “But considering I have personal experience, I can make my own decision regarding your pussy.”

“And?” I ask, my cheeks heating at the reminder that we fooled around at a party when I was wasted.

She cracks a grin. “Not that magical.”

“I hate you,” I say, pushing her arm off me. “You’re the worst best friend ever.”

She just laughs. “What are friends for if not to be brutally honest? Besides, I can also confirm the rumors this year are bullshit.”

“Try telling Dixie that.”

“Come on, Lo, you’re fucking her boyfriend,” she says. “What do you expect? I’d have knocked out all your teeth by now.”

I snort. “You could try. In case you’ve forgotten, I kicked your ass last year.”

She draws herself up and gives me an imperious look I didn’t know she was capable of. “You most certainly did not,” she says, sounding mortally offended.

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