Page 47 of Pretty Little Lies

Travis knows what’s up, has to. There’s no way I’d be able to compose myself over the last few days, and he’s been picking up the slack by coming over and keeping me company.

Levi’s jealous.

I ordered from Levi’s favorite Italian place the other night and took a bunch of pictures for him just to show off. Even video-called him while eating just to tell him how good it was. The conversation was filled with a few choice and colorful words, but he loved it.

Now, it’s time to show the world how much we fake-hate each other.

And, I don’t know why we’re doing it here, but Levi must know something I don’t, so I’m just rolling with it.

My stomach turns for the hundredth time, nausea hanging out with me for the last few hours, but I’m ready.

I have no other choice.

I feel him before he even comes into my peripheral. It comes with years of years of knowing each other. Levi is like my soulmate, my emotional support, strength, and silent defender.

It just sucks that it had to come down to this, where we’re using our relationship as a weapon.

“Is this how it’s always gonna be?” Levi exhorts, nice and loud over the music and carnival rides, which for him isn’t hard to do. He begins circling my body like a lion waiting to pounce onhis prey, but this little zebra has a few stripes left to play. “I have to see your fucking slut ass all over the damn place?”

Ouch. Dick.

Unhurriedly, I crane my head to find him centering out in front of me. Juice and Hot Rod flank his sides like the faithful soldiers they are. They all looked pissed to see me until Juice gives me a quick wink, and I hate him because I almost smile.

“On your nine,” Levi mutters. “About thirty yards away are the Forsaken Fucks all lined up in a row.”

I want to look, but I keep my pinched brows on Levi. “So, I’m assuming the slut comment was unnecessary?”

“It may have been loud enough,” Levi replies, careful to keep his voice down, and I’m glad the boys are a bit away so that we don’t have to keep throwing shots at each other. “But we’re going to have to up the ante so that it doesn’t look like we’re kissing and making up.”

“What do you suggest?”

“Follow my lead?”

“If I have to,” I reply, holding in a sigh, right before Levi reaches out for my face, and I instantly slap it away.

“Perfect,” he mutters, then grabs a fistful of my hair and yanks me forward so that my chest collides into his.

“Stanton is getting impatient,” Hot Rod informs us, and my heart skips a beat at the simple hint that he’s always wanting to come rescue me.

Juice smacks at Mae’s stuffed animals in my hand, and I balk at him when some dropped to the ground.

I lunge for him, making it look like he pissed me off—he kinda did—but Levi’s hold keeps me grounded to him. He leans forward, nestling his face into the crook of my neck. I practically melt as my palm finds his hard torso and I begin to forget what we were supposed to be doing. The smell of sandalwood hits mynose first before the aftermath of motor oil and mint quickly follow, and I breathe him like a for-real psycho ex-girlfriend.

“Are we breaking up or making up?” Levi whispers in my ear. “Make a move.”

Lifting my knee, Levi immediately breaks away from me, even though I wasn’t going to actually hit him in the balls. I’m more irritated with myself than anything because I’m over here fucking around.

My best friend’s chest bumps mine, and I almost fall on my ass from the force of his massive frame.

“The goal is to get one of them over here,” Levi emits. “If they don’t, we’re failing and they’re not buying it.”

“Then you better hit me or something because—” He glowers at me.

“Have you lost your fucking mind? I’m not going to punch you in the face.”

I reach for his fingers that are still laced in my hair, as if trying to get him to let go. “You’re not a big enough villain yet. Matteo was the other day with Torin. You are with Reeve, but Torin still thinks of you as a bitch.”

Levi’s green eyes narrow. “I’d love to hear those words come out of his mouth.”

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