Page 9 of Resist

“Oh my gosh, that is so sweet! Yes.” He stands, and she hops up. “I’ll help you.”

I watch them wander off together, anger filling me before I drag my gaze away.

I don’t care.

I don’t.

Fox can fuck whomever he wants. It has nothing to do with me. Everything we do is for the act—nothing more, nothing less. He can have all the fun he wants now that we are climbing to the top.

I know I’m not making a good impression, but I can’t seem to wear that fake persona even though I know I should, and it makes me even more annoyed and miserable. Before I know it, I’m standing.

“I think we are heading back, guys.” There’s a chorus of boos and people demanding we stay. “We have to be up for a meeting with our label.” I force a smile. “You know how it is. We can’t get into trouble on the first day.” I wink. “But I can’t wait to stay next time and play.”

Dash and Strike extract themselves with frowns. “Aww, we can stay for a little bit longer,” Dash says.

“Stay?” Fox appears at my side, eyeing me, but I can’t bring myself to meet his gaze, afraid of what he might see. “Are we leaving?”

“Yeah, we have to be up early,” I remind them.

“Since when did you become the responsible one?” he scoffs, nudging me.

Since you decided to stop caring about me, I think.

“True, stay!” someone yells.

“At least give us something before you go,” another adds.

“I know! They should kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!” The chant starts, and I share a wide-eyed look with Fox.

I glance at his lips as I move closer. “They won’t stop until we do.” It’s an excuse. I want to taste the beer on his lips, and I want them all to know he’s mine.

His eyebrows draw together as he looks at the chanting crowd and then me as I move closer. My eyes are on his lips, but he steps back, and I freeze. He turns away from me, smiling tightly at the crowd. “Ah, you want me to kiss you?” He heads their way jokingly as they laugh. “Maybe next time.” He winks as he waves. “Thanks for having us. It’s been a blast. I’m sure I’ll see you fuckers around.” He turns and forces his way through the crowd.

I watch him go before waving and following after him, my heart pounding for some unknown reason.

“Fox!” I grab his arm. “What’s the problem? It’s just a game.”

He jerks from my grip, frowning at me. “I shouldn’t have to play games just to get them to like me. They don’t matter that much to me. I don’t care what they think or want.”

“But we act like that together,” I start, feeling frustrated.

“Out of choice, not because someone is forcing us to. It makes me feel sick to even think about it,” he snaps.

His words feel like a bucket of cold water was dumped over me as I stare into his eyes, which are hard and distant.

“It made you sick to think about kissing me?” I know my voice is sharp, but something inside me cracks.

“Under these circumstances? Yes,” he retorts, eyeing me. “You would have done whatever they wanted and played along.”

“We need them to like us. We got this far, and we can’t fail now. I’ll do whatever it takes to get us to the top,” I admit. I would do anything to give him his dream and get us there together.

He looks me over like he’s seeing me for the first time, and I don’t like what I see in his gaze.

“Good to know,” he finally says, withdrawing as he steps away from me. “I know where we stand now.”

“Come on, guys, enough. Let’s go.” Strike grabs us, wrapping his arms around our necks. “Just another night in Hollywood,” he teases, but it falls flat. It’s then I realize how many eyes are on us, and I let him lead us away.

I wonder what Fox meant and why I’m consumed by fear.

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