Page 63 of Faking Forever 1
I slung my finger around the dial on the car radio of my truck, turning the volume down as I whipped into the parking lot of the beach side. For a second, I thought I was going to the wrong place, which would’ve been the only thing I needed to send me to the edge. Painfully, I’ve been trying to remind myself that this is for Josh and Rich, and I need to leave my pettiness behind. All that I can fathom is how everyone who’s anyone who has a little bit of interest will be here.
Putting my pride aside has been an ongoing activity I’ve been forced into multiple times already this summer. Therefore, I’vegiven up speculation on the reason why, and have tried this thing that Tate calls “accepting your fate”. My fate sucks, and my luck is at zero percent, so only time will tell if I like that piece of unwarranted advice from my snoop of a little brother. I wish he could give me advice on how to make my dad not hate me because of a boy. Ever since the other night, 146
HEY NICKY
he looks at me like I’m a sleaze, and it hurts.
Turning my truck off, I open the door and hop out, heading straight for the bed to grab my stuff. Taking my shirt off, I expose my sky-blue swim top, tossing it in the back.
“Wow, Nicky, you weren’t kidding when you said her truck was literally falling apart.” a whiney voice chants from behind me.
The comment is followed by my laughter, making the tiny hairs on my arms stand straight. It was exactly who I was avoiding. It’s time for that fate thing, I guess.
“You know,” I snap back, turning to face the voice, “some of us are grateful for what we have. It’s a privilege to get a free car. Not everyone wants a G-Wagon, okay?” I cross my arms.
Daddy worked too hard for me to let them insult my big red.
I should’ve known, though. A cheap shot coming from Darcy is no surprise.
“Funny. If you can’taffordone, say that.” she snarls, twisting her bright copper-colored hair between her fingers.
Ignore, ignore, ignore.
“Yeah, plus that’s pretty shallow of you since youcompletelydenied my help the other day,” Nick adds to her, policing me, eyeing my body in the process.
I open the bed, reaching for my backpack and basket of food and first aid supplies, trying to tune out each of their comments. It’s never like menotto stick up for myself, though.
One way or another.
“Why would I take advice from an ex-boyfriend whose current girlfriend’s favorite thing to do is cosplay as Regina George? That’s right, I wouldn’t.”
I close my bed, giving them each a fake smile.
“Oh, that’s right, you have the fish boy to back you up now, 147
FAKING FOREVER
huh?” Darcy smiles, pushing harder on my last nerve.
My nails dig into my basket as I grip it tightly, spinning around. I wasn’t going to sit around and let her be a bitch for free. I feel like a freak.
Running in my direction, just as I turned, was Josh, already in his bathing suit shorts, looking tall, bronze, and beyond sexy.
The fresh droplets of water that were left on his body made him glisten, topping it off just like a cherry on ice cream. His shoulders broadened more and more as he approached me. He took his hat off, tucking it onto my head. He took the basket from me with no second thought.
“Hey gorgeous.” he starts strong, but his smile quickly leaves, “You’re not smiling. What’s the matter, huh?”
“I just looked stupid. I’m not exactly thrilled about it.”
“Why do you think you look stupid?”
He sighs like he can’t believe I’m going on about this.
“Thestupidtruck.”
We both kick off, walking down to the crowd.
“What? That truck is tough shit, Pea. It’s badass and vintage.
