Page 102 of Forever Golden
She isn’t lying. Although all of this is pretend, and mostly his idea, the pain I see on his face is real. And honestly, that kills me a little.
“He’s fine,” I lie.
“Which is why you’re sitting over here with me and he’s all the way over there. Right. Got it,” she adds with a sigh.
I finally tear my eyes away from West and remember the role I’m supposed to play. The word Joss kept throwing at me was‘indifferent’.
Be… indifferent.
“I’ve just been thinking that, I don’t know… maybe we moved too fast and I wasn’t as ready to settle down with him as I thought.”
Lexi’s expression softens a bit more, now that I’m no longer treating her like a stranger.
“Well, have you told him that?”
I shrug. “How do you tell a guy you’re not sure you still want to be with him?”
Lexi glances over at their table again, then back at me. “Beats me. I don’t do relationships, but I’m pretty blunt about shit. So, I’d say just tell him and see what happens.”
She’s giving the best advice she knows how to give and, whether it’sgoodadvice or not, I feel guilty that she’s trying to help. Seeing as how this whole thing is total B.S.
“Maybe,” I sigh. “Right now, I just want to get through the rest of this week without being tarred and feathered.”
She laughs. “Well, what did you expect? Don’t you know betraying the king is an act of treason?”
I smile at her. “Sure wish this relationship had come with a warning. If it had, I might not have even bothered.”
She’s about to respond, but her expression goes blank. I follow her gaze and it leads straight to West as he strolls this way. Even knowing exactly what his next move is about to be, I’m not quite sure I’m ready to play along.
Here goes, I guess.
He drops down into the seat across from me and meets my gaze with a chilled look in his eyes. I, on the other hand, have zero feeling on my face whatsoever.
“What?” I snap, pretending I’m talking to Mike. It helps when trying to come across as being genuinely unimpressed right now.
“Are we gonna talk? I texted and called all night, and every time I’ve gotten close to you today, you pretend you have somewhere more important to be.”
“Ididhave someplace important to be, West. It’s called class.”
His jaw tenses with frustration. “Here we go again. More of the same bitch-fest I’ve been getting for the past two weeks,” he groans. “Just fucking tell me if we’re done, so we canbothmove the fuck on.”
I feel Lexi’s stare as she wonders what I’ll say to that, wonders how West and I went from being so solid, to this.
“Just… I can’t do this. Not in front of everyone.”
I stand then, leaving West at the table with no more clarity than he walked over here with.
“So, I’m just supposed to fucking wait for you? That’s what you think?” he shouts as I storm away.
I don’t look back, don’t respond, just burst through the lunchroom doors and head toward my locker to wait for the bell to ring. My heart’s still racing after that last outburst, but it’s getting easier to pretend. Not once has anyone questioned whether we’re just putting on a show, because why would we? We’re painting a picture where West’s getting walked on like a cheap rug, and I look like a monster.
I make it about halfway to my locker before my phone sounds off. I pause to read West’s text, having to fight a smile as I scroll.
West: Pretty sure Lexi growled at me when you left.
Blue: Probably. I’ve been super skeptical of her lately, but I’m actually starting to think she’s on the level.
West: Maybe. Anyway, is it weird that all this fake fighting is turning me on?