He doesn’t look away until Trent bumps into him from behind.

With a rapid blink and a hint of a frown, he turns away.

I face forward right then and not a minute later the ride attendant opens the chain, ushering me and Nico through.

He steps ahead of me, choosing the front of the rollercoaster.

He pauses before climbing in, shifting around to look at me.

He nods his head, indicating for me to step past him into the small steel cart. “You first, girlfriend.”

Tell me why my stomach clenches.

Demi, Krista, and the other two run into the haunted maze with a bunch of other girls while us guys stay out front, both Trent and myself walking toward the exit the moment they disappear.

Twisting the lid off my water bottle, I take a drink and offer one to Trent, but when I glance over, finding him eyeing me curiously, it’s obvious he’s got something to say.

“What?”

He hesitates. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but I don’t think what you’re doing is a good idea.”

“Yeah, why’s that?”

“Demi’s not like the girls you’ve dated, Nic. She stays out of drama, cares about school, thinks about her future.”

“You think I don’t know all that?”

“How would you, you’ve steered clear of her for years. All of a sudden you’re forced to be her partner in class, and you’ve changed your mind?”

I glare long enough for him to look away, not speaking until he forces himself to face me.

“You’re acting like you don’t know the ins and outs of why, man. You’re my best friend, or you’re supposed to be, but right now I’m gettin’ the vibe you’re against me here.”

“I’m not,” he says. “But I don’t want to see this end up in ruins either.”

“It’s been a fuckin’ day, bro. Less than twenty-four hours if you wanna be technical.”

“That’s my point.” Trent frowns. “Less than a day, and all the girls believe it, you’re touching her, and she’s letting you?” his eyes widen. “And I don’t know if you just played it right or what, but it looked like you kissed her.”

“And if I did? What’s the issue, Trent?”

He shakes his head. “I’m just saying it’s kinda soon for you two to be acting this comfortable with each other.”

“Maybe we are.”

His head pulls back. “Are what?”

“Comfortable with each other.” I toss my water bottle in the garbage. “Like you said.” The girls’ light screams have me stepping closer to the exit, knowing they’re coming out soon, but I keep my body facing his. “She’s chill. I’m chill.” I give a small shrug. “Faking it ain’t all that hard, my man.”

The girls rush out in the next second, each one in small fits of laughter, and our attention shifts to them.

Macy smiles but then lets out a small growl as she shoves Demi into me. “Spank her, Nico, she deserves it.”

Demi’s hand plants on my chest and she looks up, green eyes full of laughter. “Sorry. She’s being a hater because I pushed her through the clown part ahead of us.”

A low chuckle leaves me, but all I can focus on is the spank her part.

Demi clears her throat, smiles and turns to her friends.

“I’m hungry,” she announces. “Can we go get some food now?”

“We just ate a few hours ago!” Macy points out.

“Shellfish,” Demi argues, looking at her like she’s crazy. “I’m a normal human. I need hardcore carbs to fill me up.”

“But the swing line is low!” Krista pouts and tries to reason. “There’ll be snacks out for us when we get back.”

Demi’s shoulders fall, her head snapping my way when my arm lands across her.

“I’ll take her to get some food while you ride the swings, and we’ll meet you on the next ride.”

Krista crosses her arms, narrowing her eyes on me. “And no delaying for a quickie in the boardwalk showers?”

Demi laughs goodheartedly, reaching out to pat Krista’s arm. “No, honey. That’s only you and your man who can enjoy the filthy, sandy, shower floors.”

My head slices to Trent who rubs the back of his neck, giving a small shrug.

I laugh, looking to Krista. “Where you goin’ next?”

“Snacks, drinks, and a DJ will be set up in the conference room at the hotel at nine, so let’s do the skylight ride last, then we can head back and party?”

“Sounds good.” Demi nods, looking to me for confirmation.

I agree, and the two of us break away from the rest of the group.

We get a few feet away when she nudges me in my ribs with her elbow.

“You can take your arm off me now,” she teases.

“Nah.” I tug her closer. “Others could be watching.”

She chuckles. “Ah. Right.”

I steer her toward the food court, but she turns me the opposite way, headed straight for Dessert Row.

“I thought you were hungry?”

“I am. For some deep-fried Oreos.”

I laugh and she looks up at me, smirking.

“What?”

“Before this weekend I didn’t even know Nico Sykes knew how to laugh.” Her feet stop moving so I’m forced to stop with her. “Now here you are, smiling, laughing.” She tilts her head to the side, a coy grin on her lips. “And to top it off, you’ve only had one or two temper tantrums today.”

I glare. “I don’t have temper fucking tantrums.”

“Mood swings, tantrums, random moments of dickishness. Call it what you like,” she mocks. “But careful, fake boyfriend, or I might start to think you’re having a halfway decent time.”

“You clownin’ on me?”

She chuckles as she pulls away, so I let my arm fall, shifting to face her as we step into the line.

“Maybe I am, D.”

She squints. “Am what?”

“Not miserable.”

She eyes me a second before a small laugh leaves her and she steps up to the order window. As quick as she pays, Demi’s being handed a paper bowl full of deep-fried Oreos covered in powdered sugar.

“I’ll eat as we walk so Krista doesn’t strangle me for being gone so long.” She lifts one of her pieces up, biting into it with a soft moan. “So good.”

We look at each other, and she chuckles.

I’m sure she can see the need in my eyes, while hers only hold a playfulness I enjoy as she covers that sexy mouth of hers that’s still full.

I’d like to fill it up with something else...

“Sorry.” She fights a smile, wiping her mouth, before going in for another bite.

“Moan like that again and—”

The ringing of my phone cuts me off, and I drag it from my pocket to find my dad’s name flashing.

My feet stop moving, tension wrapping around my shoulders as I glare at the screen.

He never calls.

“You can answer that if you need to,” Demi says and I look to her. “I can walk ahead.”

No.

I hit ignore, shoving it in my pocket and fall in place beside her, the two of us heading where we know the others will be.