A huge lump smacked me square in the chest. “Well, of course we’re going to break up,” I shot back as though it were ridiculous to assume otherwise. “But getting blindsided like that doesn’t just make me look stupid, it also makes you look like you don’t give a shit enough to tell me.” My mouth formed an ‘O’ when something clicked. “That’s what you were probably going for and the reason for our ‘breakup.’”
The flash of guilt when he dropped his head spoke volumes, practically screaming from the rooftops ‘that was the plan, dumb ass, you just weren’t aware!’
It disappeared just as fast. “I promise I’ll tell you more, but another time, okay?” His eyes flicked up above my head. “There’s a ton of people looking this way, and if I don’t make some show of being your boyfriend,” He winked, “then it’s going to cause further suspicion.” He eyed me. “You’re cold.”
As if right on cue, I shuddered against the chill. “It’s not that bad,” I said, trying to ignore the icy blast hitting me in the face. “It’s just a little windy over here.”
“Come here,” he said, gripping the sides of his black hoodie, opening it out, revealing a bright white T-shirt covering a broad chest. “I’ll warm you up.”
I didn’t think twice about stepping into his arms, sliding my arms around his waist. He wasn’t just warm, he was cozy, like a fire in the middle of winter, and I wanted to bury my face into the heat. His arms folded across my back, enveloping me in his embrace, cocooning me in his jacket.
He felt safe.
His pecs were solid under my cheek, and as I pressed further into him, his abs bunched against me. “You’re so warm,” I moaned. “God, I could stay here all night.” My eyes snapped open after those words had fallen out of my mouth.
Quinn coughed, clearing his throat. “It’s always cold over here—I come prepared. I can warm you up whenever you need.”
God, why does he have to do this?
I tipped my head back, seeing him looking down at me. His pupils were large in the darkness, the blue, and patch of green almost invisible in the night. “Aw, aren’t you sweet?” I cooed, brushing off his kind words. “Are you going to be this sweet tomorrow, or are you going to bite my head off for looking at you?”
He chuckled. “Yeah, I don’t like being stared at so, sorry again.”
“Even by your girlfriend?” I joked, wiggling in his arms. I hadn’t moved much when he squeezed me tight, holding me still.
“I’ll try to make the exception,” he said, smiling and showing those gorgeous teeth of his. He seemed to notice and touched one point with the tip of his tongue. “You could take a picture, you know—it’ll last longer.”
“Oh my God,” I gasped, my lips curling up. “I could.”
“Fuck.” Quinn’s head dropped.
“Oh, you said it, Quasi.” I laughed. “You can’t take it back. I am going to take so many pictures of you, you’ll be begging to break up with me sooner rather than later.”
Shitty plan, but if it gets the job done…
That idea didn’t feel as good as it should, and I frowned as I attempted to figure out why the hell I wasn’t goading him over it.
He grumbled, then his head snapped up to the sound of Josh’s voice.
“Come on, love birds, it’s fucking freezing over there. Get your asses by the fire!”
Reluctantly, I pulled out of Quinn’s arms, the air biting me as soon as his heat left my body.
“Here, you can have this,” he said, beginning to pull his hooded jacket off his shoulders.
“It’s okay, we’ll be by the fire soon.”
We headed over, walking close together, and to the space Josh had made for us. A guy who looked a little like Josh sat next to him, but with dark blond hair, who I assumed was Layton.
“Oh, look,” Phoebe purred, snaking her arm through Layton’s. “The happy not-couple have arrived.”
Layton pulled her arm from his and rolled his eyes as though he’d heard it before. “Phoebe, not this again,” he complained, shaking his head. “Can you just leave this the fuck alone?”
Josh looked ahead as though he was close to losing his temper, but Quinn said nothing. Instead, he sat next to Josh and gestured for me to sit next to him.
“Look at them for crying out loud,” she said, holding her hand out, her long nails pointing toward us. “Does that look like a normal relationship to you?” She looked around at the mass encircling the fire. “To anyone?” She laughed slyly, her menacing expression for all to see. “If I were Kinsley, I’d be all over Quinn. My lipstick would be smeared, and his hands would be on me, not shoved into his pockets.”
“Wow, Phoebe, your bitchiness is showing,” Layton glowered. He stared into the flames, not looking toward us.
I glanced at Quinn, his sharp features hard, and it was evident his hands were balled up inside his jacket. I slipped my hand into his pocket, touching his fist. “Don’t let her get to you. We have nothing to prove,” I assured him, but as I scanned the faces, everybody that I could see was watching with avid interest.
A short girl with blonde bobbed hair tipped her head to the side. “She’s kinda got a point, there,” she said, her voice high-pitched and nasal.
Jojo leaned forward next to Phoebe, flashing her cleavage over her tight, red bandeau top. “I’ve never seen you show any PDA except for the hug over there.” She pointed to where we’d been stood. “And I’d know. You always stand out, Quinny.”
Quinny? Really?
Phoebe snorted. “See? I’m not the only one that thinks this is some elaborate lie for reasons I cannot fathom. Quinn, why are you doing this? Why are you pretending to date Kinsley?” She turned to me. “You couldn’t get one of your own, so you managed to get him to agree to be your pity partner?” She threw her head back and laughed, and so did most of the other girls. Some watched with interest at the possible unveiling of a bizarre hoax.
The guys spoke in hushed tones to each other, and when I made eye contact with Colby, his fixed gaze penetrated me, his mouth spreading into something I could only describe as sinister. “I told you,” he mouthed, looking pleased with himself. “I’m right here.”
“We don’t have to prove anything to any of you!” Quinn bellowed. He stood, taking me with him. “What the fuck is wrong with all of you? You think we’re fake dating?” He laughed hard, bitterness flying from his mouth. “Sure, believe what ridiculous shit you want, you fucking sad individuals.” He shook his head in disbelief. “Am I such a big part of your life that you find it necessary to come up with crap to smear Kinsley’s name?” He glared at Phoebe. “And for what? To keep me single so you have a chance?” He laughed indignantly, mocking their idiocy. His anger was palpable in the air, the flames seeming to feed off of his rage, the fire dancing higher and higher. “Fuck, I wouldn’t touch any of you desperate wannabe Instagram stars with a ten-foot-pole. You’re pathetic. You’re all acting like jealous kids when someone got the candy you wanted first.” He turned to Phoebe, whose satisfied smirk had fallen, her head turning side to side as she watched for everybody else’s reaction. “I bet this was all you, right?” When she shook her head so fast it was almost comical, Quinn jabbed his finger out, aiming at Colby. “And you. The one who’s been trying to hit on my girl every time my back was turned.” Colby didn’t deny it, he just stared right at me, making me uncomfortable. “You all need to grow the fuck up.”