Page 204 of Shy Girls Can't Fake Date

I grin. “I can handle that.”

“Coming,” Parker calls out as the others head out.

As we move toward the trail, I can’t help glancing over at the bushes where Lewis and Yvette disappeared. “Do you think they’ll come back to camp soon?”

“They’re either breaking up or making up,” Parker says. “Do you want to find them?”

I shake my head. “No way. If they’re fighting, I don’t want Yvette to accuse me and Lewis of secretly being in love.”

“Why does that bother you? Don’t you want Lewis thinking about you like that?”

“It feels wrong. Plus, it puts Lewis on the defensive. It reminds him why he wants Yvette instead of me.”

Parker squeezes my hand. “Let’s just chill before they come back on the scene. Hopefully, when they’re back, they separate and the vibe is better.”

“I think you’ll have to work overtime on the positivity. It’s just not soaking in.”

He gestures ahead. “Or we could just soak up nature. Doesn’t that do it for you?”

I smile and my shoulders ease. “Ah, yeah. This could totally work.”

Parker doesn’t drop my hand as we wander the trail behind Tyler, Jamie, and Milo.

The others are more lively, talking and joking between themselves. Sometimes Parker joins in, but mostly we walk in silence. The foliage framing the hiking trail lulls me into serenity, my mind doesn’t even need to meld into fantasyland.

“Wow,” I murmur as we reach a peak with a view of the setting sun.

Tyler checks his smartwatch. “We’d better turn around. Dad said he’d be getting the grill on soon.”

Jamie pats her stomach. “Good. This thing’s starting to growl.”

The walk back is downhill, seemingly much faster. My mood lifts as we approach the campsite. That is, until Yvette stands in our view.

“Umm, Kylie,” Yvette says, digging her shoe into the dirt. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

“Me?” I point at my chest. “Alone?”

Jamie tugs Milo out of the way, and Tyler gives us a double take before following them.

“Please?” Yvette’s eyes round. “It’s important.”

Parker nudges me. “Go on. You’re roomies, aren’t you?”

I groan. Unfortunately, yes.

I nod at Yvette and, with delight, she leads me into our tent. We crouch onto our sleeping bags and sit across from each other.

“I just wanted to clear the air,” Yvette says, clutching her elbows.

My bottom lip quivers as I search for any shred of confidence. “Why do you think something is going on between Lewis and me?”

“Because there has to be a reason he’s not interested in me.”

I’m floored. “What? Of course, he’s into you.”

She shakes her head. “He’s interested in being seen with me, but he doesn’t really like me.”

“What makes you say that?”

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