Page 67 of Shy Girls Can't Fake Date

“If winning was who hit the water first, it was you,” I reply. “If it was who looked most insane, the jury is still out.”

Parker raises a fist in the air, cheering. “Beat ya, Lewis!”

“You hit the water first because I got more air,” Lewis says, bobbing against the waves. “I say getting more air wins.”

“Not according to Kylie,” Parker replies.

Lewis shrugs. “So?”

Ouch. Why does that sting so much?

Yvette giggles. “Yeah, more air totally wins.”

“Rematch?” Parker suggests.

Yvette swims to the side. “I’m not judging. You two make too many waves.”

Lewis laughs, following Yvette. “Guess that means I’m the winner.”

Parker scoffs, pushing off the rocks to swim behind them. “You’re so deluded.”

Even though staying by the rushing water sounds like a dream, I follow the others so I’m not labeled a loner weirdo.

As the boys continue to bicker, we move near the rock formations on the edge of the cove. Jamie, Milo, Kai, and Tyler sit along the rocks, chatting.

Tabitha gets out of the water and positions herself on a smooth rock. “Time for some sun.”

Tyler looks up at the sun rays beaming down on Tabitha. “Girl, you’re gonna burn there.”

Tabitha puffs a laugh. “I lotioned up. I’ll be fine.”

“Sun tanning is okay if you don’t care about your skin,” Yvette remarks, wading in the water. “I couldn’t do it. I mean, my skin is so pale. I need to be careful because I don’t want wrinkles when I’m older.”

“What are you saying?” Tabitha asks, reclining on her elbows. “That I’ll be a raisin when I’m old?”

“Oh, no,” Yvette says in a squeaky voice. “I didn’t mean you. I just don’t want wrinkles.”

Tabitha’s eyebrows push together as her glare intensifies. “And you think I’m going out of my way to get wrinkles?”

Jamie sighs loudly, getting up and moving further down the rocks. “So much drama since girls started hanging around.”

“Well, we’re not tomboys,” Yvette blurts, “so we care about how we look.”

“Hey!” Milo shouts, standing in front of Jamie. “Not cool.”

Sitting on the edge of a rock, Kai deadpans at Lewis. “You gonna say something, bro?”

“Ah,” Lewis drags out the word, pivoting between Yvette and his friends.

The poor guy. Imagine having to defend such a shallow girl. Of course he has no words to say.

Kai grunts and turns to Tabitha. “Are you okay, babe?”

Tabitha nods and lies down to get the sun she craves.

Parker blows out a breath and swims further into the lake. “Well that was awkward.”

I swim away with him and ask, “What would you have said if you were in Lewis’s position?”

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