Page 119 of Shy Girls Can't Fake Date

“Yeah, but what about how we go about it?”

He massages the back of his neck, staring straight ahead. “I’m doing this because I’m willing to do anything to break them up. I thought you were too.”

“I am, but...”

Parker pulls the car onto the road. “Then that’s all there is to it.”

Even though I want to keep stressing my point, I don’t breathe another word. I don’t want him to get another head rush and there not be enough time to pull over.

It doesn’t matter anyway. I’m not letting him kiss me, no matter how big a show he puts on.

We arrive at the fair, and once we’re past the gates, my walk turns into a dawdle. The lights, music, and screams from the rides chaotically swirl around us.

Parker double takes and waits for me to catch up. “What’s happening?”

I press a hand into my stomach. “I don’t do carnival rides.”

He smirks. “Green, you recently jumped off a cliff.”

“An impulsive action I don’t intend to repeat.”

Parker steps toward me, lifting one finger. “One. Just ride one.”

I eye him skeptically. “One? You won’t pressure me into more?”

“You might like it after you do one.”

“Doubt it. After I rode a rollercoaster at age eleven, I swore off rides.”

“Just ride the same one as Lewis. Isn’t that enough incentive?”

My stomach flips. “I won’t look attractive to him if I’m about to puke.”

Parker laughs. “You won’t puke. You’ll have fun.”

“Why are you acting like we’ve just met?”

“Why are you acting like you haven’t nailed everything you’ve tried over the past few days?” He links arms with me. “Come on. You’ve got this.”

I relent, letting him walk me toward the sideshow alley. Parker checks his phone, finding the location Lewis texted him. We find him and Yvette at a sideshow game, where he throws darts at moving targets.

As we approach the booth, Lewis groans, throwing his head back as the sideshow worker announces he’s not a winner.

“Oof. Lewy, it’s not your night,” Parker teases.

Lewis sighs. “Hey, man. Great timing.”

Parker sniggers, patting Lewis’s shoulder.

Yvette moves around Lewis and pulls me into a hug. “Hi, Kylie. So glad you’re here.”

“Oh, umm, hi,” I say, taking a moment to hug her back.

She giggles, pulling out of the hug. “You got to see my boyfriend successfullynotwin me a prize.”

“I tried,” Lewis complains.

Yvette plants her hands on her hips. “Trying doesn’t get me a teddy bear, does it.”

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