Page 127 of Shy Girls Can't Fake Date

The familiar shriek of laughter passes us as Yvette and Lewis drive by.

“Step on it,” Parker encourages. “Hit ‘em back.”

“I don’t want to intentionally ram them.”

“But that’s the point of bumper cars.”

“Also why I said I didn’t want to do this.”

Before Parker can make another argument, we’re hit from behind.

“Ugh.” I jerk forward, slamming myself against the steering wheel.

Parker looks behind us and smirks. “Nice one, Tabby.”

“It was him, not me,” she calls out.

They swerve around us, and Tabitha waves, but Kai gains too much speed for me to even smile back. There’s no way I was waving back. My arms are cemented in this position.

“Are you good?” Parker asks.

“I’m hanging on.”

“Do you want me to take over?”

“No,” I say, surprising myself. “I prefer to have control. That way the only surprises are what other cars do. I like not having your crazy driving in the mix.”

I meander through the cars, avoiding being hit and hitting others, and soon our engine dies out.

“Woo,” Parker cheers, unbuckling. “You did it.”

I giggle and joke, “We’re still alive.”

We leave the car and make our way off the rubber track.

“Okay, now it’s time for the tilt-a-whirl,” Lewis announces once we’re all back on stable ground.

Yvette giggles, swinging Lewis by the hand. “You’ve been dying for that ride all night. Come on, baby, let’s go.”

The others head out toward the next ride and I barely feel like I’m standing upright.

“Another ride?” I question warily. “Already?”

Parker hugs his arms around my shoulders, walking me behind the others. “Maybe they’re will be a line and you’ll have time to take a breather.”

I grin. “You and your positive thinking.”

We meander behind the others, and as the night sky grows darker, the rides area has become crowded. We line up behind the others, and the awkward tension rises as Yvette continually attempts to grab Tabitha’s attention.

Tabitha clings to Kai, keeping her gaze well away from Yvette.

Yeesh. Why are they still hanging around us? If Tabitha wants nothing to do with Yvette, couldn’t she make an excuse and leave and find Jamie and Milo?

I keep my gaze low as we wait in the immovable line. I sure don’t want to be roped in the middle of the ugliness brewing between the girls. Beside me, Parker fidgets and then digs inside his pocket. He pulls out his phone and I see the display, reading,“Kurtis Calling.”

Parker frowns at the screen. “What does he want?”

I nudge him. “Answer it. He might need help.”

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