Page 179 of Shy Girls Can't Fake Date

I pan around at the numerous doors, and softly call out, “Parker?”

I edge across the carpet, peering into the open doorways. I pass a room that’s clearly William’s, and another that’s devoid of personality and likely a guest room. When I pass his parents’ bedroom, I hear a toilet flush. A few moments later, Parker emerges from a bathroom.

He slouches against the door frame. “Hey.”

“Hey. Are you okay?”

He points below us. “That, down there, is the reason I didn’t want to do this.”

“I’m sorry if me being here made things worse.”

Parker steps across the hall, opens a door, and gestures for me to follow him inside.

I press a hand into my fragile stomach and follow behind.

Parker plonks on his bed, running a hand over his brow. “Don’t apologize,” he mumbles. “You never make anything worse.”

Inside his bedroom, a wave of calm washes over me. I can’t explain it, but this room manifests Parker’s personality. He has a knack of pulling me out of anxiety, and so does this room. It has light green walls, plastered with band posters and a collage of images of him and his friends. His desk is littered with textbooks, a gaming PC, and a dissected skateboard. The open closet has one neat side, and the other is piled with washed and unwashed clothes.

It just feels like him.

It feels safe.

I edge closer to him. “So, what was all that down there?”

“I’ll tell you, but you have to promise you won’t tell anyone else.”

I nod hurriedly. “I won’t.”

Parker shifts to pull something out from under the bed.

“Wait,” I blurt.

He sits up tall again, waiting for me to say more.

I swallow dryly. “You don’t have to tell me. I mean, why would you tell me if none of your friends know?”

“You’ve already kept a secret,” he replies, gesturing between us. “You haven’t told your family or my friends that we’re not really dating.”

“That’s it? You trust me?”

“And, you’re looking at me like I’m weird. I don’t think I can hang out with you on the camping trip if you’re looking at me like I’m a martian.”

I sit back. “I’m sorry, Parker. I didn’t mean to act strange. There’s just an off vibe around here.”

Parker smirks. “I tried to warn you. I told you to make an excuse to get out of tonight.”

“I thought you were exaggerating.”

Parker takes a deep breath in and out. “Okay. So, you know how Kurtis wouldn’t lay off the whole blood thing?”

I hug my waist, sitting cross-legged on his bed. “Why was he being such a jerk?”

He shrugs. “Because that’s what my brother does.”

“Okay. So what’s his fascination with blood?”

Parker rubs the heel of palm across his chest, wincing. “When I was seven-years-old, I was in a really bad accident. There was a lot of blood, and I needed to go to the hospital.”

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