Page 178 of Shy Girls Can't Fake Date

“Boys, cool it,” their dad warns. “Don’t get your mother worked up.”

I sit back in my seat, unnerved by the imperceivable hostility at the table.

“You know you picked a lemon, don’t you?” Kurtis says to me, leaning forward in his seat. “He’s a nonstarter since day one.”

Recoiling, I glance at Parker, and then back at his brother.

“Kurtis,” his dad fires up. “What did I just say?”

Kurtis sniggers. “I’m just making conversation.”

Parker glares at his brother. “You’re being a jackass.”

Kurtis ignores him and smirks at me. “Don’t you want to know more about your boyfriend?”

I swallow the distaste rising up my throat. “Why do I get the feeling I don’t want to know?”

“I’m guessing no girl wants to realize she’s with a reject,” Kurtis says with a mocking tone. “You know, someone you might be better off pressing the abort button on.”

At that, Parker pushes back his chair with a screech and is quick to leave the table.

Mrs. Kelly stands as Parker storms out of the room. She calls out to him as we hear his footsteps hurry up the staircase.

I stand and step ahead of his mother. “Can I?”

Mrs. Kelly swallows hard and nods in approval.

On shaky legs, I leave the dining room and move toward the staircase.

Twenty-Three

On the second floor, I crane my neck for signs of Parker.

At my house, the second floor landing is tiny. Just enough room to walk past the bedroom and bathroom doors. Here, there’s a large living area, hosting a huge flatscreen TV and littered with gaming consoles. Teenage boys’ clothing is flung over the couches and shoes are strewn across the floor.

How does their neat freak mother stand it?

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