Page 223 of Shy Girls Can't Fake Date

Parker smirks. “What’d I tell you, Green. Subtly doesn’t always go in your favor.”

“And I told you, I’ll be with Lewis by being myself.”

“Well, who can argue with that? Yourself is more than awesome.”

He walks away and I’m left feeling hollow. In private, we’re cutesy and talking about silly stuff like our anniversary. How am I supposed to change gears and go after Lewis? My heart’s too fragile to transition between both boys.

I get up and walk away toward the campsite. I need space or I’m literally going to explode.

“Hey, is Yvie getting off the boat?” Jamie asks as I approach her and Milo by the tents.

“I think so. She asked Parker for help, which I assume was for disembarking the boat.”

“She can’t use her own legs?” Milo jokes.

Jamie squints at me. “Why is she asking your boyfriend for help instead of her own?”

A wave of ugliness scrambles in my gut. “Probably because Lewis was still on the skis.”

“Mm-hmm.” She doesn’t buy it.

“I think I need to lie down,” I say, moving past them.

“Are you going rappelling later?” she asks.

I frown. “Probably not.”

I can’t keep watching Yvie flirt with my fake boyfriend. Even if it means I have Lewis all to myself, there’s only so much I can stomach.

Twenty-Nine

Iwent with the othersto the rappelling location, but I hung back. Yvette’s flirtatious remarks to Parker are still torture. Like every group activity, she chickened out of this one too. I think it was just an excuse to get Parker to hold her as she wailed.

Once Lewis finished his descent, I walked back to camp with Tabitha and Milo. Milo was quick to stick his head in a book, and Tabitha and I helped the moms prep dinner. Soon after Jamie, the boys, and the dads make their way back to camp. Along with a lot of mocking and teasing thrown back and forth. I crane my neck, but I can’t spot Yvette and Lewis anywhere.

Parker moves over to me as I toss the salad. “I really thought you’d give rappelling a go,” he says.

---