Page 32 of Shy Girls Can't Fake Date

Jamie tucks her calf under her butt to sit higher on her seat. She scrutinizes us, saying, “I haven’t even seen you two talk before.”

Yvette combs her fingers through her hair, the urge to gossip too overwhelming for her. “Well, I saw Parker talking to her yesterday in chemistry.”

Jamie’s eyes narrow as if she’s putting invisible puzzle pieces together. “During dinner last night, my aunt said something about you two. I told her she was crazy, but maybe it was for real.”

Kai turns to Jamie. “What did Maddy say?”

Jamie pivots her gaze between me and Parker. “That Parker was asking Kylie out.”

Parker plonks the bakery box on the table and slings an arm around my shoulders. “Is it really that hard to believe?”

Lewis tilts his head, getting a read on his friend. “Is that why she brought you cakes?”

Tyler sniggers, sitting back in his seat as he stares at me. “You baked for him?”

Jamie swats a hand. “She basically bakes in her sleep. It’s not that special.”

Parker scoffs. “Have you eaten them before? I think it’s more than special.”

Kai’s girlfriend, Tabitha, clears her throat. “It’s just a bit weird because, Parker, I thought you liked...”

Parker shrugs, interrupting, “I kept my feelings quiet because I wanted to make sure Kylie liked me back.”

My gut cramps and my vision doubles. I can’t bear to look over at Lewis. I want him to know I only have space in my heart for him. This charade is only pulling us further apart.

“There’s no way. I’m not buying it,” Kai says, slinging an arm around Tabitha. “Tabby’s right. Parker, you’ve been drooling over someone else all semester. Now you want us to believe you’re into Kylie?”

“Agreed,” Lewis pipes up. “It’s out of nowhere.”

Phew.

Lewis sees me. He really sees me.

Parker squeezes my hand. “Well you guys need to believe it because Kylie’s coming with us to Logan’s Point.”

“Tomorrow? Kylie’s coming with us?” Jamie asks, side-eyeing me like I’m not really here. “I didn’t think she was into that stuff.”

Parker inflates his chest. “What can I say? I’mthatirresistible.”

Yvette giggles and claps. “Yay. Another girl amongst all these dudes.”

“Kylie,” Jamie says bluntly. “What’s really going on?”

I want to back away, but Parker keeps a hold of me. Plus, I think my shoes have turned into cement blocks.

“I... I...”

Subtly, Parker tugs on my hand. He wants me to spit out more than one syllable. To say something to win them all over. But it’s impossible. How will my heart ever let me say I’m into any other boy than Lewis?

Tyler laughs. “She looks terrified next to you, man.”

Tabitha narrows her stare at me. “Kylie, why don’t you leave if you don’t want to be here?”

Kai smirks. “Parker, are you holding her hostage?”

Jamie slouches in her seat. “I knew my aunt was crazy. This isn’t real.”

“Uh, fine.” Parker huffs, exasperated.

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