Page 55 of Shy Girls Can't Fake Date

He turns to me and waves a carrot and vegetable peeler as he talks. “That Parker’s okay. I’m still wary about his driving capabilities, but he doesn’t seem like a hopeless case.”

Mom moves to the sink to scrub her hands. “I was just telling Kikki how much I liked him.”

Before they go into full-on Parker praising mode, I say, “Can you not tell Tess about Parker coming over?”

Mom double takes at me. “Why would you say that?”

I shrug. “I dunno. I just don’t think she’d be happy about it.”

“Tess would like him if she met him,” Dad says.

“It doesn’t matter who he is, I just don’t think she’d like the idea of me hanging out with any guy.”

Mom gives a sympathetic smile. “Tess won’t be jealous, honey. I know she really wanted to go on dates in high school and it didn’t really work out for her, but she’d never want to hold you back.”

That would be how I’d describe my sister if it were opposite day.

“Tess can be very risk-averse,” Dad says diplomatically. “Are you asking us not to say anything until you decide to keep seeing Parker?”

A lightbulb shines in my head. “Yes. Just hold off.”

Mom and Dad nod in agreement. “Okay, we can do that,” Mom says. “As long as you don’t keep anything from us.”

I grin. “Deal.”

By the time Mom and Dad expect me to give the greenlight, I’ll be with Lewis. And once I’m with Lewis, Tess will just have to deal with it.

There’s nothing anyone can say that would keep me from seeing him.

While dinner’s cooking, I chill on the couch with Brandy lying by my feet.

Beep, beep.

I lift my phone and there’s a text from Parker.“So my parents were asking about you when I got home. My brother Kurtis heard about us at school and was sent the photo from chem lab.”

Goosebumps coat my skin.“What did you say about me?”

“I said you were cool and we were hanging out.”

“So you kept out the girlfriend stuff?”

“I told them I thought you were more into Lewis than me.”

I almost drop the phone.“Are you serious???”

“My mom thought I was putting myself down and tried to pinch my cheeks. I should’ve just said we were dating.”

A laugh tumbles out of me and my cheeks hurt from grinning.“Your mom sounds cute.”

“She overdoes it sometimes. She keeps trying to tell me how special I am and that you’d be crazy not to date me.”

“She’ll relax once she sees Yvette on your arm.”

“Here’s hoping!”

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