Page 7 of Shy Girls Can't Fake Date

Two

Josie meets up withme outside the cafeteria. She holds up her phone and there’s a dumbfounded look on her face. “Is this text for real?”

I pout and fold my arms. “Saw it with my own eyes.”

Bewilderment rounds her eyes and her head slowly shakes. “Lewis and Yvette? I know I joked about it, but I didn’t think he’d actually be interested in her.”

“I don’t know if they’re just friends,” I say, barely believing myself. “But, how many friends hold hands?”

Josie latches onto my folded arms, smiling. “I like holding your hand.”

I smile, unfurling my arms. “I mean boy-girl friends. Hand holding seems romantic, doesn’t it?”

Josie links our arms and walks me into the cafeteria. “Well, what makes you think they might be just friends?”

“Something Yvette said. I don’t think she’s really into him. Like, he was just around. She thinks something more might happen only because she’s never been just friends with a guy.”

Josie gives me an optimistic smile. “Maybe this will be the first time? Lewis wouldn’t actually go out with someone as shallow as her, would he?”

I suck in a hesitant breath. “I never thought he would.”

Josie hugs me closer as we approach our usual table. “See, we gotta think positively. It’s not over yet.”

I sigh as I sit beside her. “Ah, you’re right. It’s just, Yvette’s never single for long. It was such a shock to see my guy on her radar.”

“Let’s not lose hope. He can still be your guy.”

As if on cue, we both turn toward Lewis’s table. The only reason we sit here is because it has a perfect view of him and his friends at lunch. My jaw clenches when Yvette approaches his table.

Josie clutches my hand for support. My heart misses a beat when Yvette stands by Tabitha Jones. Until recently, Yvette and Tabitha were inseparable. Then their ringleader, Camila, left town. Now, Tabitha sits at Lewis’s table because she’s dating his friend Kai.

Yvette gingerly touches Tabitha’s shoulder and tries to spark a conversation. From here, it’s hard to decipher what’s going down, but Tabitha seems more interested in staring at the floor. When Tabitha’s shoulders stay uninvitingly rigid, Yvette takes the hint and steps away.

I squeeze Josie’s hand, hopeful the icy reception prompts Yvette to take a hike.

Josie turns to me with worry when Yvette rounds the table toward Lewis.

We stay silent, eyes glued to the scene as Lewis and Yvette chat. There’s hair twirling, hip popping, toe digging, stance shifting, and readjusting of blazers and ties. All clear signs of flirting.

I stare so hard, everything goes white. I take an extra-large inhale, worried I’ll black out at some point.

I blink, watching the two lean in. I swear, time and space around me morphs into slow-motion.

Their lips connect.

Kissing.

Lewis and Yvette are kissing.

What?

No!

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