Page 62 of Shy Girls Can't Fake Date

As the four of us stand in front of the four of them, Tyler idly stands in the middle, like some kind of weird, double-dating referee.

Kai grabs Tabitha’s hand and tugs her forward. “Shall we?” he says, and they move toward the cove.

Jamie’s eyes shift my way, and then she motions at Milo to follow. I bet this is weird for her. It used to be just her and the boys. Now she has all these other girls to contend with, and two happen to be reforming mean girls.

I’m supposed to be playing best friends with Yvette, but it sure would be easier if I got to hang with Jamie instead. Even though we’ve rarely talked while we’ve worked together, making nice with a tomboy would be easier than dealing with Miss Perfect.

We move toward the cove and it takes my breath away. The water is turquoise blue and the backdrop is a magnificent cliff face with a gushing waterfall as the centerpiece.

As the group sheds clothing to get down to their bathing suits, nervousness bubbles inside me. I clutch the straps of my dress, scared to let it fall to the ground. Am I really letting everyone see me in a revealing bikini?

Nerves are clearly not affecting Yvette. She’s stripped down to a hot pink bikini and is anchoring a hand on her hip. Her body sways without a care of who might be staring.

To save my sanity, I avert my eyes from the real life Barbie. I double take at Jamie as she rubs sunscreen into her shoulders. She’s wearing a navy one-piece and a pair of black shorts.

I nudge Parker, and murmur. “Jamie’s not in a bikini.”

He raises an eyebrow. “So?”

“So, you said I needed a bikini to get noticed.” I gesture at Jamie while her boyfriend rubs sunscreen further down her back. “She’s got her boyfriend’s attention.”

Parker snorts. “You can’t compare yourself to Jamie. She’s one of the dudes.”

Parker whips off his shirt, and heat steams out of my pores. My eyes roll down his torso, and it takes a moment to realize I should avert my eyes.

“Do you need sunscreen?” Parker asks.

“Huh?”

My eyes draw to his thumb, which points at the sunscreen sitting on a rock.

“It was Kai’s idea,” Parker whispers. “He wanted a reason to touch Tabitha, and we agreed it was a killer idea.”

He backs away, giving me a questioning stare.

I shy away, hugging my middle as I shake my head. “I’m good.”

He backs away, and an image of Parker’s hands on my shoulders gives me confusing tummy flutters. Seriously, will my body heat stop rising?

Parker brushes past Lewis and Yvette and pumps the sunscreen bottle.

“Ugh, I got too much,” Parker complains at the wad of white lotion in his palm. He steps close to Yvette. “Do you need your shoulders done, Yvie?”

There’s something flirty in her smile as she moves her hair off her neck.

“Nuh-uh,” Lewis interrupts, draping an arm around Yvette. “Apparently you have a girlfriend too.”

Parker puts up his defenses. “Hey man, there was nothing suss happening. She’s just so pale, I thought I’d help.”

“I’ll help her,” Lewis says bluntly.

Yvette’s grin becomes more devilish as she releases her hair and watches Parker move toward me.

He gives a mischievous grin and moves in close to my ear. “You can’t blame me for trying, can you?”

I shake my head with a laugh. “You’re shameless.”

He lifts his palm between us. “Well, as you can see, I’ve got way too much. Can I rub some onto you?”

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