Page 85 of Shy Girls Can't Fake Date

“Well, I’m glad we all get to hang out. Thank you guys for agreeing to take the bus,” Yvette rambles. “My parents want me on this whole no-dating kick, so I didn’t want them to see a guy picking me up for dinner. They think I need a break, but what do they know? So, if anyone asks, I’m hanging with Tabby at the mall. Like, they don’t know Tabby and I are barely talking, but, whatever.”

Lewis hangs an arm across Yvette’s shoulders. “Any way I get to see you works for me.”

Is he serious? She just mentioned she dates too much—that her parents think she dates too much—and he breezed past it?

How do I wake this boy up?

Like a true third-wheel, I sit with this couple on the bus stop bench.Great. Our bus better not be late because I can already tell this will be the longest ten minutes of my life.

Lewis and Yvette snuggle and whisper like they’re in their own world. Sickness rolls through my stomach as he looks at her like she’s the only girl for miles.

I’m such an idiot. How could I have thought he was into me on our walk over here? Of course, he was doing anything to see Yvette again. I will never beat her for his attention.

After an agonizing wait, the bus pulls up at our stop. I let the loved-up couple board first, dawdling behind. I take a seat adjacent to theirs and slouch down. As the bus moves toward town, Yvette continues to giggle as Lewis’s arms wrap around her.

I’m ready to scream when he starts giving her butterfly kisses against the nape of her neck.

Before I yell at them to stop it, I pull out my phone and let my fury out in a text to Parker.“I’m never traveling to a double date without you ever again.”

He replies,“Is she on the bus with you?”

“Yes. I’m such an idiot. I was starting to believe Lewis wanted it to be just the two of us.”

“Don’t be hard on yourself. It was a ballsy move trying to get alone time with Lewis. It should’ve worked.”

“But it didn’t. He wants to be with her. I’m just a tag along.”

“I’ll try to drive Yvie home tonight so you and Lewis can take the bus. It’d make no sense for her to take two buses home again.”

“It didn’t make any sense for her to leave so early to meet up with us this way. I thought Barbie needed hours to plaster on all the makeup.”

“Don’t spiral. You need to perk up for tonight. I’m getting in the car now so you’re not left alone with them at Alto’s.”

“Good. I need you to stop them from being so cuddly. I’m already having trouble keeping my stomach contents down.”

“Remember what I told you at the lake? Don’t watch. It’s not worth it.”

“It’s hard.”

“I know.”

I put the phone down so he can drive to Alto Burger. This is a development I certainly didn’t expect. I’m on the bus with Lewis, but I’m dying to see Parker. The situation is just so topsy-turvy. Usually, if I were going to complain to someone, I’d be texting Josie. But Parker gets this. With him, I have someone who sees this situation in my perspective. And, without him by my side, being around Lewis and Yvette is unnerving.

We get off the bus and walk along the path toward the front deck of Alto Burger. The decking spans the entire length of the restaurant with timber flooring, and the railing is decorated with twinkle lights. Picnic-style tables and bench seats fill the outdoor space, and like always, it’s crazy crowded because everyone loves the chill vibe and the view of the mountains.

Lewis leads as we maneuver our way across the deck, and stops three tables deep.

“I thought you were running late?” Lewis asks.

I peek around him, and find Parker sitting on top of a table with his feet resting on a bench seat.

Parker stretches his arms to the side. “Aren’t you gonna thank me for snagging us a table?”

My body relaxes with relief at the sound of his voice.

He jumps off the table and says, “My dimwit brother said he needed a ride, but then hitched with a friend. Anyway, it made me ready earlier than I expected.”

“Oh, is that why you texted me?” Yvette blurts.

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