Page 87 of Shy Girls Can't Fake Date

Twelve

Just a few feet fromthe table, we witness Yvette snuggling into Lewis. When her head nuzzles against his shoulder, a fiery rage boils inside me. My blood fizzles and pops in my veins as the confusing mess of anger and insecurity writhes inside me.

I just can’t stare at them and feel second best. I don’t want them to awe at me and call me cute like some kind of pet. They need to know I’m on their level. I’m a girl worth chasing. I don’t deserve to be invisible.

As my emotions peak, Parker’s hand presses into my back. He turns me toward him and there’s an intensity in his eyes. My brow furrows to question him, but before I utter a word, my body takes over. On instinct, I lift onto my toes as he leans in and plants his lips on mine.

For a moment, I struggle with resistance, but then my arms snake around his neck. My lips twitch with friction, and I let him set the pace of our kiss. Our chests press together as he holds me upright so I don’t stumble on my tippy toes.

My anger dissipates and I ease into the solace of being on the same page as Parker. This kiss isn’t for us. It’s for our audience of two.

We want them to watch.

We want them to get jealous.

We want them to want us.

Gradually, my arms roll off his shoulders, and my hands slide down his chest. My eyes open as our lips part and my heels touch the ground.

“Wow,” he mumbles. “How come you’re so good at that?”

I blush, giggling. I wish he’d said it louder or waited until we were back at the table to say it.

He takes my hand and walks me to the empty bench seat across from our observers.

Yvette’s eyebrow raises as she takes us in. “I thought you two were making out when you were out of view.”

Parker shrugs, resting an arm across my shoulders. “Maybe we were.”

Lewis sits back, looking away from us. “Can we please stop talking about who’s kissing who?”

I sit a little taller. “Agreed.”

Lewis turns his face back and sends me a smile.

I relax, smiling back at him. That is until Parker’s fingertips massage my upper arm. I want nothing more than to fling him off, but I know it’d make our kiss for nothing. But can’t he just let the moments between Lewis and me breathe? We’re not like him and Yvette. We need to take in our moments and let our feelings grow naturally.

Lewis leans into Yvie. “You wanna order?”

“I never come here,” Yvette says, lip upturning. “I don’t even know what they have.”

Lewis stands, taking Yvette’s hand. “Come to the counter with me and we’ll check out the menu.”

Lewis and Yvette leave for the counter inside the restaurant, and I slouch with a huff.

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