Page 74 of Once Upon a Fake Date

A liiiiittle bit.

Where are you at?

Whyyyy? Is my fake boyfriend going to come swoop in and save me?

Rosie.

Youdon’thaftacome.

Pl;sea

You’re scaring me, baby. Where are you?

???

Audrey. Answer your damn phone.

Fuck.She wasn’t responding to me. Why hadn’t we shared locations with each other yet? That was something I was fixing as soon as I found her tonight. That way, I’d always be able to find her if she needed me.

Dialing a number I had never needed to use, I let out a sigh of relief when she answered almost immediately. “Hello?”

“Ella?” I asked, my knee bouncing in worry.

“Yes? Sorry, who is this?” I heard girls laughing in the background.

“It’s Parker.”

“Oh! Sorry, Parker. What’s up?”

“Are you with Audrey? She was texting me, but she stopped responding.”

“No…” I could almost hear her frown. “I’m out with Cam. I know some of the girls were talking about going out tonight to the bar, but Ro hadn’t mentioned anything to me. Hold on, lemme check her location.” I could tell she’d pulled the phone away, and then she came back. “Looks like she’s out at the Red Rose bar. Need me to send you the address?”

“Nah.” I shook my head, even though she couldn’t see me. “I know it. Thanks, Ella.”

“Of course, Parker. I’m glad you’re with my sister. You seem to make her really happy.”

I cleared my throat. “Thanks. I’m trying.”

It was all I wanted, and yet I constantly felt like I was fucking it up.

“Listen, I gotta go. We’re pulling back into campus.”

“Bye, Parker. Say hi to Audrey for me.”

Saying goodbye, I shoved my phone into my pocket as we hung up, not even blinking at Ella’s assumption that I was going to go after my girl. Of course I was.

I didn’t like the idea that she was drunk and alone. Not after what had happened with Duke. She needed someone to watch her back as she let loose. That someone was me.

Hurrying off the bus without saying anything to my teammates, I grabbed my duffel as soon as I could, hurrying to head out to my car.

“You heading to see your girl?” Samuel asked, knocking his shoulder into mine.

I dipped my head.

He nodded. “I know Coach has been giving you a hard time, but I gotta say, it’s been good to see you like this.”

“Huh?” I blinked.

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