Page 93 of Once Upon a Fake Date

Millie glared at me, her eyes screaming,did I ask you?“Still, you left the team. Raf was your best friend.”

“Was he? Because in my world, a best friend wouldn’t fuck your girlfriend.” Parker’s tone was like a sword slicing through thorns. Lethal. With no room for argument.

She blanched and then shrugged. “It’s not like you would, either.”

My jaw dropped. Howdareshe? I stepped forward, ready to fight her myself, when Parker placed a hand on my back. I looked up at him, and he just nodded. Like he had this.

“I told you I wanted to take things slow. You were the one who asked me out. I’m sorry that I couldn’t give you what you wanted, but that was your choice.”

“Because Ilikedyou!” His ex shouted. “God, is it so bad to want your boyfriend to pay attention to you? Raf does. He spoils me with presents and dotes on me. That was all I wanted. Someone to care about me. But you never did.”

“I’m sorry,” Parker said, shaking his head. “It was never you, Millie. It was always me.”

I couldn’t imagine Parker not doing those things because he’d always done them for me. But maybe there was a deeper reason. Something I hadn’t even let myself consider yet.

Millie turned her attention to me. “It’s because ofyou,” she said in a whisper. “I recognize you. From the photo.”

“Mills—” Parker cut her off, a slight shake of his head.

My eyes widened. “Photo?”

The guy who’d hit Parker during the game came around, slinging a shoulder around Millie and interrupting us. “Everything good here, babe?” He kissed her cheek.

“McKennon,” Parker said, his voice like ice. “What’s your fucking problem?” He tightened his grip around me. “Did you seriously think trying to antagonize me was a good idea?”

“Well, it’s not like you would talk to me. Either of us. I know Millie texted you.” He shrugged. “You ran away from the team, from our friendship, without even talking to me. I just wanted…”

“Raf…” Millie said, patting his stomach. “It doesn’t matter. Not anymore.” There was resignation in her voice, and I wondered how hard that must be. To accept that your boyfriend never really gave you the time of day. She’d fucked him over, but maybe it hadn’t been fair to her either. She wasn’t the villain—it was just a bad situation.

Even if my insides burned with jealousy, thinking about the two of them together. Even if I wanted to gouge her eyes out just for looking atmyman.

“We were brothers,” Raf said. “I thought you’d be the one standing next to me at my wedding one day.”

Parker looked across the field, towards his team. Samuel was with his girlfriend, the two of them laughing, and some of the other guys I knew were also crowded around, celebrating. “I’ve learned a lot about friends this year, Rafael. And the thing is, I would never hurt a friend the way you betrayed me. I don’t regret transferring. Above all, because I found Audrey, and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her.”

I blushed, feeling the sincerity in his words.

“I’m sorry,” he offered again. “But I don’t think we can be friends.”

Raf nodded, not saying another word.

“Bye, Millie.” Parker nodded at her. “I hope you have a good life.”

“You too, Parker.” She looked at the two of us, still standing so close together. “I hope you got everything you wanted.”

“I did.”

My insides were warm. Gooey. I definitely wanted to show him my appreciation now.

Sliding my left hand into his, I squeezed tightly as they walked away. “Are you okay? After all of… that?” I gestured in front of us.

“God, you’re fucking incredible, do you know that?” he rasped against my ear. “Don’t know what I did to get such an amazing girlfriend.”

I hadn’t even done anything but been there for him, but I suspected that was all he needed. Someone to stand by his side.

Running a hand up his jaw, I pushed my fingers through his hair. “The better question,baby,is what didn’t you do?”

He nuzzled his face into the crook of my neck. “Want to go home?”

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