Page 117 of Once Upon a Fake Date

I looked over at Parker, who was sipping a Gatorade at the kitchen counter. He had the faintest of blush on his cheekbones, and I winked at him. All the guys had come here after practice, so they were all in athletic shorts and t-shirts, given the temperature outside.

“Honestly, I’m surprised it took you two as long as it did to start dating. We all had bets on when it would happen,” Derek chimed in.

“Oh? You took bets?”

“Yeah. I think I had one month.” Derek chuckled.

Taylor shrugged. “I had two weeks.”

Samuel sighed. “Who knew it would take over three?”

“She was my best friend, you guys,” Parker said, rolling his eyes and walking over to us. “I had to approach with caution. Like a lion pouncing on his prey.”

I giggled when he jumped on me, wrapping his arms around my stomach and pulling me down onto his lap. “But it was all worth it in the end, huh?” I asked, cupping his cheek.

“Yeah.” He pressed a kiss to my cheek. “Definitely.”

“Ugh, gross,” Taylor said, covering his eyes. “You two are disgusting. I’m way too single for this.”

Derek laughed, smacking the back of his head. “No one said you had to come over, man.”

He crosses his arms over his chest. “I didn’t want to get left out.”

Samuel looked at me, shrugging. “At least you didn’t have to share a wall with this one.” He hooked a thumb towards Parker. “It wasn’t exactly quiet.”

It was my turn for my cheeks to turn pink. God, I didnotwant to think about him hearing us have sex.

Parker’s hand tightened over my thigh. “You say that like you’re not just as loud with Danielle.”

“Oh, shit,” Taylor snickered. “Get him.”

I wiggled on Parker’s lap, trying to get comfortable.

“Audrey.” His words were rough against my ear. “Unless you want to make this worse, don’t do that.”

Why—oh. I giggled. He was hard.“Sorrryyy,” I turned just slightly, batting my eyelashes at him.

He banded his arm around my waist, keeping me tight against him, and we stayed like that as the guys chatted. Warm and secure in his arms, I grew drowsy, finally drifting off.

I woke up when Parker shifted me in his arms later, saying goodbye to his friends. It had grown dark, the sun already setting in the sky. Considering it had been early evening when they’d come over, I had been out for a good amount of time.

“Sorry.” I yawned. “I guess I’m still tired after the events of last week.”

“You’re fine.” He chuckled. “I had fun today. Thanks for agreeing to have the guys over.”

“Of course. It’s your place too.” I tilted my head, looking at him funny. “And they’re your friends. Besides, I like them. They might enjoy teasing you, but they’re good guys.”

Parker nodded. “I know. Part of me has always known it, I think.”

He shifted me so I’d be straddling his lap, each leg on either side of him.

“So, you really liked me, hm, Parker?” I wound my arms around his neck, loving teasing him myself. “Embarrassing.”

Red spread up his neck and ears. “Rosie…” His voice was deep. “We’re dating.”

“Still.” I leaned in to kiss the tip of his nose. Running my fingers up through his hair, I gently scratched my nails over his scalp. He closed his eyes like he was luxuriating in the sensation.

“Imagine my surprise,” I whispered. “When I saw the hottest guy at that party and he turned out to be the kid I used to play in the mud with. The one who watchedA Pup Named Scooby Doowith me after pre-school and cried when I wanted to watch Christmas movies. The one whose name I doodled on my sketchbook next to mine with a heart around it. And you were still you, but also… This.” I dragged my nails up his abdomen. “A gorgeous, handsome man, but still my best friend.”

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