Page 78 of Once Upon a Fake Date

Sitting up, I let the sheets fall to my waist.

“Mmm,” I practically moaned at the scent in the air. “Gimme.” Reaching out my hands—like I was a toddler, instead of a twenty-one-year-old college student who much definitely had a better vocabulary than that—I practically sighed in relief as he put the cup in my hand. “You’re my hero.” I sipped the cup, the sweetness of the white chocolate mocha hitting my tastebuds.

He chuckled. “Anything for you.”

I gave him a soft smile, drinking my coffee before digging into the cinnamon roll, the sweet treat practically melting in my mouth.

He watched me with rapt attention, a look of satisfaction on his face even as he drank his own coffee and ate the breakfast he’d picked up for himself.

When we’d both finished, he blew out a breath. “About last night…” Parker said, sitting down next to me, running his hands through his hair. I knew by now that he did that when he was nervous, and it was so adorable.

“It’s my fault,” I offered. My voice was low. Resigned. “I know you’re just my fake boyfriend, and I basically forced myself on you?—”

“Fuck. Audrey.No.” He shook his head. “It’s not like that.”

“Okay.” I bit my lip. “Then why?”

His head dropped, like he couldn’t make eye contact with me. “I’m not—” He blushed. Andoh my god, Parker was blushing. “I’m not exactly experienced. With girls.”

“But…” I cocked my head. “I thought… Youhavehad a girlfriend, right?”

I hated thinking about him having been with someone else. That someone else had gotten to see him like this. Hold his hand.Kiss him.The flash of jealousy that surged through me was new.

I’d never considered myself a possessive person—not until now. Not until Parker.

“Yeah, but we didn’t… Go all the way.” He cleared his throat. “I didn’t stop us because I don’t want you, Audrey. I just didn’t want to disappoint you.”

He hadn’t…? With anyone?

“I’m a virgin, Audrey.”

I blinked. “Oh.”

He ran his fingers through his hair, blowing out a deep breath. “Yeah.”

“I didn’t know.”

“How could you?” He cupped my cheek. “I didn’t tell you. Maybe I just didn’t want to make it some big thing. It’s not like I’m waiting for marriage or anything. It just didn’t feel right before, with anyone else. And I’ve always been so busy, with sports and everything.” The corner of Parker’s lips tilted up in a hesitant smile. “But maybe, all along, I was just waiting for you.”

“Parker.” I shut my eyes, nuzzling my face into his hand. “I don’t even know what to say.” God, the sincerity in his tone was making memelt.

I was waiting for you.Words I’d never known how much I wanted to hear. But suddenly, they changed everything.

“Does it bother you that I’m not?” I whispered, my eyes fluttering open. “That I’ve been with other people?”

He flinched. “No. Of course not, Audrey.”

When I’d first started college, I’d hooked up with a few people before quickly realizing it wasn’t for me. I got attached too easily, imagining my entire life with someone after the first date. After that, I’d only slept with people I’d been in committed relationships with. And after Duke, well… There hadn’t been anyone.

“We can take it slow,” I offered. “If you want to.” His jaw clenched. “Or… maybe we should just focus on the musical right now.”

That was the right thing to say, but when I looked at Parker, his eyes were dark. “I do want to,” he said. “I just don’t know how to do this. And I don’t want to fuck it up, Rosie.”

“You won’t,” I promised. Because I wasn’t sure it was possible for Parker not to excel in every single thing he did.

He rubbed his hands over his sweats. “How do you know?”

This time, it was me who cupped his cheeks. “Because it’syou, Parker. And I know you.” His cheeks were dotted with the faintest of pink, and it was endearing.

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