Page 81 of Third Wheel

“Sort of,” he told his dad. “Here, let me get the books, then Amy and I need to get inside and get cleaned up. We’ve been gardening this morning.”

“Of course, we won’t keep you.” His mom peered over his shoulder. “Is that nice boy still living here, too?”

“Um, yes, Kincaid is still living here, too, but he’s out right now.” Zach stepped away from Amy, making a subtle movementwith his arms to try to herd his parents toward their car. “We’ll have you over some time. Soon.”

“Oh, that would be lovely,” his mom said, brightening. Since he’d just offered her something she wanted, she didn’t put up a fight about moving away, though, of course, she did have one last thing to say to Amy first. “I can’t wait to get to know you better, dear.”

“Um, me, too.” Amy waved, a strained smile on her face.

Fuck. He was going to need to apologize to her as well as explain to her.

“She’s so pretty, and she seems nice, though I don’t know if I approve of you hauling her around over your shoulder like that in public, dear,” his mom said quietly as they approached her car. “That’s more for indoor activities.”

“In my defense, she had just sprayed me with the hose.”

“Ah, is that how you got all wet?” His mom’s lips twitched. “I like her.”

“Me, too.” At least that part wasn’t a lie. “We’ll have you over for dinner soon and talk about… everything. Okay?”

“Sounds good, sweetheart.” His mom went up on her tiptoes to give him a kiss.

“Here,” his dad said, lifting a small box out of the car and hiking it up on his hip before reaching up with his other hand to close the trunk. “Are you sure you want to carry this while you’re that wet?”

“I’m sure the water won’t work its way through the cardboard that quickly,” Zach reassured him. Even if it did, he would rather have completely waterlogged books than have his parents stay here one second longer than they needed to. “Thanks for bringing them over.”

“Of course.” His dad winked at him. “Have fun with your girl.”

Oh, fuck. That was probably why his parents were so willing to leave. They thought they’d just interrupted his and Amy’s foreplay. That’s why his mom had told him to keep things inside. He was so panicked, his brain wasn’t working properly.

“Thank you.” It was the only thing he could say. “I’ll call you guys later.”

“Of course. Bye!” His parents waved to him, then his mom waved to Amy as they pulled away. Zach turned around to see that she was turning off the water to the hose, though she did lift her hand to wave goodbye to his parents.

Pure relief slammed through him as he glanced up and down the street. Kincaid was nowhere in sight. He’d gotten through it. Somehow. He could have cried.

Except he didn’t have time to enjoy his relief because Amy was storming toward him, and she waspissed.

“What the fuck was that?!” She shouted the words at him from halfway down the yard.

He stepped back, physically taken aback, because he didn’t think he’d ever heard her cuss before. Not even on her wedding day at Jeremy or Noelle.

Having her curse at him wasn’t on his bingo card.

“I… thank you for covering for me,” he said, not entirely sure what had set her off like that.

“Thank you for letting you use me as a beard, you mean.” She stopped about ten feet away from him, hands balled into fists, as though she couldn’t get any closer or she might try to hit him. “Your parents think I’m your girlfriend? I knew you hadn’t told them about Kincaid yet, but that’s one thing. Telling them I’m your girlfriend? Are youserious?”

“I didn’t tell my mom that, she assumed… I’m sorry, okay? I panicked. I didn’t know what to do!” Now his voice was rising, too, some of the pent-up emotion coming out. Fuck. He was shaking so hard, he could barely hold on to the box, but he alsocouldn’t let it go. He clutched at it with both hands, like a teddy bear, except it was far less snuggly and far less comforting.

“You tell them the truth! That I’m not your girlfriend!” She threw her hands up in the air. “How are you this dense? All you had to say was no, Amy is just a friend. She’s not my girlfriend.”

“I know… I know… I just…”

“And now, what am I supposed to say to Kincaid? How are we supposed to tell him that your parents think that I’m your girlfriend?” Amy’s chest was heaving, and she looked on the verge of tears.

“We’re not! You can’t…” The panic was clawing its way back up his throat, making it harder and harder for him to think. Everything was falling apart. He didn’t know what to do. He wanted to run, but there was nowhere to go. He wanted to hide, but eventually, he’d have to come out and face this. “Just… I need a minute to think.”

If she heard him, Amy didn’t give him any indication.

---