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Parker glances my way and then back at the road. “I just didn’t want them grilling us. I don’t really tell them what’s going on with me because they blow everything out of proportion.”
“I’m sorry. It sucks that you can’t just talk to them.”
Parker eases in his seat. “They’re no dancing family.”
“I’m never going to live that down.”
“I think it’s cool.”
I stare at him for a beat too long, waiting for a joke to land.
Unnerved by the silence, he turns his head. “What?”
I shrug. “Nothing. I was just waiting for you to make fun of me.”
Parker lets out a nervous laugh. “I’m not joking. I like your parents.”
My eyebrows push together with skepticism. “Okay.”
“I’m not lying.” His grin rises up the genuine-meter. “Anyway, now you can get the greenlight from your parents about the camping trip.”
I wince. “You want me to ask them about it?”
“Ah, yeah. Wasn’t that the point of me putting aside camping gear for you?”
I sigh heavily. “I guess.”
“You need to go. It’s non-negotiable. How else do we stop Lewis and Yvie from getting even more cuddly?”
Parker parks outside my house and I unbuckle without confidence. “Okay.”
“Perk up, Green.” He pats my knee. “You’re a good girl. They won’t say no to you.”
“It’s a trip with my supposed boyfriend. I don’t think they’ll be down.”
“Compared to Lewis, I’m a good boy.” He steps out of the car. “I can drive without crashing.”
I groan, moving out of the car. I move ahead of Parker to get inside the house. I search the hallway for Brandy, hoping to get her outside and bypass my parents. Asking about this camping trip is mortifying. How will they ever be okay with it? Until this week, Parker Kelly was a name I never brought up, and now I want to go into the mountains overnight with him.
I can’t bear the humiliation of them saying no in front of Parker. It’ll solidify just how lame I am.
“Huh?” Parker stops dead in the hallway, tilting his head as if listening for something. “There’s no music playing.”
“It’s not on an eternal loop,” I reply. “It’s more of a mood thing.”
Parker winces. “Is this a bad time? Are your parents in a bad mood?”
I puff a laugh. “No, they’re just being chill.”
“Oh, okay.Phew.”
We move along the hallway, finding my parents with a pitcher of iced tea in the kitchen.
“Parker,” Dad cheers, lifting his glass. “Good to see you again.”
Parker steps into the kitchen with a wave. “Hi Mr. Green. Mrs. Green.”
“Hi Parker,” Mom replies. “Hi honey, how was work?”
