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My pocket vibrates and then my ringtone plays. I pull out my phone and see,“Tessa Calling.”
Oh my gosh. I can just imagine her mind melting if she knew I was currently on a walk with a boy.
“Ah, call ya back, sis,” I mumble and hit the decline button.
Parker side-eyes me. “Why are you ignoring your sister’s call?”
I pocket my phone. “Oh no, you don’t. You don’t get to ask me that after being so weird at your house.”
“What are you talking about? I wasn’t acting weird.”
“You couldn’t wait to get out of there. Plus, you wouldn’t give your mom or brother the time of day.”
“Maybe I was just excited about getting back to your place?”
“Exactly. It doesn’t make any sense why you’d prefer to be at my house than yours.”
Parker motions with the leash. “Your house has Brandy.”
I smile at the dog. “I’ll give you that one.”
Our conversation fades during the rest of our walk. Parker’s laidback presence has me at ease, and I love seeing his connection with Brandy. He praises her when she gets back on course after distractedly sniffing flowers, which hang over fences.
We make our way back to my home, and Parker’s gaze drifts to the road. As his head tilts, his eyes widen when he focuses on something past my shoulder. Before I can turn to see what it is, his hand plants on my lower back, turning and dipping me. His other arm supports my neck and shoulders as his lips press onto mine. There’s a small thud as Brandy’s leash hits the pavement, and I hold Parker’s shoulders out of sheer necessity.
In my reclined state, I don’t kiss him back. As my confusion heightens, I hear a car slow beside us and turn onto Lewis’s driveway.
All my questions now answered. We’re kissing for Lewis’s benefit.
My arms tighten behind Parker’s neck, I lower my eyelids, and finally kiss him back.
“Parker and Kylie,” Mrs. Allen says, exiting the SUV. “Lewis told us you two were dating. I’m sorry to say I didn’t believe it until now.”
I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand. “I’m sorry. We shouldn’t be kissing outside your house.”
Parker lowers and grabs Brandy’s leash, who pants as she sits near us. “Yeah, we were just taking the dog for a walk and, umm...”
Lewis’s dad rounds the car with a chuckle. “Don’t apologize for being young and in love.”
“Love?” Parker and I both yelp.
As if on cue, we both start waving our arms in front.
“No, Mr. Allen, we’re not that serious,” Parker blurts.
Mrs. Allen laughs, linking arms with her husband. “Look what you did. You embarrassed them.”
Parker motions at their car. “Lewis isn’t with you?”
“No, he’s staying in town with Tyler,” Mrs. Allen replies. “He’ll be out until tonight to take his girlfriend to the fair.”
Parker flashes a smile. “Oh yeah, we’ll be joining them tonight.”
“Have fun, kids,” Mr. Allen says, sending us a wave as he and his wife disappear inside their house.
I fan my face to rid the tomato redness.
“Soooo,” Parker drags out the word. “Apparently we’re really good at convincing people we’re a couple.”
