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Yvette looks at Lewis, prompting him to agree. “I mean, that’s what we think, right, babe? They’re totally adorable together.”
I clamp down on Parker’s hand. His jaw flexes as his head swivels, edging his mouth close to my ear.
“Ouch,” he whispers through a tight mouth.
I don’t relent. As I crush his hand, my eyes widen as I stare at him.
He double downs on a disapproving glare, begging me to release his hand.
Fed up, he stands from his seat and reefs me up by the hand.
“Excuse us a minute,” he says flatly, and hikes a leg over the bench.
As I turn to follow him, Yvette pipes up. “Aww, it’s so cute how you two need privacy to talk. I’ve never been like that with any of my boyfriends.”
Ugh! Why won’t she ever shut up?
Parker jerks me away from the table, and I fumble behind him as we weave around the packed picnic tables.
“What the heck is up with you?” Parker hisses as he tugs me behind the south wall of Alto Burger.
“I was about to burst,” I say, with no regard for the volume of my voice. “I couldn’t stand another moment listening to her.”
Parker rubs his hand. “It didn’t mean you had to break my hand.”
I slouch. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to take it out on you. The feelings had to go somewhere.”
“Can you get it together?”
“No. I told you, I can’t listen to her anymore.” I grunt. “How can you? She’s insulting you too.”
“We rattled her today. She’s trying to save face.”
I retch. “I can’t deal with these stupid games.”
“We’re faking a relationship. We’re playing one big game.”
I sniff hard, feeling a sob welling in my throat. “I want Lewis. I don’t want to deal with her.”
“This is a team effort,” he says softly. “It’s the first day, Kylie. You promised we’d do this until they break up.”
I fold my arms and swallow my sadness. “I guess it’s harder than I realized.”
“This doesn’t work if I don’t have you by my side. Yeah, it sucks we have to witness everything they do and say, but we gotta roll with the punches.”
I roll my eyes. “Don’t tell me to be optimistic again.”
“Optimism is the only way to get through tough stuff.” He pauses for a beat, looking off to the side. “Trust me.”
“It’s just been a long first day, okay. I’m not throwing in the towel, I’m just hitting a limit.”
Parker nods. “We won’t stay out much later. Then we won’t be hanging out with them again until tomorrow night at the fair. There’s plenty of time to mellow out before then.”
I exhale slowly. “I guess so.”
He pulls an arm around my back and walks me back to the decking. “We got this. One little meltdown isn’t gonna stop us.”
I smile, choosing to appreciate his optimistic take. “Totally.”
