[7]

We had the attention of the entire room on us by now. Simone, Shawn, and Mida stood a few meters from us, watching the scene unfold. Simone and Mida were hugging each other like long-lost friends and watching with eagerness what would happen next.

Everyone was.

Mr. and Mrs. Wellington had their jaws on the floor. And as much as I wanted to laugh-hardy freaking har-in their faces, I was confused.

"Parker," I breathed his name out, feeling my heartbeat increase to the point that I feared it'd pop out of my chest. He only smiled in reply.

"His name is Garth!" His mother snapped, losing her previous composure.

The Wellington parents didn't hate me. They just derived joy from seeing me frowning. And what better way to dampen my mood than remind me of the one thing I wanted to forget?

"Camsy." The familiarity I felt when he said my name was almost overwhelming. It sounded just like he'd said it that night. I was fighting butterflies-no, elephants in my stomach, threatening to break free and stomp me to my death if I didn't do something, and fast.

"Parker," I shook my head, biting my lip. "You don't have to-"

He nodded and took my hand, making me hold my breath. "I want to. It would be an honor to be your other half at this wedding."

I tried to fight it, but a blush spread up my neck and cheeks while I stood there, frozen. I knew that he was doing this out of his gentlemanliness and kindness of heart, but for some reason, it felt real.

"I don't-"

"Just say yes already and put the poor man out of his misery!" Simone yelled from where she stood. I didn't need to look at her to know she was giving me one of her death glares.

"Say yes. Say yes!" Mida began chanting. At first, it was just her, then her husband-to-be, and then my best friend. Before I knew it, the entire room was chanting for me to accept Parker's proposal.

At one point, even Mr. Wellington joined the chant, but one smack on the back from his wife had him zipping his lips.

I struggled not to laugh.

Fate was such a stupid thing. So, I wasn't destined to find love, but she was going to play games with me for the rest of my life.

"Yes. I'll be your date to the wedding party," I replied to Parker, staring into his green eyes.

Date. The word felt weird on my tongue. I hadn't used it in ages.

Parker was grinning a second later, and I couldn't describe what it was doing to me. He swept me off my feet and twirled me in the air like this was a scene from a Disney movie. I'd partly expected him to lean in and kiss me when he set me back on the floor. But standing there, just the two of us amongst an applauding crowd and parents who didn't consent to this union, we didn't share any kisses. Although, I would certainly not have minded. From experience, Parker was a great kisser.

"This is not over." Mrs. Wellington wagged a finger at the both of us, snapping us out of our daze before dragging her husband away.

Simone squealed, followed by Mida, and then they ran towards us, engulfing me in a tight embrace while Parker watched us with a smile. Through the lack of oxygen and disregard for privacy I was experiencing, I smiled back at him.

Fate was playing a game with me, but this time I wasn't going to lose because I wasn't giving my heart out anymore. Nothing was going to change after this wedding. I was most certain about it.

So game on, fate!

Parker saw me to my room after the entire fiasco. We talked about how his mom did not expect that and how his dad joined the chant, and then we laughed until our sides hurt.

Eventually, we were seated on the edge of my bed, side to side, knees almost touching. Our laughter had dissolved into a comfortable yet uncomfortable silence.

We'd talked about today's events, yet, there was still tension in the air around us. Sure, we were a couple now, a temporary one at that. But how long would it take before that night's topic came up, and this little friendship we'd built would come crumbling down?

"Cam?" It was the first time Parker had used my common nickname. It sounded so foreign coming from him.

"Hm?" I hummed in response.

"Are you scared of me?"

That was a ridiculous question, and I didn't hesitate to give him an equally ridiculous look. However, the seriousness on his face never wavered.

"Of course not, Parker," I rolled my eyes. "Why would I be afraid of you? You practically saved me from your mother."

He chuckled, but it lacked its characteristic flavor. "I don't mean that." He fell silent, staring at the wall in front of us, and then his gaze flickered to me. Despite being aware that he was watching me, I didn't stare back. "Do you remember the first time I'd bumped into you at a coffee shop?"

I did.

It was barely days after the car experience. I'd been sitting at the far corner of the shop staring at my phone and playing a game of eenie meenie miney moe to select the next wedding I was going to plan.

And then he walked in.

I'd tried to duck behind the coffee mug in front of me, but he'd found me anyway. He'd stayed with me that day, and we'd talked like nothing had happened between us.

Like we were doing now.

I felt a pang in my chest as I nodded. "I do."

"You were giving me one-worded answers, and our conversation didn't last five minutes before you practically ran out of the shop."

It was a little shocking that he remembered the way I replied to him. I didn't. I only remembered the running away part.

When he'd taken a seat across from me that day, I'd expected an apology or at least an explanation for his behavior a few nights before. But there was none. It made me feel used, and I didn't like the feeling, so I left in a hurry.

It might have been selfish of me because I used him too, but he was the one who left me naked in a car.

"I had work to do," I lied, still not looking at him.

I felt his gaze burning the side of my face. "A week later, the same thing happened outside the same coffee shop."

What? I really liked Terry's coffee place. They had customized napkins!

"I'd been in a hurry that day as well," I lied again, but this time not as smoothly as the first.

"And then I show up at your house, and you slam the door in my face."

This time, I turned to him, eyes widening. "That was one time! And you scared me with your stalking."

"I wasn't stalking you. I wanted to know why you were avoiding me," his bright eyes dulled. "I still do."

I stared at him. "I'm not avoiding you. We're a couple now, aren't we?"

He was staring into my eyes, piercing through my shield. If I didn't look away now, he would suspect something.

"Something's not right," Parker declared. He'd noticed it-the tension.

I exhaled, letting myself get lost in green. Parker scooted closer, so our faces were only inches apart, and the sides of our thighs were pressed together, creating a field of heat between us.

I watched him blink, his long lashes flapping up and down in one swift motion. Then:

"I want to talk about that night."