“Whatever. Did you throw up a bit in your mouth? I hope you did. I hope you imagined him banging our mother.”

“Oh my God, you douche.” He laughs at that as I gag.

“Gross, right? He’s my father-in-law, for God’s sake!”

“So gross,” I say and then I pause. “Ha, you’ll be married to your sister if they get married.”

“Fuck you,” he says and I laugh harder.

“Don’t hate ’cause you’re banging your soon-to-be sister.”

“You’re a dick and I hate you.”

“I understand your anger right now. I’d be upset too if I was banging my sister. It’s okay, we can get you help.”

“You aren’t banging anything, that’s why you’re butthurt and jealous.”

“Bitch, please. I get laid on the regular.”

“Sure you do,” he teases and I roll my eyes. “But anyway, I think Mom will be happy. Coach is a good dude.”

“I think so too,” I agree and he laughs.

“Okay, just wanted to tell you you’re a dick for messing that up for Baylor. And I also wanted to make sure you puked a little, even though somehow you turned this on me.”

Smirking, I roll over, cuddling into my bed. “Duh, I’m amazing.”

“Mom really shouldn’t have told you that as much as she did. You believe it, and I can promise you, it isn’t true.”

Scoffing, I say, “You’re just jealous she loves me more.”

“Yeah, okay,” he deadpans and I smile against the pillow. “Did you get a job yet?”

I close my eyes, my smile gone. “No,” I groan.

“Get one, dweeb. Stop fucking around.”

“Yeah, I’ll get on that.”

“You better.”

“I will.”

“Fine.”

“Fine!”

Jayden pauses and I let out a long breath, frustrated. He drives me insane. “Love you, talk to you later.”

“Love you too,” I say back and I hang up. He’s such a weirdo. As I close my eyes, though, his words play over and over in my mind. About how my dad could fuck me over and then I’d be without again. I don’t want that to happen, and maybe I should get a little part-time job. Something to get Jayden and Jude off my back, but also to have to fall back on if things go south.

Yeah. Maybe I will.

After my nap, though.

When I jerk awake from the loud goal noise I have set as my alarm tone, I sit up and reach for my phone. It’s only seven, and I could probably sleep a little bit more, but I want to get there early. Maybe have a chance to hang with Avery before she gets onstage. Rubbing my eyes, I click on her name and type out a message.

Me: I’m awake.

Avery: Oh good, I assumed you were going to channel your inner Sleeping Beauty.

Me: Beauty part is right.

Avery: Debatable…haha… so I guess this means you’re still coming tonight? Not blowing me off for all your many girlfriends that you really don’t have but claim to have because you’re a wannabe player?

Me: Wow. Some would be offended by that.

Avery: But you’re not part of that some, which means you’re still coming?

Me: I wouldn’t miss it for anything.

Avery: …

Grinning at her little dots, I look up to find Markus playing Xbox.

“Hey, Sleeping Beauty,” he says after looking back at me and I glare. What the hell is up with all this Sleeping Beauty shit? “Did Jacey have a nice nappy?”

“Screw you,” I bark at him before standing and stretching. “What are you doing?”

“Nothing, just killing some aliens and shit. You? I thought you were out for the night.”

“I’m going to Avery’s gig.”

“Oh, cool.”

“Yeah, you should come.”

“Eh, maybe.” His eyes don’t leave the TV as I pass by him to go shower.

“Whatever, it’s gonna be fun.”

“Fun watching you geek out over some chick? Comical, yes. Fun, no.”

“I’m sure there will be smart chicks there you can hit on,” I suggest, waggling my brows at him

He makes a face, his eyes still trained on the TV. “I won’t have my right-hand man to make an ass of himself with some corny-ass lines.”

“This is true.”

“Plus, smart chicks don’t like me for some reason.”

“’Cause they are smart enough not to fall for your shit,” I laugh and he smirks.

“Maybe.”

Laughing, I head into the bathroom and I kind of hope he goes with me tonight. I don’t need him to go, but it would be nice to have someone with me. Maybe I won’t look like a total loser in the front row, cheering her on, if my boy is right beside me.

Probably not. We’ll probably look like two losers together.

After showering and shaving a little bit, I come out in a towel to find him still in front of the TV, playing. Heading to my dresser, I get a pair of jeans and a thin tee before getting dressed quickly since I took a little longer than I meant to in the shower. Combing my hair back, I decide I should really get a haircut. It’s falling in my face all the time now, which I guess is cool since man buns are all the rage, but I can imagine the shit I’d get from Markus, Jude, and Jayden. They would rip me apart. Shaking my head, I pull on a gray beanie to hold my hair back before looking over at Markus, who is still playing. Rolling my eyes, I reach for my phone and check the time. Then I open my texts.

Me: You on your way?

Avery: Did you beat me? Stalker.

Grinning, I chuckle as I write her back.

Me: No, weirdo, I’m about to leave now.

Avery: So…we’ll get there at the same time?

Me: Or I will beat you.

Avery: Or I could beat you.

Me: Are you challenging me?

Avery: Duh.

Me: I don’t back down from a challenge.

Avery: Of course, you don’t, but this is a challenge you’re gonna lose.

Me: Bring it.

Avery: Crossing the quad now.

Me: CHEATER!

“Dude, you going?”

Markus looks back at me as I slide my feet into tennis shoes. “Yeah, I guess, since you obviously need a date.”

I scoff. “My date is meeting me there.”

“It’s okay,” he says as he shuts the game off and stands. “You don’t have to lie to kick it, bro.”