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his ex. I’m the happy-go-lucky girlfriend, even when I don’t want to be. “When will you be here?”
    “I’ll pick you up in fifteen,” Landon says, then hangs up.
    I rush to get dressed, knowing I can’t very well go out with Landon wearing a T-shirt and hoodie. I try on seven different outfits before calling Monika. I’m not good when it comes to fashion, but my best friend is an expert. I text her pictures of each outfit and she picks one: jean shorts and a short, low-cut pink shirt that reveals cleavage and a hint of skin above the shorts’ waistband.
    In the bathroom, as I lean over the sink to put on my lip gloss, Derek strolls in.
    “Don’t you knock?” I ask him.
    “No need to knock if the door’s open.” He leans against the shower door and focuses on me with his bright blue eyes. “Hot date?”
    “Yes.”
    “With your boyfriend?”
    “Yes.”
    “He play football, too?”
    “Not that it’s any of your business, but yes.” I turn to face him and wish he had some blemish or imperfection, but I can’t find one. Ugh, the girls at school are gonna have a field day when they take one look at him. I imagine a lot of drama and fighting over him. “Did you barge in here for a reason, or did you just want to rub it in that I have to share a bathroom with you?”
    “I need to relieve myself. Do you mind?”
    “Eww.”
    “You act like you’ve never done it before.”
    “I’ve done it. I just don’t have the need to announce it.” I grab my stuff and start to walk out, but turn back and say, “Don’t you dare leave the toilet seat up.”
    “And if I do?” he asks with a smirk.
    “Trust me, you don’t want to find out.”
    In my room, I wonder if Derek has a girlfriend and imagine what she might look like. Not that I care. I’d actually feel sorry for the girl who has to deal with a guy who’s too sarcastic, too witty, and too good looking.
    The doorbell rings a few minutes later. I can’t wait to see Landon’s expression when he sees me all dressed up.
    “Be right down!” I call out, then grab my purse and rush downstairs.
    Landon is waiting for me in the foyer wearing jeans and a preppy button-down shirt that covers his dark-skinned body. I give him a peck on the lips just as Derek appears wearing long shorts with REGENTS PREPARATORY ACADEMY embroidered on the leg. I’m not surprised he comes from a fancy prep school with that ego of his. He’s shirtless once again, showing off solid muscles and an air of confidence that rival Landon’s. I’m not immune to him even though I said I was. There’s just something about Derek that draws my gaze to him, even though I hate myself for acknowledging it.
    “Who’re you?” Landon asks, as if Derek’s an intruder who needs to be kicked out of my house immediately.
    “Just a thug from Cali,” Derek says with a wink for me, then pushes open the screen door and saunters outside with a pair of running shoes in his hand.
    Landon points to the door. “Who the hell was that?”
    “He’s Brandi’s stepson.” I wave my hand in the air, dismissing the importance of the guy living in our den. “Don’t pay any attention to him.”
    “Stepson?” He glances at Derek through the screen. “I don’t like it.”
    “Me neither.” I grab Landon’s hand and urge him out of the house. My boyfriend is competitive and definitely has a high testosterone level. He doesn’t mind me hanging out with our teammates, but he’s jealous of outsiders. Derek is definitely an outsider. “Come on, let’s go celebrate the beginning of summer break. I need a distraction.”
    Outside, Derek is sitting on the stoop tying his shoes. “Y’all have fun,” he calls out as we head for Landon’s car.
    “We will,” Landon growls back.
    From the car, I look over at Derek. Our eyes meet and I feel a jolt of adrenaline. I want to ignore him, to pretend he doesn’t exist. So why do I have such a hard time keeping my eyes averted? I get a sense that there’s