Better than Perfect by Simone Elkeles Page A

wait!” I call out as I leave the house and rush after her.
    She’s walking down the street.
    â€œMy life isn’t a game, Derek.”
    â€œI didn’t say it was.” I feel the slight slur of my words as the alcohol hits my system. My thoughts are clear for the moment, though. If anyone’s not thinking clearly, it’s Ashtyn. She’d even left her jacket behind, but I grabbed it. “What are you blamin’ me for? Landon made me play the stupid game. It didn’t even make sense.”
    â€œI’m blaming both of you for coming up with the stupid questions and both of you for making people think about whether or not Landon’s cheating on me or if you and I are getting it on. If you can’t keep your ego in check, stay home.”
    I’m not going to let her off that easy. “I already told you I didn’t ask to come to Chicago, Sugar Pie. I got suckered into it, just like I got suckered into playin’ your boyfriend’s stupid little game.”
    â€œI told you not to play, but no! Your ego got in the way of your brain and those shaved balls of yours.”
    â€œI didn’t say I shaved them. I trim.”
    She looks at me as if I’m nuts. “Same difference. You were supposed to stay out of my life, while I stayed out of yours. That was the deal, but you keep breaking it.”
    â€œHow the hell was I supposed to know he’d ask me a question about you? What’s the problem, anyway? Give me a fuckin’ break. Reality check, Ashtyn. I’m a teenage guy with raging hormones who hasn’t had a lot of action lately . . . I admit I jerk off. I’m sorry I got caught up in your boyfriend’s game of who’s got the bigger dick.”
    â€œYou’re insane, Derek Fitzpatrick. Certifiably insane.”
    Drunk is more like it.
    â€œI can’t believe you and Landon have somehow managed to involve me in your little game of one-upping each other,” she continues. “You know people are going to gossip now, don’t you?”
    I rake my hand through my hair and wish I wasn’t having this conversation. “I don’t really give a shit what the people in this town think.”
    Landon comes out of the house with a bunch of people following him. “Ashtyn, come here.”
    Ashtyn looks at me as if I’m the enemy. “Just so you know, you’re my least favorite nephew,” she says through clenched teeth, then walks over to Monika. “Take me home,” she pleads to her friend.
    After she gets into Monika’s car, music from inside the housereminds me that the party is still going strong. And Bree is probably wondering why I didn’t call BS on Landon’s stupid comment about me jerking off while thoughts of Ashtyn race through my brain. I walk through the maze of people until I reach Bree.
    â€œCan we talk?”
    Bree puts her hand on my cheek. “You’re so cute. If you’re going to apologize, don’t. I know you were just bullshitting to get Landon off your case. I think you succeeded.”
    â€œThanks.”
    She kisses me on the lips. “My pleasure.”
    We stay at the party a little while longer, but soon I’m so wasted all I want to do is sleep it off. At some point Bree wants to leave and we get a ride from someone who didn’t have one too many Jell-O shots. As I walk in the house, I know I’ve got to straighten things out with Ashtyn.
    She made it clear that she doesn’t want to have anything to do with me, so why can’t I erase her from my head? What did I think, just because I feel a connection to her that she’d feel the same way or believe that her boyfriend is unfaithful?
    That’s a joke. It’s actually a good thing Ashtyn resents my presence in her life, because if she didn’t we could really complicate our already complicated lives. I’m eternally thankful the front door is unlocked, but my luck is