heard him say they did it three times one night. And they did it at Ravinia under blankets during a concert. And in the back of his car on several occasions; he’d said one timethe condom broke. He makes it sound like they have a crazy active sex life, which secretly drives Vic nuts.
How do I balance the relationship I have with Monika and the friendship I have with Trey and Vic? The guys aren’t just my teammates. They confide in me. Obviously Trey didn’t want to reveal the truth about his sex life. It’s such a guy thing.
I pat Monika’s hand. “Your secret is safe with me.”
“I love him, Ashtyn. Seriously, I know this sounds stupid but I totally fantasize about marrying Trey and having kids with him one day. I swear he’s my soul mate. I want to make love with him and he’s always so slow and patient with me. I’m just . . . I don’t know. Maybe something’s wrong with me.”
“Nothing’s wrong with you, Monika. You’re just not ready.”
“I wish my parents didn’t hate him. They can’t even look past the fact that he lives in The Shores.”
The Shores is the apartment complex on the south side of town. It’s not the safest place to live in Fremont, and there are definitely some gang members living there, but Trey has stayed away from all the crap. His parents might not be the richest family in town, but they’re super close and Trey’s dad is the funniest guy I’ve ever met.
Monika seems more relaxed now that I know the truth. She pops off my bed like she’s propelled by a spring, then looks out my window. “So what’s Derek’s story?”
“I don’t know. He’s from California, his dad’s in the Navy, he doesn’t eat junk food, and he got kicked out of some academy for letting pigs loose. That’s it.”
“Does he have a girlfriend?”
I shrug.
“Does he like Bree, or does he have the hots for you like Landon suggested?”
I laugh. “I assure you he doesn’t have the hots for me. He just likes to piss me off.”
“That’s foreplay.”
“You’re crazy. Listen, I know you want to be some sort of superspy or FBI investigator one day, but Derek is off-limits as a subject.”
“Why?”
“Just . . . because. I don’t want him interfering in my life, and I promised not to interfere in his. It’s that simple.”
My best friend laughs. “Doesn’t sound like a good enough reason to me.” She puts her hand on my shoulder. “Listen, my friend. I think we need to do a reconnaissance mission and find out more about the guy living in your den.” She heads downstairs with purpose and determination.
I hurry after her. “We’re not going to spy on him.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s not cool and probably illegal.”
The door to the den is open. Monika walks inside without hesitating. “Keep a lookout and let me know if he’s coming,” she instructs.
“For the record, I’m against spying.”
“For the record, you’re curious about what I’m going to find.”
I can’t argue with her there.
My heart is racing as I peek through one of the windows in the den and watch Derek push our lawn mower through the tall grass. He’s got his shirt tucked into his back pocket and his muscled back is glistening with sweat. I duck so he can’t see me watching him if he happens to look in this direction.
“He sure does like boots.” Monika holds up a brown leather boot. When she puts it back down, a bunch of hundred-dollar bills fall out. “Whoa. He’s loaded. Where did he get the money from?” she asks as she shoves the bills back in the boot.
“I have no clue. Let’s get out of here.”
“Wait. Well, well . . . lookie here!” Monika says as she lifts the top of Derek’s suitcase. “Seems like your boy wears boxer briefs, wears Calvin Klein cologne, and plays poker. Maybe he won all that money playing poker.”
“Poker?”
Monika reaches in his suitcase and pulls out a bunch of poker chips. “Yep. He’s obviously a gambler.”
She abandons the
How do I balance the relationship I have with Monika and the friendship I have with Trey and Vic? The guys aren’t just my teammates. They confide in me. Obviously Trey didn’t want to reveal the truth about his sex life. It’s such a guy thing.
I pat Monika’s hand. “Your secret is safe with me.”
“I love him, Ashtyn. Seriously, I know this sounds stupid but I totally fantasize about marrying Trey and having kids with him one day. I swear he’s my soul mate. I want to make love with him and he’s always so slow and patient with me. I’m just . . . I don’t know. Maybe something’s wrong with me.”
“Nothing’s wrong with you, Monika. You’re just not ready.”
“I wish my parents didn’t hate him. They can’t even look past the fact that he lives in The Shores.”
The Shores is the apartment complex on the south side of town. It’s not the safest place to live in Fremont, and there are definitely some gang members living there, but Trey has stayed away from all the crap. His parents might not be the richest family in town, but they’re super close and Trey’s dad is the funniest guy I’ve ever met.
Monika seems more relaxed now that I know the truth. She pops off my bed like she’s propelled by a spring, then looks out my window. “So what’s Derek’s story?”
“I don’t know. He’s from California, his dad’s in the Navy, he doesn’t eat junk food, and he got kicked out of some academy for letting pigs loose. That’s it.”
“Does he have a girlfriend?”
I shrug.
“Does he like Bree, or does he have the hots for you like Landon suggested?”
I laugh. “I assure you he doesn’t have the hots for me. He just likes to piss me off.”
“That’s foreplay.”
“You’re crazy. Listen, I know you want to be some sort of superspy or FBI investigator one day, but Derek is off-limits as a subject.”
“Why?”
“Just . . . because. I don’t want him interfering in my life, and I promised not to interfere in his. It’s that simple.”
My best friend laughs. “Doesn’t sound like a good enough reason to me.” She puts her hand on my shoulder. “Listen, my friend. I think we need to do a reconnaissance mission and find out more about the guy living in your den.” She heads downstairs with purpose and determination.
I hurry after her. “We’re not going to spy on him.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s not cool and probably illegal.”
The door to the den is open. Monika walks inside without hesitating. “Keep a lookout and let me know if he’s coming,” she instructs.
“For the record, I’m against spying.”
“For the record, you’re curious about what I’m going to find.”
I can’t argue with her there.
My heart is racing as I peek through one of the windows in the den and watch Derek push our lawn mower through the tall grass. He’s got his shirt tucked into his back pocket and his muscled back is glistening with sweat. I duck so he can’t see me watching him if he happens to look in this direction.
“He sure does like boots.” Monika holds up a brown leather boot. When she puts it back down, a bunch of hundred-dollar bills fall out. “Whoa. He’s loaded. Where did he get the money from?” she asks as she shoves the bills back in the boot.
“I have no clue. Let’s get out of here.”
“Wait. Well, well . . . lookie here!” Monika says as she lifts the top of Derek’s suitcase. “Seems like your boy wears boxer briefs, wears Calvin Klein cologne, and plays poker. Maybe he won all that money playing poker.”
“Poker?”
Monika reaches in his suitcase and pulls out a bunch of poker chips. “Yep. He’s obviously a gambler.”
She abandons the
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