"Hey, loser."

"Chick, your dad is dating my mom, and you couldn't tell me? I get that Jayden wants me to feel all gross inside and loves f.u.c.king with me, but you? I expected a call."

"What?" she asks, and I pause.

"You know our parents are dating, right? He just asked me if it was okay."

"What!" she shrieks and then the phone goes dead.

Huh. Guess she didn't know.

Shrugging my shoulders, I head back to the Bullies' house and run back down the stairs to my room, falling face first into the bed again. I want to sleep, I do. But then I sit up and I'm texting Avery.

Me: Someone just asked me if they could date my mom.

Avery: I thought you had a dad.

Me: I do. They are divorced. Sorta.

Avery: Oh. Sorry, and that's sweet. Is he nice?

Me: No big and yeah, he's my coach.

Avery: Oh cool. I hope it works out.

Me: Me too.

Me: Don't know why I texted you that.

Avery: Duh, because I'm constantly on your mind.

She adds a winky face and I grin.

Me: That's exactly it.

Avery: Wow. I'm surprised I said that. I'm not full of myself like some people.

Me: You should be. You're hot.

Avery: Don't have to suck up, Jace. I'll more than likely have s.e.x with you again.

Me: Um, who said anything about s.e.x, you freak?

Avery: lol, whatevs.

Me: And get used to it.

Avery: Used to what?

Avery: Being a freak?

Avery: I think I got that in the bag.

I grin as I shake my head.

Me: Believe me, you do, but I mean get used to me telling you how gorgeous you are.

Me: Because someone as exquisite as you needs to be told daily how beautiful I think you are.

Avery: ...

I laugh out loud, but it turns into a yawn as I type back.

Me: What's up with the dots?

Avery: Oh sorry, I'm swooning.

Me: So dots mean swooning?

Avery: For you they do.

Me: ...

Avery: ...

Sending her a winky face emoticon, I place my phone on the nightstand and close my eyes. I have at least two hours for a good power nap, and nothing is going to prevent me from getting those hours. I have to be refreshed and ready to devour Avery after her gig. I have so much planned for our first date that we aren't calling a date because she doesn't do labels. I can't wait. But first, sleep. I need sleep. Just then my phone starts to ring with Jayden's ringtone.

d.a.m.n it! Can I get a break here?

"h.e.l.lo?"

"Way to go, loser. Coach wanted to talk to Baylor on his own."

"My bad," I mumble.

"Yeah, she's freaking the h.e.l.l out, yelling at me for keeping it from her and yelling at him for not talking to her first. So, thanks."

"Anytime, I love making your life h.e.l.l."

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

"Oh my G.o.d, you douche." He laughs at that as I gag.

"Gross, right? He's my father-in-law, for G.o.d's sake!"

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

"f.u.c.k you," he says and I laugh harder.

"Don't hate 'cause you're banging your soon-to-be sister."

"You're a d.i.c.k 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 b.u.t.thurt and jealous."

"b.i.t.c.h, 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 d.i.c.k 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 f.u.c.king 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 f.u.c.k 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 a.s.sumed 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 h.e.l.l is up with all this Sleeping Beauty s.h.i.t? "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 s.h.i.t. 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 pa.s.s 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 a.s.s of himself with some corny-a.s.s lines."

"This is true."

"Plus, smart chicks don't like me for some reason."

"'Cause they are smart enough not to fall for your s.h.i.t," 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 s.h.i.t 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.