Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 104766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
I was twelve that year and flat-chested, and I didn’t want anyone looking at my skinny, pale legs. Besides, my mom would only allow me to wear a one-piece, and I considered it dorky and childish, and it was embarrassing.
So I’d stood there baking in the Texas sun, watching Drew and his glistening skin while he bobbed in the blue pool water.
“He doesn’t have to be nice to you,” Bev had pointed out. “His brother isn’t.”
“Drake Colter isn’t nice to anyone he isn’t dating,” Tosha pointed out.
“Drake Colter doesn’t date.” Bev laughed.
“Exactly.” Tosha made her point with a loud laugh, and I glanced over at the boys to ensure they hadn’t heard us.
But they were already gone, and I picked up the flyer, my eyes trailing over the words THE GRIDIRON CLUB NEEDS YOU!
The Gridiron Club was the name of the football boosters who raised money to pay for the lights on the football field, keeping the concession stand stocked, and put the team in fancy new uniforms every season.
“They’re fundraising for a team that’s not even part of the school.” Bev snorted. “Lame.”
I folded the flyer and tucked it in my lunch box.
I knew I wouldn’t get to go to the fundraiser unless my parents planned on attending, but I kept it anyway—because Drew had handed it to me personally.
“Hey, Tess.”
He’d said my name.
We never spoke, and he remembered my name!
I would take that flyer and doodle his name on it alongside mine.
Drew + Tess.
Tess Donahue + Drew Colter.
Tess Colter.
Tess Mirabelle Colter.
Tess Mirabelle Donahue-Colter.
Heart.
Star.
More hearts.
Opened my diary that night and wrote:
Dear Diary, it’s me again.
Drew and his buddies came into the lunchroom today and gave me this flyer. Okay, so it wasn’t to me specifically, but he handed it to me and said, “Hey, Tess,” and I thought I was going to die.
He is so cute!!!!
I still haven’t said anything to the girls about having a crush on him. I don’t want them to think I’m out of my dang mind. He’s a Colter, and Colters only love one thing—football.
Homecoming is coming up, and Mom said I can go this year with Bev, Charity, and Tosha, but I don’t want to go if Drew isn’t going, which I doubt he is ’cause he isn’t dating anyone I don’t think.
Grady is going—obviously—with Beth Newman. I can’t stand that B. She’s so rude and treats me like I’m a kid and she’s only a year older. My brother is an idiot with horrible taste in girls and do you think he takes my advice? No. Because Beth Newman has big boobs and laughs at every stupid thing he says. I think she caught me rolling my eyes at her but whatever.
Well, Diary, I should get to bed.
I have tennis lessons in the morning, and Mom said I can’t skip even though it’s going to be hot as Hades. I don’t know why, it’s not like I’m going to play professionally.
Xx Tess, age 14
I folded up the football flyer covered in hearts and doodles and our names, tucking it neatly into my diary and locking it away.
CHAPTER 1
DREW
“I’M BEGINNING TO THINK I’M SINGLE BECAUSE I NEVER FORWARDED THOSE CHAIN LETTERS I GOT IN HIGH SCHOOL…”
I’m the last man standing.
My three brothers have girlfriends, including my twin—the guy no one ever thought would get himself relationshipped has gone and got himself a better half.
Talk about ironic…
I was always supposed to be the one in a relationship, not Drake. Everyone knows he had zero interest in dating! He’s the one who never wanted to date the same person twice or sleep with the same person night after night. Drake wouldn’t go on dating apps to find love. He only went on the dating apps to pretend to be me.
Now look at him, gallivanting around campus like a pig in shit when he intended to find a girlfriend for me.
The universe is a fickle mistress.
No. The universe is a bitch.
Still, I can’t be bitter, can I?
I am happy for the miserable bastard.
What?! I am!
I don’t have it in me to be anything but—he is my brother, after all, and not just my brother; he is my twin. Honestly, I’m happy for the asshole even though he went behind my back and lied to me and his girlfriend—before she was his girlfriend (obviously).
He was trying to help you out.
But he did it without tellin’ you…
He told you. You just didn’t take him seriously. You thought he was lyin’ when he was telling the truth, then you accused him of lyin’ once you found out he was sneaking around.
Because I didn’t actually think he was out there dating people and pretending to be me.
Ha!
Whoops.
Anyway. I digress. No sense in getting all bummed out about it. Plenty of people are single, so it’s not like I’m the only one. It’s just, you know—I feel ready? Yeah, yeah, I know. Love finds you when you’re not looking for it, or so my brother—who has now become the expert on love—keeps telling me. He considers himself living proof.