Better than Perfect by Simone Elkeles

Author:Simone Elkeles
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2014-09-05T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 28

Ashtyn

I’m glad those guys from Romeoville don’t recognize me. We played them this year and beat them 21–20 in the first round of the playoffs. A fight broke out between our players after I’d kicked the field goal to win the game. Police were called in to break it up.

Derek waves a hand in front of my face. “Stop lookin’ at other guys when you’re with me.”

“I’m not looking at other guys.”

“I’m not an idiot, Ashtyn. Every two seconds you’re checkin’ out the football players at that table behind me. Obviously you’ve got a thing for jocks.”

“I do not. They’re . . . rivals. I just hope they don’t recognize me.”

“Then stop lookin’ at ’em and pay attention to your date.”

“This isn’t a date.”

“Humor me and pretend it is.”

“What would Bree say if she knew you and I were out on a date?”

“Bree?” He laughs. “She just wanted to hook up. Nothin’ more than that.”

I don’t want to know how much he hooked up with Bree. I don’t like guys who think they’re God’s gift to girls and have no goals except to get with as many girls as possible, which is the definition of Derek Fitzpatrick. So why do I like being here with him, trying to one-up him on the witty comment scale? The guy makes stupid jokes and doesn’t take anything seriously—especially his relationships with girls. I mean, who thinks of taking a girl on a date to learn synchronized trampolining?

Not that this is a date. It’s not. It’s paying for a lost bet, nothing more. Sure, Derek’s pretending it’s a real date, but that’s only because he likes playing games. Taking me out is just another game to him, another way for him to amuse himself.

When Tracie brings the corn fritters piled up in a little white ceramic bowl, I sample one. I swear the fritter practically melts in my mouth, perfectly warm and sweet. It’s everything Tracie said it would be and more.

I pop one after another into my mouth while Derek watches me with those electric blue eyes.

“You have to try one,” I tell him. Tracie brings a second helping after I’ve devoured the first.

“No, thanks.”

“They’re amazing, Derek. Seriously addictive.”

“Obviously.”

I lean across the table and hold up a fritter. “Try it. It’s fresh, and has corn in it. Consider it a vegetable, surrounded by tasty goodness.”

He looks at the fritter, then at me. “You eat it.”

When I see it’s useless, I pop it into my mouth. No need to waste a good fritter on someone who won’t appreciate it.

Tracie brings the rest of our meal. Derek takes a bite of chicken and moans. “This is the way chicken should taste.”

I’m surprised Derek enjoys the chicken as much as he does. He even reaches over and grabs the wing off my plate when I mention that I’m stuffed and can’t eat another bite. It makes me think of Trey and Monika, who share food all the time. Landon and I never shared food.

Okay. I admit it.

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