Chapter 1
Letti
Life is filled with choices.
It’s all about choosing to take a chance or spending your life wondering what if.
Let’s use my current predicament as an example.
My freshman year, I was shy, quiet, reserved.
No one really knew I existed.
My brother, Carter, was the star quarterback with scouts watching his every move.
When Carter and his best friend Greyson, the running back for the team, received full ride scholarships for Michigan State my sophomore year, I made the choice to change myself.
That summer, puberty finally showed up with all her glory.
I went from a size B chest to size D’s seemingly overnight, I developed more feminine curves and I had my braces removed.
I’m still rather petite at five foot four and one hundred and ten pounds, but with my long honey brown hair and pale green eyes, I began to turn heads everywhere I went.
Throw in some shorter skirts and shorts, skinny jeans and more revealing shirts, well, I went from geek to goddess in the span of a single summer.
Carter had gotten so caught up in college life that for his first year, he only came back once for Christmas, but I’ve been so caught up in my own life that I never let it get to me.
So, back to choices and this one is a big one, yet another in the string of choices that led me into this damn mess.
When I returned to school my junior year, I drew a lot of attention and ended up choosing to accept the offer to become the tight end, Drake McNalley’s, girlfriend right before the year ended.
I was so naïve to just how awful people could be, but this is one choice that has royally bit me in the ass.
Yesterday, after the homecoming game, I caught Drake balls deep in Heather Francis, captain of the drill team.
One wrong choice led to nearly a year of my life being wasted on a man who wasn’t worth wasting a minute on.
Oh, let’s not forget my other choice…the one where I chose to give him my virginity to the lying, cheating bastard.
Yep, lots of regrets over here.
“Collette? Are you listening to me?” My father asks in an annoyed tone as my mind was anywhere but our conversation.
I’d like to say this isn’t a common occurrence, but it really is.
“Huh? Sorry, dad. I have a lot on my mind. What were you saying?” He smirks and shakes his head before tiredly repeating himself, just like he always does because he’s just that amazing.
“Carter and Greyson will be coming down for two weeks, so I need you to make sure you put extra towels in the guest bathroom. I had Marci come clean the rooms yesterday, so we just need to make sure the towels and extra blankets are restocked.” I nod, dread coursing through me at the thought of being stuck in the same house as Greyson Jacobs.
Greyson is one of the most sinfully divine specimens of men, but he’s cocky and acts like a total dick.
Isn’t it a shame that most goodlooking men are total pricks?!
“Okay, dad. I’ll take care of it after I eat. When do they get here?” His sheepish smile is enough to tell me I won’t like his answer and he quickly solidifies the fact.
“They actually should be here by the time you get home from school.” With an exaggerated eye roll, I take my plate with my half-eaten breakfast and set it on the counter, having officially lost my appetite.
“Great. As if today wasn’t already bound to be a disaster.” I regret the words as soon as they leave my mouth, but judging by his expression, it’s definitely too late to take it back.
My dad doesn’t know about what happened with Drake since he was already in bed by the time I made it home and my dad already didn’t like Drake to begin with, so I know he won’t handle the news well.
“Why would you say that, Letti?” I drop my head back and try to blink away the tears that are already forming.
Of all the things Drake deserves, my tears damn well aren’t on the list.
“Drake and I broke up, dad. It’s no big deal, but I’m going to go get the towels and stuff so I can head over to Niki’s before the starts blowing up my phone.” I try to walk past him, a desperate attempt to avoid any further conversation, but I’m quickly grabbed and pulled into a tight hug.
Let’s face it…I need this hug, even if I didn’t realize it until it was already happening.
“You can stay home if you want, sweetheart. I know you don’t want to hear it right now, but I always believed you deserved so much better than that prick. Now, go on. I love you and let me know if you want to stay home so I can call the school and excuse you for the day.” I pull back and smile at this surprisingly comforting interaction.
My dad may be a typical dad in a lot of areas, but he’s really pretty great.
“I appreciate it, dad, but I’m not going to runaway and hide. I’ve decided to take a different route and show him what he’s missing instead.” He smirks and gives me a gentle pat on my shoulder as I turn and walk out of the kitchen.
After taking care of the tasks my father gave me, I hurry to my room and get dressed.
I decided on a dark blue short sleeve sun dress that hugs my chest and waist tightly before flaring out right at the hips, the slinky material flows beautifully and ends just above my knees.
I curl my hair then tousle it to break up the curls for a more natural look, leaving my honey brown hair cascading perfectly down my back and over my shoulders.
I put on eye liner, mascara and lip gloss then throw on a pair of black strappy sandals before grabbing my backpack and purse.
With one final look in the mirror, I smile at my reflection then head out to meet up with my best friend, Niki, who thankfully only lives a little over a block away from me.
“Damn, Letti! You look gorgeous!” I smile at Niki, but I know she can see through it, she always does.
“Thanks. I can’t wait to get today done and over with. This three-day weekend can’t get here fast enough.” The fact that tomorrow is Friday and there’s no school is certainly something that I’ve been looking forward to and it’s exactly what I need right now.
“You are still going to the dance tomorrow night, right?” We climb into her car, but she doesn’t start it.
She’s sitting in her seat with her eyes locked on me as she awaits my answer.
“I wasn’t going to, but my dad just dropped some news on me this morning and made me reconsider. Carter and Greyson are coming down for a few weeks and will be getting in sometime today.
"A dance where I’ll be stuck watching my ex make out with the slut he cheated on me with sounds better than being stuck in the house with them.” I watch her lips curl and already know what she’s going to say, but I brace myself anyway.
“Greyson…as in Greyson Jacobs? Like, the same Greyson you had a crush on until he left for college?” I roll my eyes and flop back against the seat, feeling a deep regret for having ever mentioned my stupid crush to her.
“Yeah, also the same Greyson who either ignored me or treated me like shit. The same Greyson who slept with half the cheer squad, practically rubbing it in my face after Carter told him I had a crush on him. So, yeah, the school dance sounds better than the personal hell my home is going to become for the next few weeks.” She gives me a sympathetic smile as we pull out of her driveway and head to school.
