Page 113 of How to Win the Girl

Oh god, what if he felt his brother’s hard-on while he was going down on me? What if he felt how horny Drake was. What if—

“He said…” He lifts his gaze, clearing his throat. “I should bring you home. He, um, also said…” Drake’s head bends as he reads his phone. “I’m not allowed home until we clear everything up.”

“But he had the truck tonight.”

Drake nods. “He walked home. It’s not far.”

It’s clear we’re not going to remain at the party. How could we when things have escalated so quickly? Drake is being forced to take me home because of his brother's not-so-cryptic message.

Suddenly, I’m in Drake’s truck, riding side by side with him through the dark streets, radio turned off, neither of us having much to say. It’s silent, the only sound is the engine and the truck hitting an occasional pothole.

I don’t even have to give him directions because, within a few minutes, we’re in front of my house. He puts the truck in park, and we’re sitting in the dark, parked under the giant oak tree next to the road.

For a few minutes, Drake and I do nothing but stare at the front windshield. I have no idea what to say. Where do we begin a discussion like this when one of us has been lying for the past few weeks, and then I went and lied tonight in my own way by not admitting I knew who he was? This entire situation is so fucked up. How are we going to get out of it and start over?

Do I even want to?

Doeshe?

It’s on the tip of my tongue to say,remind me again what your brother told you to do,how you’re not allowed home until we figure this out—but I can’t find the words. They won’t leave my lips.

Drake shifts in his seat.

He unbuckles his seat belt and finally, turns his entire body to face me, tucking one leg under his ass.

I have no idea where he found the room—he’s a big boy.

“So. I haven’t been honest with you.”

My brows go up, surprised that he’s not mincing words, and he’s going to dive headfirst into the deep end.

“Oh?”

“Shit, this isn’t easy to admit.”

No, it wouldn’t be. He’s been acting a fool for three entire weeks.

“As twins, my brother and I have always been tight. Tighter than most siblings because we’re identical and used to spend all of our time together—whether we wanted to or not. Our mom even dressed us the same—matching clothes and shit down to the shoes. No one could tell us apart when we were little, not even our grandma. Even whenIwould break an arm, or he would get a cut or chip a tooth, no one could tell who was who.”

He runs a hand on his face. “Used to come in so handy.”

“You know that our older brothers both play football professionally, and it’s what I want to do. But…lately, I’ve gotten a feelin’ that Drew isn’t happy. He’s restless, you know? Really focusing hard on school rather than football, and it’s just made me wonder if that’s what he wants to do.”

He’s fidgeting now, tapping on his knee with the tip of his forefinger, looking to stare back out the window.

“I thought I could help him be happy.”

I listen.

Wordlessly, I listen as Drake Colter begins spilling his guts to me, confessing what he surely considers his sins.

“We used to switch places. Middle school mostly. Once, he even went to the dentist for me because I had wanted to go to the batting cages with my buddies instead of gettin' my teeth cleaned.” Drake smiles at the memory. “Mom had no idea she had him and not me.”

“So anyway. When he told me that he wanted to pay more attention to his personal life—you know, do more shit that makes him happy—I thought I could speed things along by putting him on a dating app. The only place he’s been meeting girls is in the cafeteria and shit, which isn’t a bad thing, don’t get me wrong. Athletes arefineand all, but sometimes it’s nice to date a girl who isn’t as crazy busy. When you’re datin’ someone who also plays sports, findin’ time to see each other can be impossible.”

He glances up at me. “Am I babblin’?”

My head shakes. “No.” Not at all.

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