The Guy on the Right (The Underdogs 1)

“I don’t give a shit what anyone thinks.”

It’s the truth, for the most part. A single and shitty act from the girl I thought was my dream destroyed any pretense I could ever again try to come up with about myself. Trying to be perfect for her had turned me into more of an imposter than I could ever live comfortably with. It’s always hindsight that delivers the biggest bitch slap, even when the hurt has been dealt with. I’ll never stray that far away from myself again. If that means being honest over nice, then that’s what I’ll be.

Laney prods as we end up completely tangled on the plastic and gives me a pointed look.

“Prove it.”

She’s so close that I can practically taste her and it’s making this test even more unbearable.

“Fine, but there needs to be something in it for me.”

“Like what?”

“I’ll need to think about it.”

“Deal.”

“Oh my God, that’s it!” Devin bursts into laughter. “This is the best picture I’ve ever taken. I think I’ve got it, Laney.”

“Great.” I collapse in a heap and wipe the sweat from my brow. Laney rushes toward Devin and throws her head back with a laugh before snatching the phone and bringing it to me.

Surveying the picture, I have to admit, with the setting of the park and the sunset in the background, it screams heart-hands sunset pic, but it’s the ridiculous angle we’re twisted in that totally debunks any notion of romance. I give a deserving nod. Not bad.

“Oh, you know damn well, this is hilarious. Hold your grudge, I’ll figure out a way to make it up to you,” she says, thumbing her cellphone at warp speed. “In three, two, one, and @livingmyrealestlife is now live! Hashtag twister ballet, hashtag new best friends, hashtag karate in the basement, hashtag suck it yoga.”

“Jesus,” I shake my head, biting my smile.

“This is too cool,” Devin squeaks. “I’m following. Now, are we all done here? ‘Cause Chase is going to kill me. I’m late for our date night.”

“We’re good. You can go, bridezilla.”

“Later, hooch,” Devin says, walking toward her monster truck. “Bye, Theo!”

“See you, Devin,” I mutter, climbing to my feet as Laney gathers the game and stuffs it back into the box. “You don’t think this is a little lame?”

She scrunches her nose. “I mean, yeah, maybe a little. And it will be at times, but that’s the point, right? To showcase our lameness. Look I’m no social princess, but I’m living proof of Murphy’s law and can try to find humor in any situation, and that’s what people identify with. That’s my angle. I’d be happy if all the comments said, ‘I know, right?’”

She clutches the boxed Twister to her chest as we walk back to my car.

“While other people take selfies in bikini thongs on yachts in the Mediterranean sipping thousand-dollar-a-glass champagne, I’ll record a more reject reality for the less fortunate.”

“Fine, but don’t credit me for this madness.”

She gives me a knowing grin. “This is going to be fun. You’ll see.”

On the drive back to campus, I glance over at her.

“So, Devin is getting married?”

“Yeah, in November. It feels like we’ve been planning this our whole lives. It’s going to be beautiful. Hey, maybe you’ll save me a headache and be my plus one.”

“You sure you don’t want to take someone else?”

She glances over at me. “I’m sure. Why?”

“You could be dating someone by then.”

“No chance of that.”