“You’re smooth,” I told him as he opened the car door for me.
“I’m learning.”
A second later, when he climbed into the seat beside me and turned the key in the ignition, I asked, “So are you going to tell me where we’re headed?”
“I was thinking of keeping it a surprise,” Cash said. “Will that drive you crazy? I know you like to know the plan, usually so you can critique it. So I’ll tell you if that’ll make you more comfortable.”
I sighed and reached across the console to take his right hand as he used his left to steer. “Don’t tell me,” I said. “Yes, it’ll drive me crazy, but… I’m learning, too.”
Acknowledgments
Writing is a team sport, and the author only one player on the field.
I’d like to thank my MVPs, the people without whom none of this could happen. Kate Sullivan, who takes my best and pushes it to new heights—I could not have asked for a better editor. And Joanna Volpe, who not only knew what Lysistrata was but also supported this crazy, loose retelling from day one—thanks for believing in this, and in all my other wacky ideas; I always know I can rest easy when the ball is in your court.
Thanks also go to Cindy Eagan, Lisa Sabater, JoAnna Kremer, Stacy Cantor Abrams, Alison Impey, and the rest of the crew at Little, Brown and Poppy. I’m so lucky to have you all on my team.
Much love to Shelby Bach, who was patient enough to explain soccer to me (I know what a midfielder is now! Woo!) and Veronica Roth, who was always so willing to help. Special thanks also go to the girls of YA Highway, who have served as both my friends and my therapists over these past few years. And to Amy Lukavics—thanks for making me feel like the coolest girl in the world, even when I’m down.
I’d be nowhere without the support of my friends: Molly, Shana, Jamie, Ashlyn, Becca, Rachel, Gaelyn, Meredith, Alyssa, Hannah, Nicole, Cody, Kyle, and so, so many others—I wish I could name you all. My friends, you have put up with quite a lot from me. For that, I am forever grateful.
Thanks also go to Nancy Coffey, Sara Kendall, Katharine Kittredge, Suzie Townsend, Diana Fox, Courtney Moulton, Lisa Desrochers, Kathleen Ortiz, Hannah Wylie, and Michelle Hodkin—even if you don’t know it, you have all inspired me. It’s people like you who make me proud to play the game.
And finally, because I’m sure they are starting to wonder where their names are, I want to thank my family. Especially my mom, Elaine, and my dad, John. Thank you all for cheering me on, before I even stepped onto the field. Without your love and support, I couldn’t have made it this far.
Contents
Front Cover Image
Welcome
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Acknowledgments
Also by Kody Keplinger
Copyright
also by kody keplinger
The DUFF
(Designated Ugly Fat Friend)
Copyright
Copyright © 2011 by Kody Keplinger
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Poppy
Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Visit our website at www.HachetteBookGroup.com.
www.twitter.com/littlebrown.
Poppy is an imprint of Little, Brown and Company.
The Poppy name and logo are trademarks of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
The publisher is not responsible for websites (or their content) that are not owned by the publisher.
First eBook Edition: September 2011
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
ISBN: 978-0-316-19157-9