The door opens and I tilt my head up expectantly, only to lower it a few inches as a slender blonde fills the doorway. She looks comfortable. Too comfortable, like she’s just rolled out of Luke’s bed and didn’t care what little clothing she grabbed before coming to greet me.

What the fuck? Does Luke have a chick living with him? My stomach rolls and drops out beneath me as I process why she would be answering his door.

A perfectly manicured hand goes to her hip where her fingers begin to strum the material of her camisole. She gives my outfit a scrutinizing once-over, pops the piece of hot-pink gum in her mouth, and gives me the look.

You know, the look girls give other girls when they’re staking a claim on a guy. That unspoken threat of “I will seriously punch you in your ovaries if you so much as look at my boyfriend again.” Yeah, that look, and it’s all the confirmation I need as the reasoning behind her presence becomes clear.

That fucking asshole has a girlfriend.

“Who are you?” I ask, concealing all the guilt and hurt I don’t want to acknowledge and only letting myself react to the overwhelming jealousy that’s coursing through my system. It’s a natural reaction I can’t ignore, one that has me sounding entitled to the information she’s about to give me as I mimic her position with a hand on my hip, but doing it in a classy way. I, unlike her, am at least wearing a bra.

Her plum-colored lips curl up sadistically. “Jolene. Who are you?”

“Tessa.”

Her eyes widen with interest. “Really?” She looks me over once more, this time with more curiosity. “So you’re the big regret, huh?”

My hand slips from my side as I stare, stunned and wounded from the sucker-punch she just delivered, because that’s exactly what it feels like. An unexpected blow from a chick who seems to know exactly who I am.

I struggle to keep my breathing steady, to seem unaffected by this, but I fear I’m failing as the air leaves my lungs in a shuddering rush. This shouldn’t upset me. I shouldn’t care what he labels me, but this, what I’m feeling right now, this is different, and I can’t act like I didn’t just hear those words slip past her fake-as-shit lips. I’m used to feeling certain emotions involving Luke, no matter how hard I’ve tried to push them away, but right now, my chest is pulsing with a new pain, something unlike anything I’ve ever felt, and I know it’s because the man that never once shared any of his feelings with me has apparently confided in this woman. She’s staring at me like she knows everything; all the secrets he kept from me, the parts of him I wanted that I thought were off-limits to everyone. Believing that made it easier, acceptable, at the time. But maybe it was just me, standing alone on the other side of the wall he put up.

I was the only one he wanted to keep out.

“Shocked he told me that?” She pops her gum again, looking almost proud of herself for knowing that information. “You know how guys like to open up after sex. Put ’em between your legs and they’ll tell you practically anything. And he had a lot to say about you.”

I could sulk right now, focus solely on the throbbing discomfort that’s causing my heartbeat to slow as if it’s struggling as much as I am. But the entitled look on this chick’s face, the way she’s practically begging me to cut her down to size—that I’m more than happy to put all my energy into. I’ve yet to meet a bitch that can outwit me, and I seriously doubt this gum-smacking bimbo is about to take that title.

“You sound happy about that,” I state, before shaking my head. “I’d hate a guy to be balls deep in me while they’re talking about another woman. Unless of course that other woman is actually participating.” I arch my brow suggestively. “You must be rather boring.”

Her sly demeanor fades in front of my eyes as she straightens up in the doorway, the obvious distaste for what I’ve just said hardening her features. “He only mentioned you after he was satisfied. By me.”

Wow. She’s not making this difficult for me. I almost feel bad for what I’m about to say.

Almost.

I smile, ready to silence this bitch. “If Luke can remember any name but yours after you’ve satisfied him—” I accompany my sarcasm with a delicious set of air quotes, “—you’re doing it wrong. Let me know if you want me to show you how it’s done.”

“I know what I’m doing. Thanks.”

“Clearly.” I tap my chin with my finger. “What’s your name again? I forgot, and Luke didn’t bring you up last night.”

Her eyes narrow in on mine as she grips the doorknob, ready to shut me out. “When he comes home, I’ll have him call you while I’m riding him. He’ll be saying it a lot.”

“Your name’s Tessa’s too?” I ask, obnoxious smile accompanying my fake enthusiasm. “That’s crazy! We should totes hang out sometime. I can show you this move I like to do with Luke that drives him completely nuts. Trust me. He’ll be screaming my name so fucking loud when you do it to him, the entire state will know who I am.”

Her mouth drops open, displaying the hot-pink wad of gum she stopped popping like an idiot once I got my shit together and put her in her place. She tries to regain her snotty self-control, but I don’t miss the way her knuckles turn white as her hand grips the doorknob.

“Whore,” she finally says after being shocked into silence for a good minute.