The Boyfriend Project (5 page)

Avery lived a few doors down from Kendall. I always passed her house on my way out of the neighborhood. Tonight as I was driving by, I saw Fletcher sitting on the stairs that led into an apartment over the garage. Avery's parents were letting him use that room for the summer.

I saw him lift a bottle to his lips, saw no sign of Avery. I pulled to a stop at the curb just past their house and walked back. Fletcher and I weren't best buds. I'd barely known the guy before he got involved with Avery.

But I was feeling a little out of whack since seeing Kendall. I couldn't explain it but things didn't seem quite right between us. Not that I thought Fletcher was a Dr. Phil or anything, but he'd had a rep for being a player before Avery convinced him that she was worth leaving all that behind.

I crossed over the driveway and started up the steps. The light above the garage illuminated him enough for me to see his eyes widen slightly. I didn't blame him. We never hung out together without the girls being around. “Hey, man,” I said.

“What's up?”

“I just left Kendall. Saw you sitting here. Where's Avery?”

“Got called into work. Some private party or something at the Shrimp Hut. They needed extra hands.”

“Nice for her, money-wise.”

“Yeah.” He carried the brown bottle to his lips, tipped it up.

“Got an extra one of those?” I asked. “I could use a beer.”

He studied me a full minute before saying, “It's root beer.”

That surprised me, but at the same time I was relieved. “Okay then, never mind.”

“You do remember that Avery's dad is a cop, right?”

I chuckled. “Yeah.” There were moments when Fletcher really didn't live up to his rep for getting into trouble.

“So how's the lawyer business?” he asked.

“I don't know.” I pointed to a step. “Mind if I sit?”

Shaking his head, he chuckled. “You are too polite.”

“I'll take that as a no, you don't mind.” I dropped down
beside him. I'd had manners drummed into me at an early age. Manners and never appearing slovenly. There isn't a single photo of me with a hair out of place. When we visited my grandparents at Christmas, I had to sit in a chair until the family photo was taken. No roughhousing with my cousins, no snitching fudge or cookies. Heaven forbid I get a crumb on my white shirt.

Maybe Kendall was right. Maybe I should grow out my hair, shave less frequently. I was eighteen. What could my dad do about it? Oh, right. Cut off my funds for college.

“You're so lucky to have your own place,” I said, leaning forward and planting my elbows on my thighs.

“Can't argue with that.”

I glanced over my shoulder. “You and Avery—never really saw that coming.”

“She makes me a better person.” He held up a hand. “Now I'm getting into soul-baring territory and I won't go there. Want to come in and watch giant crocs terrorize people? There's a
Lake Placid
marathon tonight.”

I laughed. “Nah. I don't know why I stopped. I just . . .” I really didn't know what it was. “I was a little surprised to hear that you wanted to be a cop. Does it have to do with your dad going to prison?”

Slowly he shook his head. “Mostly it has to do with Avery's dad taking me in, providing me with a place. Not
just the apartment here, but a place in the family. I never had that before.”

I wasn't sure if I did, either. Sure, I had both my parents but we never did anything together. Kendall had only her mom but there was way more love in her house than in mine. I liked hanging out over there. And I knew no matter what Kendall did, her mom respected and accepted her. If I bucked my dad, there would be hell to pay, and yet I couldn't seem to stop thinking about what Kendall had said. I didn't know if Fletcher would get it, considering the non-relationship he had with his dad, but I didn't know anyone else who had changed so much in such a short time. “Okay, I don't know if this will make any sense, but as long as I can remember I've been on the path to becoming a lawyer, following in my dad's footsteps, which is odd because I'm nothing like him.”

“So you're rethinking it?”

“Maybe. Kendall said something tonight about experimenting—”

“Sure she wasn't referring to sexual positions?”

I glared at him. “You're a lot of help.” I really didn't know why I'd stopped here. I had other male friends but we mostly played video games together. As for knowing other girls—once Kendall pulled me into her orbit I didn't develop any other female friendships. She and Avery were
enough, although I couldn't see myself talking to Avery about this since it involved Kendall. I figured Avery shared everything with Kendall and vice versa. I was pretty sure it was a girl thing.

Fletcher shrugged. “If you don't want to be a lawyer, don't be a lawyer.”

Everything was so black and white for this guy.

“Lawyer is my trajectory. I've never even thought about doing anything else. Not to mention my parents would be devastated.”

“Parents should be devastated when their kid dies, not when he changes his major.”

“You don't know my parents.”

“Avery thought she knew her parents' expectations. She was wrong.”

“Well, I'm not. Trust me.”

He took another long, slow sip of the root beer. I was regretting not taking one. “So you just sit out here until Avery gets home?” I asked.

“Pretty much.”

“Exciting.”

He grinned. “The
exciting
happens when she gets home.”

She had really gotten to this guy, although I had to admit that I was glad he was nuts about her. I liked Avery a lot. I'd always enjoyed hanging around with her and
Kendall before Kendall and I got serious.

“Well, guess I'd better go,” I said, and shoved myself to my feet.

“Everything okay with you?” he asked as though it suddenly occurred to him that it would be polite to ask.

I started down the steps and tossed over my shoulder, “Yeah, everything's fine.”

Now, if only I could believe it.

I was hosing down one of the kennels when Darla Bernard, another of the volunteers, stopped and leaned against the wired wall of the enclosure. All the enclosures had a drain in the center to make washing them down easier. Even the most housebroken dog sometimes had an accident if he couldn't get outside.

“Have you seen Jade making a fool of herself with Chase?” she asked as she chewed gum. “She is all over that guy.”

“She thinks he's hot,” I said, although it was probably an unnecessary comment.

“He is totally, but jeez, give him some breathing room.”

“Wanting to make a pass at him yourself?” I teased.

She blushed. “I won't deny that I've thought about it. How about you?”

“I have a boyfriend.” Who had visited on occasion, with whom she had seen me more than once. Why was Jeremy so forgettable?

“Anyone I know?”

I turned off the hose. “Jeremy Swanson.”

Wrinkling her brow, she looked up at the ceiling like she expected to see his portrait painted there or something. “Oh, yeah, I remember him. Didn't know you two were together.”

“Since spring break.”

“Huh. Well, anyway, Terri wants to see you when you're done cleaning the pen.”

She could have led with that, because I was finished. I put the hose away and headed to the reception area, wondering if someone was surrendering a dog, but then Darla could have taken care of that.

I stopped walking when a text came in from Jeremy.

Miss U. ☹

It shouldn't have made me smile, but it did.

Miss U 2.

Then I shoved the door open and went through into the reception room. Chase was there, arms folded on the counter as he talked with Terri. She brightened when she saw me. “Just the person whose opinion I wanted,” she said.

“Yeah? What's up?” I asked.

“They're going to start breaking ground to build the
new wing next week,” Terri said.

“Great!” She'd been working on fund-raisers and approaching businesses for support for a couple of years now, so we'd have room to house more dogs.

“So we really need this year's Bark in the Park event to bring in more money than ever,” she said. She coordinated the annual event that was held in a park downtown. People were encouraged to bring their pets and to adopt pets. We displayed a lot of our dogs. So did a couple of the other shelters. “Chase was telling me about a fund-raiser he was involved in at his college. I was thinking we could incorporate it. He calls it a ‘gun show.'”

I furrowed my brow. “What have guns got to do with dogs?”

Chase held up his bent arms, made fists, and displayed a very nice set of biceps. “These guns.”

“Wow! I'm impressed, but how does that bring in money?” I asked.

“Studs, such as myself, display our guns, and people vote with their dollars for the best set. All the money goes to the shelter.”

“And people really make donations just to see muscles?” I asked.

“You bet. I brought in six hundred and seventy-three dollars. Pretty cool, huh?”

“It sounds like something different, something fun,”
Terri said. “And there's no monetary investment on our part. We just have to find a few guys willing to show off their physique. Think your boyfriend would be interested?”

At least someone remembered I had a boyfriend. What was more, she thought he might bring in some bucks for the shelter. I just didn't know if Jeremy would be willing to flaunt his stuff. “I can ask.”

“What do you think of the idea overall?” Terri asked.

“Seems a little sexist.”

Chase grinned. “Hey, it's no different than a beauty pageant and it's for a good cause, not a tiara.”

And he'd no doubt have girls flocking around him, which was probably his ultimate goal in suggesting this. But he was right that it was for a good cause. Convincing Jeremy of that, though, was something else entirely.

That night we met Avery and Fletcher at Joe's Pizzeria. They had the best salad bar and pizza buffet in town. Avery and I focused on the salad while the guys loaded up on a variety of slices. Fletcher picked up the jar of Parmesan, sprinkled the flaky cheese on a slice, and set the jar off to the side.

“So something interesting happened at the shelter today,” I began, putting the jar of Parmesan back in the center where it belonged.

“All the dogs got adopted?” Jeremy asked.

“I wish. Wouldn't that be great? But no, we're preparing for our annual Bark in the Park fund-raiser, and we're adding a new element this year. A gun show.” I didn't know why I grimaced, maybe because all three looked at me like I'd lost my mind. “It's not what you think.” Then I went on to explain how it worked. I ended with, “So are you guys willing to show your guns?”

Fletcher shrugged. “Sure.”

The way his T-shirt hugged him, he was pretty much showing off his build now. I looked at Jeremy. He didn't appear quite as eager. It was probably the lawyer in him, looking for loopholes, wanting to read the small print. He was the only person I knew who actually read licensing agreements. “So what? We just stand there?” he asked.

“Pretty much, I think. And, you know, show off the guns.”

“Shirtless?”

“Not necessarily. I think it's whatever you're comfortable with.” Although I could certainly see Chase removing his shirt if he got competitive.

“I guess it seems harmless,” he said.

“And it's for a good cause,” I reminded him. Reaching over, I stroked his arm. “I bet you'd bring in a lot of money.”

“Only if you're saving your dollars and vote for me.”

“Of course I'm going to vote for you.”

“Okay, then, as long as I'm assured of making a couple of bucks so I don't look like an idiot, I'm in.”

Smiling brightly, I squeezed his hand. “Yay! And you'll make more than a couple. I promise.”

“Guess I'd better start saving my dollars for Fletcher's jar,” Avery said with a challenge in her eye.

“Might need to make it fives,” I countered, “if you want any chance of Fletcher beating Jeremy.”

“Oh, yeah? Maybe I'll make it twenties.”

“Still won't be enough.”

“Whoa!” Jeremy exclaimed. “You girls might need to take this down a notch.”

“It's just a little friendly competition,” Avery assured him.

“That's right,” I confirmed. “But it's game on.”

Fletcher laughed. “Do you know how competitive Avery is?”

“Of course, I know,” I assured him. “We've been best friends forever.”

“May the hunkiest boyfriend win,” she said. She tapped knuckles with Fletcher. While I'd never been able to beat her at grades, this was different. This was a chance for Jeremy, who no one seemed to notice, to shine and stand out.

“By the way,” Avery said, “I know it's kinda short notice but Thursday is when I'll start house-sitting. Dot
will be back Sunday. Are you guys still in?”

“I am,” I said, and looked at Jeremy.

“Should be able to get a day off from work,” he said.

“Would you mind driving?” she asked. “Don't think we really need two cars.”

“Sure, no problem.”

“We're going to have so much fun.”

When Jeremy and I got to my house, we slipped into the backyard and stretched out on a lounge chair on the patio. I was pretty sure Mom knew we were home—she had to have heard the car drive up—but she never seemed to have a problem with us staying outside smooching.

Course we weren't going to take it any further than kissing here, but then we never did. I pushed back a little bit, just so I could look into Jeremy's face. Not that I could see it all that well in the shadows. “Thank you for being one of the gunslingers,” I said.

“Oh, my God.” He laughed. “Is that what they're going to call us?”

“Maybe. I just thought of it. I think it's cute.”

“I don't know, Kendall. Being on display, it's really not my thing.”

“But it's for such a good cause.” I kissed his chin. “And it'll be fun.”

“You and Avery seemed really serious about the competition.”

“I have complete confidence in your ability to whip Fletcher's butt.”

“I love your faith in me, although it might be misguided here. Have you really looked at the guy? He's ripped.”

I wasn't blind, but neither did I want to undermine his confidence. “If you're worried about beating him, you could hit the gym.”

He scooped my hair behind my ear. “Probably not a bad idea. I really don't want to make a fool of myself out there.”

“You could never do that.” I settled my mouth over his, and he pressed his hands to my back, flattening me against him.

I liked the way it felt when we were together like this. I unbuttoned two of his buttons, felt his hand slip under my shirt to skim my bare skin along the small of my back. One of my sandals plopped softly to the ground, and I ran my foot along his calf.

I had to admit that I'd had reservations about the gun show when Terri first mentioned it, but I was excited now that Jeremy was going to participate. I would have to start saving up my pet-sitting money, because I really wanted him to win. All the girls who volunteered at the shelter wouldn't forget him then.