The Boyfriend Project Read online

  I was even mad that he was teasing Jade about her seriousness in overseeing this event, not so much because he was giving her a hard time, but because he couldn’t flirt with her if he was serious about Kendall. And if he wasn’t serious about Kendall, then he was an idiot. It didn’t help that I knew I was being a hypocrite because I’d flirted with Jade while I was with Kendall. I’d thought it was all harmless flirtation. But I was beginning to think there was no such thing.

  “You know with that Wolverine-about-to-go-for-blood look on your face,” Fletcher began, “you’re going to terrify the kiddies. Probably the dogs, too.”

  I glared at him just because I was in the mood to glare. “I want one of us to beat that guy.”

  “Go for it.”

  I wished that encouragement had come from Kendall. That she had walked over to wish me luck. Hell, I was here for her. She should have at least stopped by to acknowledge my presence. My rambling diatribe slammed to a halt.

  She didn’t owe me anything. We’d broken up. The fact that I was here for her—it didn’t matter if she knew it. She still mattered. Her opinion mattered.

  “All right, guys,” Jade said through the bullhorn. “Sixty seconds before we begin, so take your places.”

  Each of us sat in a tall director’s chair. I sat between Fletch and Tommy. Chase and Fletch had the bookend spots on the row. Nathaniel and Ethan were also in the lineup.

  “Remember,” Jade continued, “the winner is the one who collects the most money.” She held up a ten and slid her gaze over to me. “So who gets mine? Impress me!”

  I sat there while everyone else stood up and began flexing their biceps, showing off their guns. What was I doing here? This wasn’t me.

  I almost walked off the stage, but then I thought of Kendall and how important all this was to her. So I stood up. I was wearing the red muscle shirt that we’d bought when we were at the beach. The one she’d searched through mounds of unfolded shirts to find.

  That seemed so long ago. A different time when we were different people. Or maybe we had just seemed different, because I still wanted now what I’d wanted then: for her to be happy. I wouldn’t be with her forever. But I could still give her today.

  Jade walked up the line, smiling at displayed muscles, grunts, and grins. Then she was standing in front of me. She arched a brow. “Let’s see what you got.”

  I lifted my shirt until the hem tickled my lower ribs.

  She gave me a really wicked smile. “Well, hello, abs. Maybe I’ll see you later.”

  I let the cotton drop back into place.

  She shifted her attention to Fletch. “You?”

  “Won’t even try to compete with that.”

  “You have to show me something.”

  “Only the guns.” He flexed the muscles in his arms.

  “I’m an abs kinda girl,” she said, and with a seductive grin, she stuffed the ten into my jar. “You were holding out on me. We’ll talk about that later.”

  Her interest in me had been waning, but I had it again. The thing was, I didn’t want it beyond the contest. I didn’t want to impress Jade. I wanted to impress Kendall. Everything I was doing today was for Kendall.

  It always had been.

  Chapter 39

  KENDALL

  Half an hour into the gun show, I was regretting that I hadn’t set it up nearer to the adoption area. A nice crowd had gathered. Cheers and applause echoed toward the small grassy knoll where we were set up.

  “We should have brought binoculars,” Terri said. “People seem to be having way too much fun over there.”

  “Is there such a thing as too much fun?”

  She grinned. “You’re right. There isn’t. All that enthusiasm has to bode well for donations.”

  “I hope so.”

  “Did you want to sneak over there and take a look?”

  “When I’m finished here.”

  By the time my shift had ended, many of the animals had been placed with someone who we thought—hoped—would love them forever.

  Another volunteer showed up to replace me. I went home to get Bogart. Mom had gone out of town to a spa retreat with some of her girlfriends. She wouldn’t be back until late tomorrow night. I could have taken advantage of that if Jeremy and I were still together. I’d thought about inviting Avery over for a girls’ night. Movies, doing each other’s hair, talking guys. Like we used to do, but I wasn’t really in the mood for a trek down memory lane. Besides, I figured she’d rather spend the time with Fletcher.

  Bogart was lying on the cool tile in the kitchen when I got home. He looked up at me with sad, droopy eyes. But his tail was wagging.

  “Hey, buddy,” I said, kneeling down and petting him. “Want to go to the park?”

  His tail wagged faster. When I reached for the leash hanging on a peg, he shoved himself to his feet.

  “Yeah, you know, don’t you?” I cooed as I snapped on his leash.

  He trotted along behind me to the car. Lifting him up, I settled him in the front seat. It was so comforting to have him with me.

  “I think I’m going to ask Chase to come over and we’ll have steak tonight,” I said as I slid behind the wheel and buckled up. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

  He gave a little kerfuffle sound that could have been a bark of approval. The parking lot was packed when we got there. I’d thought about bringing him with me this morning, but I hadn’t wanted him outside in the heat for most of the day, especially when I’d be preoccupied showing off the other dogs. So the great spot I’d had that morning was gone, and I ended up parking down the street.

  It was a long, slow walk to the entrance of the event. I stopped by the adoption station. The volunteer who had replaced me was gone. Terri was still there, smiling brightly. We had only three dogs left.

  “That’s great!” I told her.

  “I know. I think this has been our most successful event ever. Chase had a good idea with the gun show.”

  “Maybe I’ll check it out.”

  “You do that. And enjoy the event. You’ve earned it.”

  I didn’t know about that. I’d helped set it up, but she’d done most of the work. As I wandered over, Bogart traipsed along behind me. When I neared the canopied area, I saw Avery leaning against a tree, munching on a blue snow cone. I joined her.

  “That looks good,” I said.

  “It is. Want some?”

  “Sure.” I took a bite, welcomed the coconut-flavored ice melting in my mouth. Bogart stopped at a water bowl. We’d set up watering stations throughout the area and one of the volunteers kept them full.

  I nodded at the paw painted on Avery’s cheek. “Cute.”

  “Darla is pretty good at painting faces. Some of these kids look like they’re wearing dog masks; I couldn’t go that far. But a paw? Sure. And the money is for a good cause. Speaking of money, it looks like your gunslingers are bringing in quite a bit.”

  “They seem to be having a good time.” When someone walked by, they’d each strike up a crazy pose until money was dropped into a jar. Then they’d each slap hands, bump knuckles.

  “I think they are. Fletcher is, anyway.”

  “It doesn’t bother you?” I asked.

  She shook her head. “I know he’s mine.”

  I’d thought Jeremy was mine.

  “Think I’m going to wander over and get a closer look,” Avery said.

  “I’ll go with you. Come on, Bogart,” I said, and tugged gently on his leash. He padded along behind me. My heart sped up as I neared Jeremy and his gaze landed on me. It was silly for me to react, but I figured I always would. The one that got away.

  No, the one I’d pushed away, the one I’d wanted to change.

  Avery and I stopped at the edge of the crowd, near the front so we had a better view. The guys were bunching and relaxing their muscles, making quarter turns. They dipped, crouched, got creative trying to outdo each other. I couldn’t help but smile at their antics.

&nbs