The Boyfriend Project Read online

  “Pull up a chair and I’ll show you.”

  On her computer was a layout of the park. “We’ll make use of this area here, along the main path through the park. Set up various stations. We’ll figure out what we want at the stations, how many people we’ll need to man each, who should manage each.”

  I pointed to the entrance to the park. “We should probably set up the adoption station there.”

  “That’s what I was thinking. I’ll be there all day. I was hoping you’d take the morning shift when we’ll have more dogs on hand. You have a real talent for keeping them calm and showing them off.”

  I felt myself blush. “Thanks. I love helping them find their forever homes. Of course I’ll work the morning shift.”

  “Great. Where do you think we should put the gun show?”

  A couple of days ago, I would have said that I wanted it across from us so I’d be near Jeremy, so I could watch him. “Farther up the trail, I think. So they don’t distract from the adoption.”

  She grinned. “Yeah, the way Jade has been talking about it, I have a feeling she is definitely going to make sure they’re noticed.”

  “Jade?” I echoed.

  “She asked to be in charge of that station.”

  Of course she did.

  I commented halfheartedly as we discussed where to set up watering stations for the dogs, refreshment areas for the adults, face painting, a magician, and other entertainments for the kids. I loved this event, but I kept picturing Jeremy with Jade.

  It was nearly two hours before Terri and I were finished. We had our layout, our volunteer needs mapped out. We created a sign-up sheet for the volunteers.

  I went to pin it on the bulletin board in the small break room, crossing my fingers that Jade would not be there. Thankfully the place was empty except for Darla, who was sitting at a table, feet propped on a chair while she read.

  She lowered the book, looked at me. “What’s that?”

  “Sign-up sheet for Bark in the Park.”

  “Awesome.” She got up, wandered over, took a pen from a nearby desk, and signed up for setup and a shift at the gun show. “So who do you think is going to win?”

  Forty-eight hours ago, I would have said Jeremy. “Chase, of course.” Maybe Fletcher.

  “You’re not a very loyal girlfriend.”

  “I’m not a girlfriend anymore.”

  “Oh. Sorry.”

  “Not your fault.”

  I walked into the hallway and nearly rammed into Chase. I released a self-conscious laugh. “Sorry.”

  “That’s okay,” he said. “I’ve got no problem with a cute girl running into me.”

  “I’m not feeling very cute today.”

  “Did you and your boyfriend break up?”

  Tears flooded my eyes. Stung. I hated feeling so weak. Roughly I swiped them away. “Yeah. But I’m okay.”

  “No, you’re not.”

  Sniffing, I shook my head. “But I will be.”

  “I’ve had some breakups. They’re a bitch. I’m here if you need me.”

  I was touched, but I also knew that at that moment he wasn’t what I needed. “Thanks.”

  “When you’re ready, maybe we can go out.”

  I didn’t know what to say to that. “Maybe.”

  When I got outside, no one was sitting under the tree any longer. I didn’t see Jade anywhere. Jeremy was on the roof, helping to put shingles in place. His blond head was bent; he was focused on the task.

  Part of me wanted him to see me, part of me didn’t.

  I turned on my heel, headed for my car, and pulled out my cell phone. I sent a text to Avery.

  Got time for ice cream?

  I Scream was one of our favorite hangouts. Avery and I had some of our most important discussions over an assortment of flavors, toppings, whipped cream, and cherries. I poked at my banana split while she dug into her sundae.

  “I think Jeremy is with Jade,” I blurted.

  She stilled, her eyes wide. Slowly she pulled the spoon from her mouth. “That’s crazy! You only just broke up yesterday. Why would you think that?”

  “I saw him talking with her this morning.”

  Her brow furrowed. “Where?”

  “The shelter. I had to go in to help plan the fund-raiser. Neither of them knew I was going to be in. They were sitting together under a tree.”

  “Did they see you?”

  I shook my head. “No.”

  She reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “Oh, Kendall, I’m so sorry. I know this has to hurt.”

  I shook my head. “I can hardly breathe.”

  “I can’t believe he’d be interested in her.”

  “You’re just saying that because you’re my bestie. But Jade is fun, exciting, uninhibited. She doesn’t care about saltshakers.”

  She released a small burst of laughter. “What does that mean?”

  “I require order, lists, plans. At the beach? I straightened up the displays when we went to the souvenir shop. Jeremy understood my need for control. Jade is spontaneous. Without any planning, she pushed Jeremy into the pool. I’d check the labels on his clothes first to make sure the chlorine wouldn’t bleach them out.”

  “You’re not that bad.”

  “You’re tolerant because you love me.” Jeremy had as well and I’d blown it. “But I wanted us to change, to be different. He changed. I didn’t.”

  “I really think you’re being too hard on yourself.”

  Maybe, maybe not. I ate some whipped cream. It had no taste. Suddenly nothing had any taste. “I don’t know if I can keep volunteering at the shelter. It hurts so much to see him, and I want to lock Jade in one of the pens.”

  “You can’t let them stop you from doing something you love.”

  “You’re right. I know that. And I don’t want to give up on the Bark in the Park fund-raiser. This could be our best year.” I dug my spoon into my ice cream. “It’s funny. I think Jeremy actually stands a good chance of winning.”

  She grinned. “No way. Fletcher has this hands down.”

  I wished I could hate Jeremy. I wished I could root for Fletcher. But the truth was, I hoped Jeremy would win, because then maybe I wouldn’t feel so badly that it had cost us so much.

  Chapter 28

  JEREMY

  “. . . forty-eight, forty-nine, fifty.” As I called out the final number, did the last crunch, I flopped back, breathing heavily. Beside me, Fletch did the same.

  It was Thursday, and we were in his apartment getting in our daily reps. I was astonished to discover that when I looked in a mirror, I could see a definition to my abs that hadn’t been there before. I should have been pleased. Instead, I wasn’t sure I was going to go through with this gun show.

  I wished I hadn’t quit my dad’s law firm. Wished I hadn’t started working construction. Wished I didn’t have to watch Kendall with Chase on the days she volunteered at the shelter. They laughed and talked while letting the dogs out.

  Jade would visit with me on her breaks. She was nice enough. But she wasn’t Kendall.

  “Don’t suppose Avery’s mentioned how Kendall’s doing,” I said when my breathing slowed. It had been only a few days, but it seemed an eternity since she and I had been together.

  “It’s tough but she’s hanging in there.”

  I knew Fletch wasn’t the type to ask how I was doing. I wouldn’t have answered anyway, because the truth was that I didn’t know. Mostly I was numb. I stared at the ceiling. “Jade asked me to go to some party with her Saturday. Probably going to do it.”

  “You like her?”

  “She’s fun.” I could use some fun. And she seemed to accept me as I was. She wasn’t making subtle suggestions that I should change things about myself. “It’ll be weird, though.”

  “How so?”

  Sitting up, I grabbed a bottle of water, unscrewed the cap, and gulped down a good portion of the contents before recapping it. “I’ve only ever dated Kendall.” I lo