The Boyfriend Project Read online

  “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.

  Chapter 10

  JEREMY

  As I stood at the copier, duplicating some documents my dad needed for a meeting, I could see a faint reflection of myself in the window. Combing my fingers through my hair, I admitted that I liked it being a little bit longer. The office had a small gym that I’d used that morning before I reported for work. I’d never been the popular guy in school, not like Fletcher. I hadn’t realized it bothered me until this competition came up. Kendall’s faith in me made me want to win—for her. And maybe a little for myself.

  The copier shut off. I straightened my tie, made sure my shirt was tucked tightly into my Dockers, and gathered up the documents. Then I headed to my dad’s office.

  He was sitting behind his desk, his glasses perched on the end of his nose. As I walked in, he looked up, waved a hand to the side like a king greeting his minion. We’d agreed that at the office I wasn’t to be treated like his son, that work was separate from home. “Just set them on the credenza,” he said.

  After doing that, I came to stand in front of his desk. He’d gone back to studying whatever needed to be scrutinized. “Sir?”

  This time when he looked up, his brow was furrowed. “Check with my secretary. She’ll tell you what else needs to be done.”

  “Actually, I already know my next task, but I needed to ask for some time off.”

  “Time off?” he asked as though it was a foreign concept. Considering he put in about seventy hours a week, it probably was. I admired his work ethic, but we had very little time together for father-son things.

  “Yes, sir. I need Friday off.”

  “Why?”

  Obviously Mom hadn’t told him about my going to the beach for a few nights. Not surprising since that would have involved actually talking to him.

  “I’m going to the beach for a few days with some friends.”

  “That girl you’re seeing?”

  The anger shot through me, but I just ground my back teeth together to keep my tone even. “Kendall. Yes. And Avery and Fletcher. We’re house-sitting for—”

  “No.” He went back to studying the documents on his desk.

  Blinking, I shook my head. “What?”

  He leaned back. “You can’t have time off. Work needs to be done around here.”

  “Other interns get time off.”

  “Other interns aren’t my son.”

  “Thought we agreed we wouldn’t play the father-son card at the office,” I reminded him.

  “Fine. When we get home, ask me if you can go to the beach and I’ll tell you no. So you won’t need the time off.”

  “Mom’s okay with it. Besides, you can’t stop me from going. I’m eighteen.”

  Taking off his glasses, he tossed them onto the pile of papers. “Which is exactly why I’m saying no. Staying at the beach with a girl is a disaster waiting to happen.”

  “How do you figure that?”

  “I was young once. I know about temptation, and I know how your life can be thrown off track by one mistake. No more parties, no more thinking just about yourself. You have to grow up and take responsibility. I’m doing this for you, so you don’t have regrets.”

  All the words that followed mistake seemed to come at me from the end of a long tunnel. I was the mistake, the reason he had regrets.

  “As far as this office is concerned,” he continued, “you may not have time off to go play house with this girl. As for the rest of it, we’ll discuss it at home.” He picked up his glasses, settled them on the bridge of his nose. “And get a haircut during your lunch hour.”

  I stared in disbelief as he returned his attention to some case.

  “I quit.” The words were out before I’d cons