My Fake Summer Boyfriend Read Free

disdainful glance at the girls.
    "Now ...," Alex said. "What can I do for you?"
    I gazed into Alex's warm brown eyes . Ask me out. Fall in love with me . Then I realized I was still clutching Alex's hands. I let go as if they were hot coals. "Umm ... er ... soda," I finally managed to say. "Where did you say the cold soda was?"
    "Right there." Again Alex pointed to the cooler in the corner.
    I went to the cooler and pulled out a six-pack of cream soda.
    "You can pay for that up front." Alex walked with me to the counter next to the front door.
    I stood in front of the counter, holding the soda and smiling up at Alex.
    "Umm, if you put that on the counter, I can ring it up."
    "Oh. Of course."
    "Hi, Alex," the girls called in unison.
    "Hi, girls." Alex winked at them. He turned to me. "You get two cents back." He pressed the money into my hand and wrapped my fingers around it. "Now don't lose it."
    "Thanks." I wished I could have thought of a more clever response.
    "See you around."
    I walked awkwardly out the door. I was sure that Alex thought of me as just a kid, a clumsy kid who dropped things every time I saw him.
    As I walked back to the cottage hot sand filled my shoe, but I didn 't care. It had been such a shock to see Alex. I hadn't even thought to ask him if he was spending the whole summer in Chatfield or how he got a job so quickly or anything. And how was I going to have a trial romance now? Alex was hardly some anonymous summer person I'd never see again. He was the one I'd wanted to practice for! I certainly couldn't do it with him around. Unless ... unless I could practice with Alex himself. Even Samantha couldn't top that idea.
    The more I thought about it, the more I worried that it 'd be too risky. Practicing a romance could be chancy enough without trying it with someone I really cared about. Besides, Alex thought of me as just a kid. I could see that. Maybe I could do something to change his image of me. Maybe—
    "Oh, good! Katie's back with the soda." Jason ran out of the cottage, grabbed my arm and pulled me inside.
    "Just put it on the kitchen counter," Mom said. "I'll get some glasses."
    "Sure, Mom." I put down the soda and looked around the room. The windows were all wide open. Fresh air circulated, and sunlight danced on the newly-swept floor. The sheets had been pulled off the furniture, exposing white wicker cushioned with blue-and-white pillows. The room was light, bright and cool. I thought maybe the cottage would be okay after all. Of course, the fact that Alex was in Chatfield might have had something to do with my most recent opinion.
    "I 'll pour the sodas."
    "Me first," Jason said.
    I started to pour the soda into his glass, then noticed th ere were only three glasses. "Hey, isn't Dad having any?"
    "He went into t own to get food supplies," Mom said. "He'll be back soon. Let's sit at the table."
    I sat down. The ladder-back chair was plain, but sturdy and comfortable. I swirled the soda in my glass.
    "Kids, this summer means a lot to your father." Mom spoke in a low voice. "I don't want it spoiled by a lot of gripping and complaining. Understand?"
    Jason nodded enthusiastically as he guzzled his soda. It was obvious that he was already enjoying himself and wasn 't planning on voicing any complaints.
    I sighed and resisted the urge to say, No, duh, I'm stupid—I don't understand. But no point in antagonizing Mom, even though I knew the lecture was directed mainly at me.
    "Good," said Mom. "I—"
    There was a knock at the door. "Somebody let me in. My hands are full!"
    Jason leapt up from his chair and opened the door. "Hi, Dad."
    Dad walked in and set two bags of groceries on the counter. "There's more in the car."
    Without a word Jason raced out the door.
    Mom and I started unloading the bags and putting things away in the cabinets and refrigerator.
    "Say, Katie," Dad said. "I ran into a couple at the store who're from Hartford, too. They're spending the summer in a cottage down the road from