The Boyfriend Bylaws Read Free

agreement. “Believe me, I’m ready. This will be the first night of many in a long life together.”
    His hands had reached around my back for the zipper, but he suddenly stopped short. “What’d you just say?”
    I had to force a flirty smile since things had gone from hot to halt. “Just that this feels right. You and me. Like it will last.”
    “Uh…” He adjusted the way he was sitting and took a deep breath. “Mel, it sounds like you’re asking for a ring or something.”
    “Not a ring exactly.” I giggled nervously. “But, I guess now would be a good time to say how you’re feeling about me. About us.”
    “Mel, you’re hot.” He eyed me up and down, then cleared his throat. “I thought we were having a good time.”
    Uh-oh. This was so not going the way I’d imagined. “Me, too. Are you saying you want that to end one day?”
    “Oh, man. I can’t believe we’re not on the same page.” He stood, adjusted his jeans, then held his arms out. “I’m not a ball and chain guy.” He put a fist to his broad chest. “I thought I made that clear.”
    My heart clenched, forcing air out of my lungs. “When did you make that clear?” I racked my panic-filled brain for some hint I’d missed, but he seemed in a massive hurry to get out of here. “Shouldn’t we discuss this?”
    He reached into his pocket, pulled out the keys to his yellow Roadster and managed to slink his arm out of my pathetic grasp. “I’m not a ‘discuss it’ kind of guy either. Sorry if I gave the wrong impression. You’re great, Mel. Really.”
    My jaw dropped as he slipped out the bedroom door. But…he’d seemed like he could be The One. There had to be a way to convince him to talk it out. Readjusting the straps on my dress, I hurried out of the bedroom and across the living room where Brad was already turning the front door knob.
    I put my hand over his. “Can’t we talk about this?”
    “No can do.” He shook his head and stepped out onto the front porch. When the door was only inches from closing, it stopped, then swung halfway open again. My heart leapt as he popped his head back in. “I’ll, uh, see you at the gym.”
    The door shut in my face.
    My heart sank and I squeezed my eyes closed, fighting tears as I leaned back against the door. Brad hadn’t wanted a relationship after all. How had I misjudged that?
    “That display was too pathetic for words.”
    I jumped at the sound of my roommate’s voice. Patti stood there in the kitchen, holding a mug, and had apparently witnessed Brad’s hasty exit. I cursed the fact that she was a homebody.
    “He just left.” The pain of being abandoned hit me so hard I wanted to crawl in a hole. I put my hand over my nose as a sob escaped. “Ran out because I said I thought we would last. I thought he was The One.”
    “I hate to break this to you, Mel.” Patti’s hand was on her hip, her short dark hair stuck out in all directions and her Salvador Dalí t-shirt half tucked into black boxer shorts. “But you think every guy’s The One.”
    My throat tightened. “No, I don’t.”
    Patti was obviously not in a sympathetic mood at this late hour of the night—not that she would’ve been more compassionate at any other time of day. Expecting sympathy from Patti was like expecting a dog to meow.
    She raised her hand and counted on each finger. “Brad. Paul. Mike. Marcus—”
    “Enough.” I sniffed, unable to argue with the numbers. Matt had said earlier that I was in love with being in love. Patti had just confirmed it. “So, what? You’re saying it’s my fault none of my relationships work out?”
    “Yes.” Patti’s eyes scrunched as she yanked at her short hair in exasperation. “And I can’t begin to explain how frustrating it is watching you do this to yourself!”
    With Patti’s white-knuckled grasp on her hair, it was a wonder it didn’t all come out by the roots. “You fall for each guy before you’ve even gotten to know him, Mel. Your focus