The Boyfriend Project Read Free Page A

turned and faced my dad. No question whatsoever that we came from the same gene pool. Same blond hair, same boring brown eyes, same unimpressive height. “After the movie, we went to B.S. for a burger.”
    â€œWish you kids wouldn’t call it that.”
    My dad wished for a lot of things, mostly that he hadn’t gotten my mom pregnant when they were eighteen. I’d heard numerous times about all the challenges they’d faced working, going to college part-time, taking care of me. Opportunities lost, dreams delayed.
    â€œSure that’s all you did?” he asked in his best lawyerlycross-examination voice.
    â€œMovie and burger.” What happened in between was none of his business even though I knew he thought it was. I’d had the responsibility lecture so many times that it was practically part of my DNA now. I pointed toward the kitchen. “I’m going to grab a water.”
    I tried to ignore the fact that my father was trailing behind me like a bloodhound on the scent of an escaped convict.
    â€œThis girl you’re spending all your time with . . .”
    Gritting my teeth, I grabbed a bottle of spring-fed water from the fridge, slammed the door closed, leaned against it, and unscrewed the cap. “Her name—again—is Kendall, and I’m not just spending time with her. She’s my girlfriend.”
    â€œYou’re too young to be this serious about someone. You need to be exploring possibilities.”
    Strange advice coming from someone who had insisted I work at his law firm this summer, who had decided which universities I should apply to. “What possibilities? I love her. I’m happy with her. What more is there for me to look for?”
    My dad glared. “I know you think I’m riding your ass for no good reason, but you’re going to change. What you have now may not be what you want in a few years or even a few months.”
    â€œTalking from experience?” I didn’t know why my parents were still together. They did nothing except pick at each other. I shoved myself away from the refrigerator and headed for the doorway.
    â€œDon’t take that attitude with me,” he snapped.
    I stopped only long enough to toss back at him, “Just because you’re unhappy doesn’t mean I am or will be. Kendall and I are perfect together. Get used to it.”
    I’d taken three steps when my dad barked, “Get a haircut.”
    I swung around to stare at him. “Seriously? That’s how we’re going to end this?”
    â€œYou’re starting to look unkempt. Appearance is everything.”
    Appearance of a happy home, marriage, career. “Whatever.”
    Striding out, I suddenly wished that I owned that motorcycle Kendall had mentioned so I could go roaring away from here. But then again, that feeling was nothing new. I’d wanted to get out of here ever since I’d overheard my parents refer to me as the biggest mistake of their lives.

Chapter 3
    KENDALL
    Lunch?
    Jeremy’s text came in as I was leaning against a tree waiting for Drifter to finish sniffing around in search of the perfect spot to do his business. The German shepherd was so fussy. His owner, Sandy Miller, was out of town for a few days so I walked and fed him while she was away. He was fine being by himself at night. And it gave me a little spending money.
    I texted back:
    Jo-Jo’s?
    Jeremy:
    C U there.
    Smiling, I slipped my phone back into my shorts pocket. Drifter had come over and was looking up at me, his tail wagging fiercely. He was always so pleased with his accomplishments. Removing a plastic bag from the other pocket of my shorts, I proceeded to clean up his mess, tossed it in a nearby trash can, and carried onalong the neighborhood trail.
    Once I returned Drifter to his home, I headed off to meet Jeremy in my bright red Smart car.
    He was already in a booth at Jo-Jo’s Diner when I got there. Grinning, he slid