The Boyfriend Project (15 page)

Then she led him to an area where people were doing a lot of bobbing up and down.

“That girl has way too much energy,” Darla said.

The three guys from the construction site got up. “We're going to check out the babes,” Tommy said by way of explanation as the other two wandered away. Then he went after them.

“There was a babe right here,” Darla muttered, before finishing off her drink and reaching for another.

Chase slipped his arm around my shoulders and drew me in. “Sorry if it's uncomfortable,” he said. “When Jade invited me and Darla, it didn't occur to me that she'd bring Jeremy. I'm a huge fan of steampunk and I just thought this would be something fun and different.”

“It is, and I'm fine that he's here,” I lied.

“We can leave if you want.”

“Nah, it's okay. It's not like I can avoid him forever, especially with the gun show coming up.”

“Let's walk around.”

“Okay.” I looked over at Darla. “Do you want to come with us?”

“Nope. Gonna defend our seating area and see that none of the drinks go to waste. But take one with you.”

I did as she suggested. Liquid courage. Chase kept one arm around me so I was nestled up against him, making it easier to move through the crowds. Being this close to him was a little odd, though, because he was a little taller than
Jeremy, a little wider. As I drank more of the strawberry whatever, I became more relaxed.

We left my empty glass on the bar and danced for a while. I had to admit that it was fascinating to see all the various costumes and unusual decorations. Small hot-air balloons and zeppelins hung from the ceiling. Then we went back to our table. Ethan and Darla were talking. Jeremy and Jade had also returned and were doing that whole we-could-be-Siamese-twins-because-we-sit-so-close-together thing. I hated it. I should have told Chase I was ready to leave, but I didn't want to ruin the night for him since this only happened once a year.

Chase and I sat down on one of the couches.

“Any idea how long this party goes on?” Darla asked.

“All night, I think,” Ethan said.

“They have to shut down the bar at two,” Jade said. “Speaking of which: Jeremy, maybe you should go ahead and get us another round of drinks.”

“Sure.”

It was no longer my job to worry about him, but habits are hard to break. He looked so much older tonight with his unshaven jaw, his longer hair. I thought maybe he'd gained a couple of squint lines working in the sun, even with sunglasses. Still, I couldn't stop myself from saying low, “Are you sure? What if you get busted?”

His lawyer dad would kill him.

“I've got this,” Jeremy said.

He got up and I watched until he disappeared in the crowd. But I couldn't shake off the feeling that this was a bad idea.

Kendall's question about the designated driver had struck a nerve. Even now she was striving to control me, although I also recognized that she'd spoken out of concern for my welfare. I might buy the next drinks but I was switching to water.

I really wished I wasn't here. I especially wished that Kendall wasn't here with pumped-up Chase. I couldn't blame the guy for wanting to be with her. Even though she wasn't dressed up like Jade in something that looked like it could double as a torture device, she looked hot. And really uncomfortable around me.

I hated that.

When Jade asked me to come to this event with her, I'd thought it would be fun. I loved reading steampunk, but it hadn't occurred to me that Jade might have told several
people at the shelter about it. I hadn't realized I'd have to suffer through watching Kendall with another guy.

I missed her. I would have loved bringing her to this party and walking through the room with her, pointing things out, sharing my passion for steampunk with her in a place where she could actually see so many of the things that appeared in the books I read.

Sharing all this with Jade . . . I didn't think she was really into steampunk. She just liked wearing the sexy clothes. And drinking alcohol like she was a fish. And breaking all the rules.

I looked at the wristband on my arm. It wasn't some protective shield. If the bartender asked to see my ID, if the cops raided the place—

What was I doing thinking of buying drinks when I was underage? This wasn't me. I needed some time to figure out what I wanted tonight, what I was willing to risk.

I decided to take a detour by the restroom. It was at the end of a long hallway. When I came out, I saw someone walking toward me with sure, long strides.

Jade.

I couldn't believe how provocative her outfit was. Her shoulders and arms were bare. I didn't know if she was heading to the restroom or just wanted to help me get the drinks.

“Hi,” I started to say, barely getting the word out before
she placed both her hands on my shoulders and pushed me back against the wall.

Then her mouth was on mine like she owned it.

It was the first time we'd kissed. While I struggled to enjoy what should have been enjoyable, I was struck by how aggressive she was, like she was trying to conquer something. There wasn't a lot of giving and taking. It was almost combative. She didn't sigh softly like Kendall, and back here in the restroom hallway wasn't the most romantic of places. If I was honest, I'd wanted to be the one to instigate a kiss, maybe when I took her home. Not that I wasn't flattered by her interest, but the kiss didn't generate any sparks. For all her enthusiasm, it was without passion. It didn't make me feel warm, glad, or happy.

Hearing a small gasp, I pulled back. Over Jade's shoulder, I saw Kendall. My gut knotted up. Because of the dim lighting, I couldn't be sure, but she appeared to be a little green, like maybe she was about to be sick. Why had Chase brought her here tonight? Why had Jade picked this moment to plant a kiss on me? Why had I let her?

Kendall spun on her heel and ran off.

“Kendall!” I tried to set Jade aside, but she clung to me.

“You don't need her,” she said.

Only I did.

“I knew things would be great between us,” she continued. She ran her hands over my shoulders with a little
purr that almost turned my stomach. “I get you like she never will.”

Only that wasn't true. No one got me like Kendall did. She got the real me. She'd fallen in love with me when I was just a geek. Jade had never looked at me twice all through senior year. Kendall hadn't asked me to change the core of who I was. That had happened because I'd let Jade's flirtation go to my head.

I was an idiot.

Your fault, your fault, your fault.

My heart was breaking and some stupid little voice in my head was trying to convince me that it was my fault. I'd wanted girls to notice Jeremy. I just hadn't wanted them to kiss him. Or for him to kiss them back.

With tears blurring my vision, I fought my way through the crowd back to our table. I don't know what my face looked like, but Chase stood up and asked, “What's wrong?”

“Can we go?” I did not want to sit here and watch Jade making out with Jeremy. She was bold enough that she would do it right there on that couch, in front of us all.

Chase looked around as though he was trying to find the reason for my abrupt need to leave. Then he settled his gaze on me. “Sure.”

I gave a quick little wave to the others as he took my hand and led me out of this crazy place. We didn't talk as we trudged to the car. He didn't open the door for me, and I was really glad. I didn't want him to do anything that reminded me of Jeremy.

I looked out the window at the passing night as we drove into my neighborhood. He pulled into my driveway, slid the gear into
PARK
, and left the engine idling. Putting his arm along the back of the seat, he turned slightly and studied me.

“I'm sorry for ruining your night,” I said.

“I'm not a genius,” he began, “but I assume you saw Jade and Jeremy up to something when you went to the ladies' room.”

“She was kissing him. Up against the wall. I turned into the hallway and . . . surprise. I know we're not together anymore, but I just wasn't prepared for that. I wanted to be cool about seeing them together, but I couldn't be.”

“This is on me. I should have gotten you out of there as soon as I saw him with Jade.”

“It's not your fault. I just need to accept that things are different now.”

Ironic since all summer I'd been searching for something different. But this wasn't what I'd wanted.

“Maybe tomorrow night we could do something a little more traditional,” he said. “Go to a movie.”

My stomach dropped. “I like you, but I don't think I'm ready to date. Tonight was—”

“A mistake,” he interrupted. “A bad idea. Stupidity on my part. I thought being around other people would take some of the pressure off. But I'd really like to see you again.”

“Oh, that's so sweet but I totally ruined tonight.”

“Jade did that. I like you. I've wanted to go out with you since I met you. Let's give it another try tomorrow night. I'll even sit through a sappy movie.”

Why was I hesitating? Things were obviously so over with Jeremy. He had Jade. “Okay, yeah. I'd like that.”

“Great.” He got out of the car, and I realized the conversation was over. I also realized he wasn't going to open my door. So I did it and stepped out. We were walking to the front door, when he took my hand, pulled me in, and kissed me.

It was so strange to be kissing someone who wasn't Jeremy. Had he felt the same when he kissed someone who wasn't me? Inwardly I groaned. How could I be thinking of him during a moment like this? I should be focusing on Chase, but I couldn't seem to let Jeremy go.

When Chase pulled back, he gave me an inquisitive look. “You were thinking about him.”

“I'm sorry.”

“Nah, it's okay. I know it's difficult at first after a
breakup. I'll just have to work harder to make sure you don't think about him tomorrow.”

I didn't know if I'd ever not think about him. Chase said good night and walked back to his car. Jeremy never left without making sure I was safely inside.

I growled. I had to stop comparing. That was what got me here in the first place, what ruined my relationship with Jeremy. Comparing and controlling.

Chase took off, the tires screeching.

Inside, the house was dark except for a lamp on the table by the stairs. So Mom had gone to bed. I trudged up the stairs and into my room. Bogart was on his bed. I picked him up, put him in bed with me, wrapped my arms around him, and cried.

The tears had been building until they were an ache in my chest and a knot in my throat. It hurt to release them, but it hurt more to hold on to them. In a way, that was how I felt about Jeremy. It hurt to let him go, but it would have hurt more to hold on to him.

I had to accept that things between us were truly over.

I woke up Sunday morning missing Kendall with an actual physical ache in my chest. With a sigh, I stared at the ceiling. My mom had gone to some yoga retreat in San Antonio to regain her Zen. My dad was in one of the Carolinas golfing with some buddies. While I wouldn't have done anything with them if they had been here, for some reason, I was really noticing their absence.

Without thinking, I reached for my phone to text Kendall—and stopped.

After seeing me kissing Jade last night, Kendall had probably blocked my number. She and Chase had been gone by the time Jade and I returned with drinks. I'd seen Chase get into his car at the shelter. I pictured him comforting Kendall in that huge backseat—

I was spared completing the image when my phone
signaled a text received. My heart kicked against my ribs with the thought that maybe it was Kendall. But it was Jade.

Pool at your house?

I didn't know why I hesitated to answer. After she'd initiated things last night, she'd kissed me several other times. On the couch, when we were dancing, while she was drinking. But the entire time I'd felt guilty about it, because Kendall had seen us. Then I felt guilty for thinking about Kendall while kissing Jade.

I finally replied with:

Yes.

Can I come play?

Along with the words was a picture of Jade's bare stomach, her belly button ring, and the bottom portion of her two-piece bathing suit.

I had two choices: be miserable all day or be distracted. Jade certainly knew how to distract. And she knew how to have a good time. I texted her my address.

When she arrived half an hour later, she had Melody with her. They stepped inside and stared at the huge foyer, the sweeping staircases on either side of it.

“Are you, like, rich?” Jade asked.

“No,” I assured her. Shrugged. “My parents are.”

“Wow.” She glanced around and asked in a low voice, “Are they here?”

“No, they're out of town. Won't be back until late tonight.”

She leaped at me. With a laugh, I caught her in my arms as her legs circled my waist. “We are going to have so much fun!” she announced.

I smiled brightly at her enthusiasm. “Yeah, I think we will.”

Because she was latched on to me like a monkey, I carried her through the house to the pool, while Melody followed along. Once I set Jade on the tiled area around the pool, she gave me a big grin and tugged on my T-shirt. “This needs to come off.”

“Maybe later.”

“Now or we're going to push you into the pool.”

Based upon where we were standing, that was going to take a lot of pushing. Still, I drew the shirt over my head and tossed it onto a nearby lounger.

With her finger, Jade outlined my ribs, the ridges along my stomach. “Nice. You are so totally going to win.”

“Totally,” Melody said.

I appreciated their confidence in me. “You want something to drink?”

“A couple of beers would be nice,” Jade said as she stretched out on a lounger. Melody took one on the other side of her.

“Sorry, but I can't offer you a beer.”

“Margarita?”

“Nope.”

“Your parents don't drink?”

“They do, but they'd know if something was missing. I'd get into a boatload of trouble.”

She pouted. “Are you afraid?”

“No, but this is their house. I need to respect their boundaries. Besides it's not even noon.”

She rolled her eyes. “Okay, then, water, tea, something boring.”

I went to the kitchen and grabbed a couple of soft drinks out of the fridge. When I returned, I handed them each a can and stretched out on the lounger beside Jade. She set her soda aside, got up, came over to my lounger, and straddled my hips. Then she leaned in and kissed me like we'd never have another opportunity because the world was going to end.

Gently I placed my hands on her shoulders and eased her back. “What are you doing?”

“Uh, duh! Making out.”

I shifted my eyes to the side. Melody was wearing huge sunglasses. I couldn't tell if she was asleep or looking at the pool. It didn't matter. “Melody's here.”

“Yeah, so?”

Before Avery got together with Fletch, Kendall and I often included her when we went places or did things. But
we never made out in front of her. Maybe we'd sneak in a quick kiss if Avery wasn't looking or we were separated for a little while, but nothing like what Jade was suggesting.

“It's rude,” I said.

With something that sounded like an impatient growl, she looked up at the sky, then glanced over at Melody. “Mel, do you have a problem if we make out?”

“Nah, go ahead.”

Jade grinned. “See?” She moved in again, and I stopped her.

I didn't want to think about how I had suggested Kendall and I make out at Scooter's party, but then I'd had too much to drink, everyone was doing it, and it was dark. “She might not mind, but I do.”

She gave her eyes an exaggerated roll. “I thought you were cool.”

“I am, which is why we're not going to do this.”

She sighed. “Then why am I even here?”

“To hang out.”

“Boring. Let's go to the beach then.”

Only I didn't want to go to the beach. I wasn't sure that I even wanted to be with her. Did we have anything in common, other than steampunk?

“Are you going to college?” I asked.

“Community.”

“What are you going to study?”

“I don't know,” she said impatiently. “What does it matter?”

“We only talk about parties and other people.” She had lots of funny stories about other people, but I realized she didn't reveal a lot about herself. “I don't know very much about you.”

She gave me a sexy smile. “You'll know a lot if we make out.”

“But I want more than that. Don't you?”

“No, not really.” She climbed off me. “Mel, let's go to the beach.”

“Okay.”

They started gathering up their things. I stood, a little relieved, a little disappointed and sad that Jade only wanted a surface relationship. “You don't have to go,” I told them.

“Yeah, we do,” Jade said. She walked over to me and tiptoed her fingers over my chest. “But don't worry. You're still on my make-out list.”

Funny how that didn't make me feel any better. I saw them out, then returned to the lounger and stared at the sparkling water of the pool. I wondered what Kendall was doing, if she was as miserable as I was.