The Boyfriend Project by Rachel Hawthorne Page B

shirt.
    Maybe Kendall was right. Maybe I should grow out my hair, shave less frequently. I was eighteen. What could my dad do about it? Oh, right. Cut off my funds for college.
    â€œYou’re so lucky to have your own place,” I said, leaning forward and planting my elbows on my thighs.
    â€œCan’t argue with that.”
    I glanced over my shoulder. “You and Avery—never really saw that coming.”
    â€œShe makes me a better person.” He held up a hand. “Now I’m getting into soul-baring territory and I won’t go there. Want to come in and watch giant crocs terrorize people? There’s a Lake Placid marathon tonight.”
    I laughed. “Nah. I don’t know why I stopped. I just . . .” I really didn’t know what it was. “I was a little surprised to hear that you wanted to be a cop. Does it have to do with your dad going to prison?”
    Slowly he shook his head. “Mostly it has to do with Avery’s dad taking me in, providing me with a place. Notjust the apartment here, but a place in the family. I never had that before.”
    I wasn’t sure if I did, either. Sure, I had both my parents but we never did anything together. Kendall had only her mom but there was way more love in her house than in mine. I liked hanging out over there. And I knew no matter what Kendall did, her mom respected and accepted her. If I bucked my dad, there would be hell to pay, and yet I couldn’t seem to stop thinking about what Kendall had said. I didn’t know if Fletcher would get it, considering the non-relationship he had with his dad, but I didn’t know anyone else who had changed so much in such a short time. “Okay, I don’t know if this will make any sense, but as long as I can remember I’ve been on the path to becoming a lawyer, following in my dad’s footsteps, which is odd because I’m nothing like him.”
    â€œSo you’re rethinking it?”
    â€œMaybe. Kendall said something tonight about experimenting—”
    â€œSure she wasn’t referring to sexual positions?”
    I glared at him. “You’re a lot of help.” I really didn’t know why I’d stopped here. I had other male friends but we mostly played video games together. As for knowing other girls—once Kendall pulled me into her orbit I didn’t develop any other female friendships. She and Avery wereenough, although I couldn’t see myself talking to Avery about this since it involved Kendall. I figured Avery shared everything with Kendall and vice versa. I was pretty sure it was a girl thing.
    Fletcher shrugged. “If you don’t want to be a lawyer, don’t be a lawyer.”
    Everything was so black and white for this guy.
    â€œLawyer is my trajectory. I’ve never even thought about doing anything else. Not to mention my parents would be devastated.”
    â€œParents should be devastated when their kid dies, not when he changes his major.”
    â€œYou don’t know my parents.”
    â€œAvery thought she knew her parents’ expectations. She was wrong.”
    â€œWell, I’m not. Trust me.”
    He took another long, slow sip of the root beer. I was regretting not taking one. “So you just sit out here until Avery gets home?” I asked.
    â€œPretty much.”
    â€œExciting.”
    He grinned. “The exciting happens when she gets home.”
    She had really gotten to this guy, although I had to admit that I was glad he was nuts about her. I liked Avery a lot. I’d always enjoyed hanging around with her andKendall before Kendall and I got serious.
    â€œWell, guess I’d better go,” I said, and shoved myself to my feet.
    â€œEverything okay with you?” he asked as though it suddenly occurred to him that it would be polite to ask.
    I started down the steps and tossed over my shoulder, “Yeah, everything’s fine.”
    Now, if only I could believe