My Fake Summer Boyfriend Read Online Free PDF

the table. "If you don't hurry, we'll be late!"
    "Relax, Katie." Mom spooned sugar into her coffee. "It's just past eight-thirty. It'll take only a couple minutes to walk to the Stedmans', and our golf date isn't until nine-thirty, so there's no need to rush, anyway."
    "I don 't want to be late on the first day," I said. "Jason, I'm going upstairs to comb my hair. You'd better finish eating and brush your teeth before I'm ready to leave."
    When I reached my room I took a few dollars out of the painted tin box on top of my dresser and stuffed it into my pocket. I figured that would be enough for some hair color to brighten my drab locks.
    On my way back downstairs I heard Jason gargling in the bathroom. I winced. Probably the neighbors could hear him, too. "Come on, Jason. One. More. Minute."
    "Okay." Jason gurgled and spit.
    I went downstairs to wait.
    " Katie, there's plenty of food to fix for your lunches." Mom was peering into the refrigerator. "Hot dogs, milk, juice, carrot sticks, celery." She closed the refrigerator door and opened a cabinet door. "Bread, peanut butter, raisins—"
    "I can find the food, Mom," I said. "We won 't starve."
    "Yes, I know. I just—"
    "I'm ready!" Jason jumped down the last three stairs, triumphantly raising his arms over his head as he landed on the floor.
    "Good!" I grabbed his hand and led him out the door before there could be any more delays. When we got a few steps away from the cottage, I stopped and graspe d Jason by the shoulders. "Jason, I want you to be on your best behavior. Understand?"
    "Of course," Jason said, wide-eyed. Innocent.
    "Fine." I took a step, then stopped again. I realized I didn 't even know where Alex's cottage was.
    "Let' s go." Jason tugged at my hand and led me off to the left. "Number seventy-six is this way."
    "Duh," I said, as if I 'd known all along.
    Dan’s cottage looked pretty much like ours, except it had a trellis by the door where a tangle of roses grew. I knocked twice.
    The door opened. Hailey peeped out from behind it. "Won't you come in?"
    "Hi," I said cheerily. "Are you all ready?"
    "Oh, yes," Hailey answered. Her formality still un-nerved me a bit, but I was sort of getting used to it.
    " Katie," Mrs. Stedman said, "here's the key to the cottage, in case Hailey needs anything. Hailey, don't forget your snack." She handed Hailey a small plastic bag containing cheese cubes and green olives.
    "Thanks." Hailey kissed her mother good-bye.
    "Oh," said Mrs. Stedman. "Here 's your bathing suit, too."
    "I 'll take it," I said. I lingered in the doorway, waiting for Alex to appear. I wanted to walk to the store with him.
    Suddenly he bounded down the stairs. "Ah. Is this my escort service?"
    "Ready and waiting," I answered briskly.
    "Let 's go, then," said Alex.
    The four of us filed out the door.
    "You two walk ahead of us," I said to Jason and Hailey. "This road's too narrow for us to walk four across."
    Jason and Hailey paired off, whispering solemnly. Occasionally Jason peeked over his shoulder at Alex and me and giggled.
    It was a short walk, and soon we had to cross the street to the store. "Let 's all hold hands," I said to Jason and Hailey. I hoped Alex would take the hint. He did.
    As soon as we 'd crossed the street I spotted the cluster of girls down the road on their way to the store. "See you later, Alex," I said in an extra loud voice. Then I stood on my toes and gave him a quick kiss. "That was for their benefit," I whispered, motioning toward the girls.
    "See you back here at three o 'clock," Alex said, as soon as the girls got a little closer. He blew me a kiss before he stepped inside the store. I blushed, even though I knew the kiss was only for the sake of the giggling girls.
    "Okay, you two," I said to Jason and Hailey. "We're going for a walk." I tried not to smile as I walked past the girls, who were now giving me a thorough once-over.
    "Where are we going?" Jason walked between me and Hailey, holding our hands and swinging his