The Boyfriend Project Read Online Free PDF Page A

them with a home.
    â€œWhat’s wrong with him?” Tyler asked, squatting down until he was practically eye level. “Does he have an owie?”
    â€œHe has arthritis,” I said. Tyler blinked at me. Right, he probably didn’t know what arthritis was. “Yeah, he has an owie.”
    â€œOh.” He pouted out his lower lip in sympathy and turned back to Bogart.
    I looked at Avery expectantly but she was shaking her head as she read his paperwork. “What’s the life expectancy of a basset hound?” she asked really quietly.
    I couldn’t lie to her, no matter how badly I wanted him to have a home. “Ten to twelve.”
    She arched a brow. “That’s going to give Tyler a really quick life lesson.”
    I grimaced. “I know.” Since he’d been in the foster care system before Avery’s parents adopted him, Tyler had enough life lessons under his belt already.
    â€œI’m sorry,” she said. “But we want something a little younger.”
    â€œNo, it’s my fault. I wasn’t thinking. We did just get in a younger dog, adorable. Trained. His owner had to give him up.”
    I took them to where Terri had placed Fargo. Tyler laughed and clapped when he saw the Lhasa. Grinning, Avery took his paperwork and read it over.
    â€œOh, he seems perfect,” she said.
    â€œDo you want to take him to the playroom?” I asked.
    â€œAbsolutely.”
    I opened the door. Eagerly, Fargo raised up on his hind legs, placed his paws on my thighs. He was a smaller dog, with tan-and-white curling hair. I slipped the leash on him and led the way to one of our playrooms near the reception area. As soon as we were inside, I released my hold on the tether and he raced over to Tyler.
    Tyler giggled, dropped down on the floor, and began to play with the dog.
    â€œWell, that’s a good sign,” Avery said as she leaned against the wall, watching as her brother became engrossed in petting Fargo. “So I guess we’re getting a dog.”
    â€œYou won’t regret it, I promise. Just give him some tender loving care.”
    â€œDot said that was pretty much all I had to give her dogs while she was away. Tell me you’ll be there to help.”
    â€œYep. I got the all clear from my mom for going to the beach. And Jeremy is in.”
    â€œGreat. We’re going to have so much fun.”
    I hoped so. Pressing my back to the wall, I was close enough to Avery that I could whisper. “So just to be clear, when you mentioned the bedrooms—you and I aren’t sharing one, right?”
    She shifted her gaze over to me. “No. I figured Fletcher and me, you and Jeremy. Are you okay with that?”
    â€œOh, yeah, absolutely. I just wanted to make sure we were on the same page, or in this case, not in the same bed.”
    Turning, she rolled along the wall until only her shoulder was touching it. “That night when you told your mom you were spending the night at my house—”
    â€œNothing happened.”
    Avery furrowed her brow. “Nothing at all?”
    â€œVery little. We kissed some, but mostly we sat out by the lake and served as a buffet for mosquitoes. I thought we’d do more. . . .” Avery was my best friend. I could tell her anything, but this was so personal. I felt the heat warm my face. “We chickened out.”
    â€œYou weren’t ready. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
    â€œIt’s more like Jeremy wasn’t ready. He’s so cautious, wants to make sure we don’t have any regrets.”
    â€œAgain, nothing wrong—”
    â€œAvery, look, he thinks I taste good!” Tyler crowed, interrupting our conversation. Fargo had settled on Tyler’s lap and was licking his hand.
    I knew even if Avery’s brother had heard what we were saying, he wouldn’t know what we were talking about. I knelt down. “Those are dog kisses,” I told him.
    He