The Boyfriend Project Read Online Free PDF

beamed. “He loves me.”
    I knew being loved was important to Tyler. Avery had shared with me some of the challenges of dealing with her brother’s insecurities when he first came to live with her family. “I think he does, yes.”
    â€œGuess we found our dog,” Avery said. “Will they hold him for us until Mom can come by and get him after work?”
    â€œAbsolutely. Come on, Tyler, we need to take him back to his pen.”
    â€œI want to keep him,” he said, hugging Fargo fiercely.
    â€œYou will,” I assured him, “but first we have to give him a chance to say good-bye to the other dogs. When your mom gets here later, he’ll be ready to go. I bet you’re big enough to walk him back to his pen.”
    He nodded. I knew at his age being big enough to do things was important, too. As we walked down thecorridor, Avery leaned in and whispered, “Well played.”
    â€œYou learn a lot taking care of dogs.”
    â€œYou’re going to make a good vet,” she said.
    â€œHope so.”
    When we closed Fargo in his pen, he pawed at the door. I thought he was already in love with Tyler. When we passed by Bogart, my heart broke just a little because he didn’t come to the door in anticipation. He stayed curled on the small bed set up for him in a corner, as though he knew he wasn’t going anywhere.
    Well, we’d just see about that.

Chapter 4
    JEREMY
    Need you to come by the shelter after work.
    I had a feeling that Kendall’s text didn’t bode well. She didn’t throw around the word need lightly. She liked being in control, depending on herself.
    Although a part of me also wondered if her text was simply a diversion to keep me from getting a haircut. I’d been surprised when she mentioned growing it out. Not that I hadn’t thought about it. I’d looked like a young conservative since I was four years old. My parents were all about appearances. Outward appearances, anyway. People driving through our neighborhood saw “upper class.” They didn’t see the insanity that occurred within the walls of our house.
    I knew that I’d probably have another disagreement with my dad when he saw that I hadn’t taken his firmlytoned suggestion to get my hair cut, but Kendall’s needs had precedent over his wants.
    When I walked through the shelter doors, I waved at Terri who was standing behind the reception counter.
    â€œHey, Jeremy,” she said. “Kendall’s in the back.”
    â€œThanks.” I’d been here often enough that people knew me. I wasn’t an official volunteer, but sometimes I came to help Kendall. She was a stickler for keeping all the cages clean, making sure all the dogs had equal attention. I’d left here covered in fur more than once.
    I located her in the puppy room. She was holding a tiny pup, feeding it with a small bottle. I leaned against the doorjamb, crossed my arms over my chest, and just watched her. Her red hair was pulled back into a ponytail but several strands had escaped and were circling her face. Every now and then she would skew up her mouth and blow out a burst of air. The curls would fly around before falling back into place.
    It was probably driving her crazy. She didn’t like anything out of place.
    But I thought it was sexy as hell. But then I thought everything about her was.
    Looking up, she smiled the smile that had first kicked me in the gut. I’d been in the new school for all of a week, feeling out of place, missing my friends. Then she’d smiled at me in chem class when the teacher partnered us for aproject, and after that I was pretty much a goner—although it had taken me several months to make my move.
    â€œWhen did you get here?” she asked.
    I sauntered over, pushed the loose strands behind her ear. “A few minutes ago. What’s this guy’s story?” I trailed a finger over his soft