Free The Boyfriend Project by Rachel Hawthorne

anger shot through me, but I just ground my back teeth together to keep my tone even. “Kendall. Yes. And Avery and Fletcher.We’re house-sitting for—”
    â€œNo.” He went back to studying the documents on his desk.
    Blinking, I shook my head. “What?”
    He leaned back. “You can’t have time off. Work needs to be done around here.”
    â€œOther interns get time off.”
    â€œOther interns aren’t my son.”
    â€œThought we agreed we wouldn’t play the father-son card at the office,” I reminded him.
    â€œFine. When we get home, ask me if you can go to the beach and I’ll tell you no. So you won’t need the time off.”
    â€œMom’s okay with it. Besides, you can’t stop me from going. I’m eighteen.”
    Taking off his glasses, he tossed them onto the pile of papers. “Which is exactly why I’m saying no. Staying at the beach with a girl is a disaster waiting to happen.”
    â€œHow do you figure that?”
    â€œI was young once. I know about temptation, and I know how your life can be thrown off track by one mistake. No more parties, no more thinking just about yourself. You have to grow up and take responsibility. I’m doing this for you, so you don’t have regrets.”
    All the words that followed mistake seemed to come at me from the end of a long tunnel. I was the mistake, the reason he had regrets.
    â€œAs far as this office is concerned,” he continued, “youmay not have time off to go play house with this girl. As for the rest of it, we’ll discuss it at home.” He picked up his glasses, settled them on the bridge of his nose. “And get a haircut during your lunch hour.”
    I stared in disbelief as he returned his attention to some case.
    â€œI quit.” The words were out before I’d considered all the ramifications, but I knew they were the only ones I could say.
    Dad looked up, gave me a condescending grin. “This is precisely what I’m talking about. You’re acting without thought, which is exactly what you’re going to do with this girl at the beach—”
    â€œKendall,” I interrupted. “Her name is Kendall. I love her. And while it is none of your freaking business, we haven’t had sex. But when we do, again it’s none of your freaking business. But I’m not quitting because of her.” Not entirely true. I hated that he failed to recognize how important she was to me. “I’m quitting because you’re not treating me like every other intern here. Anyone else could have a day off. And I don’t hear you telling anyone else to get a haircut. I’ll notify HR about my resignation on my way out of here.”
    I spun on my heel.
    â€œJeremy.” My dad punctuated my name like it was a command. I turned back to find him standing behind hisdesk. “If you want to throw away this opportunity, this stepping-stone to a respectable career, I won’t try to stop you. It could prove to be a good life lesson, so I won’t kick you out of the house or take away your college fund, but that’s the extent of my generosity. If you want spending money, you’ll need to get another job elsewhere.”
    â€œDon’t worry. I’ve got it covered.” Another lie, because I had no idea where I could get another job this late in the summer.

Chapter 11
    KENDALL
    â€œYou do realize we’re only going to be gone for three nights,” Jeremy said as he studied my collection of luggage in the front entryway.
    I had a small suitcase for my clothes and personal items; a ginormous tote bag stuffed with beach accessories; a cooler with our favorite drinks; a large, handled sack of snacks; and a box of miscellaneous items that didn’t easily fit into one of the other categories. “I know, but I just wanted to make sure we had everything we needed.”
    â€œBecause they don’t have