Free My Fake Summer Boyfriend by Ann Herrick

The water was getting rough—it was a fight to make it over each wave. White caps slapped against the boat. Before long the occasional raindrop turned into a steady rain. There was a crash of thunder. I tried to look calm for Jason 's and Hailey's sakes, but my throat tightened with fear.
    "Don 't worry," Alex shouted. "The lightning's still pretty far away, and we'll be back at the dock soon."
    I squinted and saw the outline of the man who 'd rented the boat to us. It looked as though he was waiting to help us dock.
    Lightning crashed, closer this time. I clenched the seat of the boat.
    Alex grunted as he pulled on the oars. With a few swift strokes he narrowed the distance to the dock.
    "You folks got back just in time!" the man on the dock yelled, as he helped pull in the rowboat. "That storm is going to be centered over us any minute now." He helped us unload. "You 'd better hurry and get inside."
    As we all ran to our cottage, Alex and I struggling with the ice chest, lightning flashed over the water. Finally, we burst into the cottage door and stood dripping on the kitchen floor. Our parents were sitting at the dining room table, drinking coffee.
    Mom ran over to us. We must have been a bedraggled group. "Thank goodness you 're back! Another few minutes and we would have sent the Coast Guard out looking for you!"
    "Mom!" I said. " We’re soaked, but otherwise we’re fine."
    "A-a-choo!" Jason shivered.
    "I hope you're not getting sick," Mom said.
    "I 'm fine." Jason sniffled.
    "We really must be going," said Mrs. Stedman.
    "Let me get you our big golf umbrella," Dad said. "It's upstairs."
    "Thanks, I think we 'll need it in that rain," said Mrs. Stedman. She turned to Alex. "Oh, I've got some good news. The Kendalls are arriving tomorrow. They're going to spend the last week of August here in Chatfield. They'll be just down the beach from us." She turned to me. "Katie, do you know Nicole?"
    I swallowed the lump solidifying in my throat. "I—I know who she is."
    "Here's the umbrella." Dad handed it to Mr. Stedman.
    "Thanks."
    Alex looked at me with watery eyes. He was shivering and turning blue. "I'll see you tomorrow."
    What about our talk? I wanted to ask, but I bit my tongue. Alex was obviously in no shape to hang around and chat. He needed to get home and take a hot bath. I fought back the alarm that had been building in me since Nicole's name was mentioned and smiled. "Sure. Tomorrow. Take care of yourself."
    After everyone left, I pulled my towel around my shoulders. Now I was cold and tired and wanted nothing but to soak in a tub of hot water myself.
    Tomorrow Nicole would be in Chatfield.

 
     
    Chapter Nine
    Eager to see Alex, I rushed Jason through breakfast so we could hurry to pick up Hailey.
    Hailey opened the door. "Alex will be ready to go in a minute," she said.
    The Stedmans had already left to play golf with my parents, and the only distraction was Jason and Hailey chattering. I wondered why Alex was taking so long. Was he avoiding me now that he knew Nicole was coming?
    "Sorry I 'm late." Alex came downstairs buttoning his shirt. "Hi, Katie. How do you feel?"
    "Fine," I said. "How about you?" I tried to read his face. I wasn 't just inquiring about his health.
    "A lot better after a good night 's sleep. We don't really have time to talk now. How about after I get off work?"
    My heart beat as fast as a sparrow 's. Alex still wanted to talk to me. Of course, Nicole wasn't in Chatfield yet. Well, I would worry about Nicole later. I nodded. "We can talk then."
    "Good. Now we 'll have to leave, or I'll be late for work."
    Alex kissed me goodbye at the store, and it was more than just a friendly kiss for the benefit of the giggling girls. I still could feel the force of his lips on mine as I walked away.
    Jason and Hailey wanted to go to our cottage to play. After lunch I took them swimming. I needed some exercise to push my worries about Nicole from my thoughts. When it was time to meet Alex at the