Page 17 of The Boyfriend Gamble

“What?” I couldn’t possibly have heard her correctly. Today was Monday. She thought we’d have everything ready to entertain in five days? Generally, she was an optimistic soul. I hadn’t thought her delusional.

“Wrecking party.” Her blue eyes glinted with amusement. “We’ll get Jacob to organize what needs to be done, and then we’re inviting all our friends. We demo the inside and then have a barbecue and beer party.” She eyed me. “Okay, light on the booze. But maybe a bonfire?”

“There are bears in these woods.”

She scowled. “I know that. They’re not going to come join the party, Felix. We just have to make certain we clean up afterward. Oh, and we need to get that industrial bear-proof compost thing. Wally wants us to have plenty of compost he can use when he does the landscaping.”

“Uh…” I scratched my head. “My brother’s doing the landscaping?”

“Of course.”

“I thought we were going for thenaturallook.”

She arched an eyebrow and sighed. “You still have to have a front lawn. And August is coming by to do an assessment of all the trees on the property. Wouldn’t do to have one fall over during a storm and hit the house.”

Given the house had been standing for more than seventy years, I had doubts about that happening. That being said, I’d hate for a tree to take out my investment. My forever home. “Right. When’s he coming by?”

“Friday. You’re going to invite him to the party.”

My eyebrows shot up. “Oh, I am, am I? What makes you think he’ll want to come?”

“Because you’re going to bat your eyelashes, promise a good time, and he’ll feel compelled.”

“Are you suggesting I offer him…” I flushed. “Because, Josette—”

“God no.” She laughed. “Invite Julian as well. Tell them it’s a family thing.”

“Uh… Again, work with me here…they aren’t family.”

“No, but Julian comes from a big one, and he’ll get it. I think we went to school with one of his cousins. Oh, I should invite her as well.” Even as she said the words, she pulled out her cell phone and started doing something. She was always doing something with her phone.

I often forgot mine at home.

After looking around longingly, I moved into the kitchen and pulled the paperwork out of my messenger bag.

This place was all mine.

And when Josette and I married, it’d become hers as well.

I should buy a ring or something.

Because that’s what good fiancés did, right?

Except we’d never gone on a date. Never kissed. Never made out. Never had sex. And I told myself we hadn’t done those things because we were saving ourselves for marriage.

Yeah, right, keep telling yourself that.

Okay, I could admit I didn’t feel an attraction to the woman I considered my best friend. But did that matter? We’d build a life based on mutual affection and matching goals in life.

I wanted to be a teacher and a father.

She wanted to be an interior designer and a mother.

Those were compatible dreams.

Yet just the idea of going to bed with her left me cold.

Get over yourself. It’ll be fine.

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