The Accidental Boyfriend: A YA Contemporary Romance Novel (The Boyfriend Series Book 7)

by Christina Benjamin

  “You’re preaching to the choir, sister. But I’m just sayin, the boy doesn’t take rejection well.”

  Lucy groaned and closed the textbook on her desk. She rubbed her eyes and Brooke noticed how dark the circles were underneath them. “You get any sleep last night?” Brooke asked, trying to keep the motherly concern in her voice to a minimum.

  “A little,” Lucy admitted.

  “Bad dreams again?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Maybe you should have your unicorn keep you company at night,” Brooke teased. “I bet he’d keep the bad dreams away.”

  “Brooke!” Lucy threw a pink stress ball at her.

  “Just sayin’ . . . I bet his lance of love has magical powers. He is a unicorn after all.”

  “You are impossible,” Lucy scolded, but a hint of a smile was visible on her face.

  “So I’ve been told. I’m also famished. I’m gonna order in. You hungry?”

  Lucy nodded.

  “Pizza or Thai?”

  “Thai!” Lucy said, excitement lighting her eyes.

  “Coming right up.”

  Brooke left Lucy’s room and picked up the phone to call in their dinner order. Her fingers hovered over the phone. She knew Lucy’s order by heart. That’s what happened when you spent four years living with someone. It was also why Brooke knew what else Lucy needed in her life.

  Over the past four years, Brooke had stood by and watched the toll dating Alex had taken on her best friend. Little by little, Lucy had let him strip away her confidence and happiness as he overshadowed her on every front. Swimming had been Lucy’s one salvation and now, because of the car accident, even that had been taken away from her.

  Brooke was afraid she wouldn’t see that happy glow she’d come to love in her best friend’s eyes for a quite a while after the accident, but when she saw the way Lucy was with Jaxon she’d been pleasantly surprised. Jaxon brought a fire back to Lucy that had been missing for a while. And Brooke wasn’t about to let Lucy miss out on something like that—no matter how much meddling she had to do.

  Lucy

  “Dinner’s here!” Brooke called, distracting Lucy yet again from her homework.

  Lucy’s stomach rumbled on cue and she closed her textbook and grabbed her crutches. She made her way to the living room, only to stop dead when she saw who was sitting on the couch. Jaxon!

  “Hey,” he said, giving her that gorgeous toe-curling smile of his.

  Lucy squeaked a hello and retreated into her room at record speed. She hadn’t been expecting visitors and was only wearing a t-shirt that scarcely was long enough to cover her pink polka-dotted panties. She had no makeup on, was wearing glasses and her hair was knotted in a messy bun atop her head. She even had pens sticking out of it. Good Lord, could she look any more nerdy?

  Brooke poked her head into Lucy’s room. “Did you hear me? Food’s here.”

  “Yes!” Lucy hissed. “And apparently you ordered a side of boy?”

  Brooke grinned. “Maybe . . .”

  “How ‘bout some warning next time? I’m not even wearing any pants.”

  Brooke laughed, taking in Lucy’s ensemble. “I’m sure Jaxon doesn’t mind.”

  “Well I do!”

  “Oh keep your pants on,” Brooke joked, tossing a pair of pink shorts in Lucy’s direction.

  Lucy scowled, then sat down to tug the shorts over her bulky cast. “What is he doing here?”

  “I invited him for dinner.”

  “What? Why?”

  “Just trying to speed up your unicorn hunt.”

  “Brooke!”

  Brooke only flashed a grin in Lucy’s direction and whispered, “Happy hunting,” as she slipped back out into the living room.

  Lucy finally emerged back into the living room after running a brush through her hair. She felt a bit more confident to face Jaxon now that she was at least wearing pants. He still looked as handsome as ever sitting on their couch. Brooke had parked herself on the floor next to the coffee table so the only free seat available was on the couch next to Jaxon. His massive frame managed to make their full-sized couch look like a loveseat.

  Lucy’s palms felt sweaty as she gripped her crutches. Why was she so nervous? She sat next to Jaxon everyday in a golf cart. This wasn’t any different. They were just having dinner. It’s not like it was a date. And Brooke was here. Lucy sat down next to Jaxon and glanced at her best friend, who looked awfully proud of herself for orchestrating this event.

  Lucy shot Brooke her best, ‘you’re so dead’ glare, but Brooke ignored it completely.

  “So,” Brooke started. “What are your plans this weekend, Jaxon?”

  Jaxon looked at Lucy. “I guess that depends. Have you decided about San Diego?”

  “Not yet. I have a doctor appointment tomorrow and I figured I’d decide after that.”

  “You do?” Jaxon asked.

  “Yeah, your uncle set me up with a specialist.”

  “Oh. That’s great.”

  “What time’s your appointment?” Brooke asked.

  Lucy could tell she was fishing. Brooke already knew the details. “Three.”

  “And how are you getting there?” Brooke pushed.

  Lucy glared at her best friend. “I was gonna call a cab.”

  “I bet Jaxon would take you,” Brooke interjected. “Right, Jaxon?”

  “Oh. Um, yeah. I can give you a ride.”

  “No, Jaxon, really you don’t have to. You’ve already done so much.”

  “I don’t mind,” he said, offering a genuine smile that melted Lucy’s heart.

  If Jaxon would just keep that thing on a leash life would be a whole lot easier. But then the thought of not seeing him smile at her like that hit Lucy like a punch in the heart. Man, was she in deep.

  “Okay,” Lucy finally said. “I guess if you don’t mind.”

  “I don’t,” Jaxon assured her.

  Brooke grinned. Seemingly satisfied with her meddling for the evening, she switched on the television. “Oh, The Bachelor is on!”

  Jaxon groaned. “I’m not watching that.”

  But he did. He sat right there on Lucy’s couch, enjoying his Thai food and picking on all the sappy contestants right alongside Brooke.

  Lucy couldn’t deny how much she enjoyed having Jaxon around. His presence always seemed to make her feel at ease. She tried not to read too much into why that was and just enjoyed the warmth she felt in that moment, sitting in her dorm room with Jaxon and Brooke.

  When Jaxon stretched his arm behind Lucy on the sofa she didn’t flinch away. Instead, she let his warmth soak through her and relaxed into the feeling he stirred within her whenever they were together—the feeling that she was right where she was meant to be.

  22

  Jaxon

  What was that saying . . . All good things must come to an end? That’s exactly how Jaxon felt driving Lucy home from her doctor’s appointment.

  Up until that point, everything had been going so well. He’d spent the night before hanging out at Lucy’s until she fell asleep cuddled against him on the couch. Brooke had already gone to bed and Jaxon wasn’t sure what to do. He thought about carrying Lucy into her bedroom, but he didn’t want to wake her. He opted to just gently lay her on the couch and cover her with a blanket. That is, after he sat there for a good long time just soaking up the feel of her snuggled against him.

  She looked so small that he’d wanted to just curl up next to her and wrap her in his arms forever. He’d somehow managed to pry himself away and the next morning he’d shown up bright and early to take Lucy to class. She had his black coffee waiting when he arrived. He had to admit he was getting used to their new routine. Being greeted by Lucy’s smiling face every morning was definitely the best way to start his day. And today had been no different, until the doctor’s appointment. Well, more specifically the ride home from the doctor’s appointment.

  “Lucy, I was in the room with you. The doctor said the best thing for
your recovery is rest,” Jaxon argued.

  “Yes, but he didn’t say I couldn’t go to the game.”

  “Driving to San Diego and back so you can hike up and down stadium bleachers isn’t rest!”

  “I can rest in the car,” she argued.

  Jaxon rubbed his face trying to wipe away some of the frustration he felt. He wanted to scream. Things had been going so well between them that sometimes he forgot that Lucy was actually someone else’s girlfriend. Alex certainly wasn’t around much. Why wasn’t Alex the one taking Lucy to her appointments or having dinner at her dorm room? It’s not like Jaxon minded. He was glad he got to spend so much time with Lucy. But times like these hit him like a punch in the chest. She wasn’t his.

  Jaxon waited until he was parked back in the campus lot before he spoke again. “Lucy, why is this game so important to you?”

  “It’s not the game, it’s my word. I told Alex I’d be there. I don’t want to leave him hanging.”

  “You mean like he does to you all the time.”

  Lucy looked down.

  Shit. Jaxon hadn’t meant to let that slip out. But there was no going back now. “It’s true, Lucy. I’ve never seen him be there for you. And I don’t know what the hell you see in him or why you’re wiling to jeopardize your healing to make him happy. I mean is he even going to acknowledge you’re there after he gets his two seconds of film?”

  “That’s not fair,” Lucy murmured, hurt sharp in her eyes.

  Jaxon’s eyes bore into Lucy’s. “Exactly.”

  She dropped her eyes and Jaxon reached across the space between them and lifted her chin. “He’s not worth it, Lucy. Stop putting yourself out for someone who won’t do the same.”

  Lucy

  Lucy chewed on her bottom lip as Jaxon stared at her from behind the wheel. She let his words sink in. He was right. She knew he was right. And she didn’t even want to go to the stupid soccer game. Actually she sorta hated soccer. If she was going to drive all the way to San Diego she’d much rather go to the zoo than watch a bunch of primadonna soccer all-stars kick each other’s massive egos around the field. That’s all exhibition games ever were. A place for self-important athletes to get their over-inflated egos stroked by sponsors and fans. And Alex only wanted her there to take a few quick photographs and then she’d be completely forgotten while he went about being Alex Alvez: soccer-god.

  Finally she pulled out her phone and dialed Alex’s number.

  “What are you doing?” Jaxon asked.

  “I’m calling to cancel.”

  Lucy was afraid if she didn’t call Alex right now and tell him she wasn’t coming tomorrow she’d lose her nerve. She knew with Jaxon by her side she wouldn’t cave. He made her stronger.

  Alex answered at the third ring. “Hola chica.”

  “Hey,” Lucy greeted. There was chaos and voices in the background. Guys were cat calling and ribbing each other. Alex must’ve already been at the stadium practicing for tomorrow. Good, that would keep him from dragging her with him. But for now she needed to make him hear her. “We need to talk about the game, Alex.”

  That got his attention. “What about it? Did you forget what time I need you here, lindezna?”

  “I’m not coming, Alex.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I can’t. I just had a follow up appointment with my doctor and he says I need to rest.”

  “Shit, Luz. I’m not asking you to play in the game.” Alex lowered his voice. “I just need you by my side. You’re my good luck charm. And if you don’t come this will be the third game you miss. How do you think that makes me look?”

  “I’m not trying to make you look bad, Alex. But driving to San Diego and back for a few minutes of face time isn’t good for me. And I need to start doing what’s good for me.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Nothing. Good luck tomorrow, okay?”

  Alex huffed a laugh. “Like you care.”

  “I do.”

  “If you really meant that you’d be here.” Then he hung up.

  The inside of Jaxon’s truck was eerily silent while Lucy stared at her phone.

  Finally Jaxon cleared his throat. “How’d it go?”

  “Like I expected.”

  “I’m proud of you. It was the right call.”

  Lucy nodded, but couldn’t help wondering why she felt so bad when she’d supposedly made the right decision.

  Lucy spent the rest of the night fighting her guilt at telling Alex she wasn’t going to make it to his game. He’d taken it harder than she’d expected. She knew he’d be mad but she hadn’t expected him to sound genuinely hurt. Alex was a lot of things. Cocky, self-centered, arrogant, smug, over-confident: they were all words that normally came to mind when Lucy thought about her boyfriend. But the boy she’d spoken to on the phone earlier was more than those things.

  He’d sounded like the boy she’d fallen in love with so long ago. The one who promised he’d be her family when hers was taken from her. And when she’d told him she wasn’t going to come to his game the disappointment in his voice had been clear. She felt it tear the thin thread of their relationship even further, lengthening the distance between them.

  Lucy wasn’t sure if she and Alex could ever get back to where they used to be. She wasn’t even sure she wanted to. They weren’t the same people anymore. They’d grown apart. They wanted different things. But through all of that, she’d never wanted to be someone who was okay with hurting someone she’d once loved. No matter how many times that person may have hurt her.

  23

  Brooke

  Brooke woke to the smell of coffee brewing in the kitchen. She padded out of her bedroom barefoot and bleary-eyed. She’d gotten home late last night from her secret unicorn hunt and was hoping to sleep until at least noon.

  “Why are you up so early?” Brooke asked when she saw Lucy hobbling around the kitchen.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you. Coffee?” Lucy asked.

  Brooke nodded, suspiciously watching her roommate fix her a cup of coffee. Lucy was dressed in a cute yellow sundress, her hair was done and she was wearing lip gloss. Something was up.

  Lucy wasn’t a morning person, and ever since the accident she’d been even slower to get moving thanks to the painkillers. But this morning, Lucy was flitting around the kitchen like a caffeinated chipmunk. She was hiding something.

  “Why are you so dressed up?” Brooke asked, as she perched on a barstool at the breakfast bar.

  “I’m not dressed up.”

  Brooke cut her eyes at Lucy. “It’s nine in the morning on a Saturday and you’re wearing lip gloss.”

  “So. I like lip gloss.”

  Brooke’s face brightened as a thought dawned on her. “Is Jaxon coming over?”

  “No. Not everything is about him.”

  Brooke balked. “Is another boy coming over?”

  “Brooke! Not everything has to be about a boy.”

  She frowned. So this wasn’t about Jaxon or some other guy . . . but she was certain this was definitely about a boy. No high school senior got up early on a Saturday and dressed up just for themselves. Then an unsettling thought swept over Brooke as she studied Lucy’s outfit. She was wearing that gaudy heart locket Alex had gotten for her freshman year. It looked like it belonged in the Mr. T collection. She never wore that thing.

  Brooke took a sip of coffee. When the caffeine kicked in, it clicked! “Oh. My. God. You’re going to his game, aren’t you?”

  Lucy’s cheeks instantly turned pink.

  “Not about a boy my ass!” Brooke said getting to her feet. “I thought you decided you weren’t going to San Diego.”

  “I did but you didn’t hear him on the phone. He was so disappointed.”

  “Good! It’s about time he knows what disappointment tastes likes. He dishes it out plenty.”

  “Brooke, just because someone hurts me doesn’t mean I have to hurt them back. I don’t want to be that k
ind of person.”

  “Skipping Alex’s game because you’re injured doesn’t make you a bad person, Lucy. If anything, going makes you the kind of person who hurts herself.”

  “It’s not gonna hurt me to go to his game.”

  “It’s not gonna help,” Brooke argued.

  “It’ll help Alex.”

  “Does Jaxon know?”

  Lucy sighed. “Brooke, Jaxon’s not my boyfriend. I know you want him to be, but it’s just not realistic. This is my life. Alex is my boyfriend and I’m going to his game.”

  “Fine!” Brooke had more than a few choice words for Lucy at that moment, but she bit her tongue, stood up and grabbed her coffee mug from the counter, stalking toward her bedroom.

  “Where are you going?” Lucy called.

  “Somewhere I don’t have to watch your life implode.”

  Jaxon

  Jaxon had just gotten back from a run and was about to make himself breakfast when his phone buzzed to life. He picked it up and read the text message. Apparently breakfast would have to wait.

  He turned off the stove and took the stairs two at a time, heading for the shower.

  Lucy

  Lucy was exhausted by the time she made it out to the parking lot to wait for her cab. She was beginning to rethink her decision to go to the game on her own. Getting all dolled up and trekking across campus had worn her out. It didn’t help that Brooke was pissed either. Lucy hated tension. It only added to the weight she was carrying.

  Lucy hobbled over to a bench to wait when she saw someone in the parking lot. Her eyes were drawn to him like he was magnetic and her heart was a compass. His long legs were crossed at the ankles and he was leaning against his truck, smirking at her. As she drank him in her pulse quickened.

  “Jaxon? What are you doing here?”

  “I could ask you the same thing, but I think I know the answer.”

  Guilt stabbed Lucy in the gut for the second time today. Guilt and anger. There was no way Jaxon was standing in the parking lot by chance. Brooke must have tattled on her!