The Stand-In Boyfriend

by Christina Benjamin

  Parker hated seeing Beth with someone else. Especially, someone like Jared. He was such a smug bastard and it irritated Parker to no end that Beth couldn’t see it. Flirting was Jared’s answer to everything. He charmed his way right into Beth’s life, into the easiest classes at Stanton, onto the lacrosse team . . . okay, maybe not the lacrosse team. Jared actually had athletic talent. But Parker didn’t trust the guy. He was convinced Jared was a womanizer, just using his crooked smile and cheap flattery to get what he wanted. Parker was sure the only reason Jared was still with Beth was because she got him an invite to Caroline Voss’s spring break bash. He just needed a way to prove it.

  The Vosses owned a couple of television networks and practically crapped money. They had houses all over the world, but none more famous than their Aspen house. Some reality TV show was filmed there every year, which basically meant the Stanton seniors would do just about anything to get an invite. Parker was only going because Beth had invited him last year as her plus one. He knew it was the only way her parents would let her go, but he didn’t care. A week in the mountains with Beth? Yes please!

  When Beth first proposed the trip, Parker was ecstatic. He had planned to teach her how to snowboard and take her hiking. Then they’d soak in the hot tub and make S’mores over the outdoor fire pit. He’d even picked out what bedroom he wanted from the house’s website. It had a white fluffy rug in front of a massive stone fireplace. He imagined stretching out there with Beth in his arms.

  But now none of that would happen. Instead, Parker would spend spring break watching Jared do all of those things with Beth. Parker didn’t want to go on the stupid trip anymore, but Beth was counting on him. Her parents were only letting her go because he would be there. They trusted him. He could still hear her mother saying, “You’re the only one we trust to protect our girl.”

  But how could Parker protect Beth from Jared?

  “Parker!”

  He turned at the sound of his name. Beth was jogging toward him, a rosy glow staining her cheeks. The weather was finally beginning to break as winter lost its icy grip on Boston. Beth was wearing an oversized Stanton hoodie—probably Jared’s—and skinny jeans tucked into knee-high boots. Seniors got to dress down once a week. That meant no uniforms. And although Parker had grown up next door to Beth and seen her in all manner of clothing, casual was always his favorite. It made her seem more approachable—more like Parker might actually have a chance in hell with her.

  “Ready for tacos, muchacho?” Beth asked, giving him a big hug when she reached him.

  “Always,” he said hugging her back.

  Beth

  “So,” Beth asked once she was buckled into Parker’s Range Rover. “Have you started packing yet?”

  “Packing?” Parker asked.

  “For spring break!”

  Parker smirked. “No, but I’m guessing you’ve been packed for a week.”

  “Two,” she corrected.

  Parker laughed. “I think we’ve established I’m not the packing overachiever you are.”

  “Uh, that’s for sure. Do you remember when you had to borrow my dad’s bathing suit when we went to the Hamptons?”

  “Hey! You swore we buried that memory.”

  “Relax, it’ll stay buried. But I’m still allowed to tease you about it when it’s just us.” Beth giggled. “Seriously, who doesn’t bring a bathing suit when they go to the beach? Maybe you should let me inspect your spring break packing list.”

  Parker snorted. “I don’t have a packing list.”

  “That’s your first problem,” Beth replied, grinning. “Fine, you convinced me. I’ll come over after the game and help you get organized.”

  Parker gave her a surprised glance. “Really?”

  “Of course. You know I’d do anything for you, Park.”

  He scoffed and Beth’s heart faltered. “What?” Did he not believe her?

  “Nothing.”

  “Don’t nothing, me. You just huffed at me.”

  “I didn’t huff. I’m just surprised you don’t have plans with Jared after the game,” Parker admitted.

  “Well even if I did, I still always have time for you.”

  Parker’s lips quirked down ever so slightly. He didn’t believe her! Beth suddenly felt ashamed. Had she really been neglecting Parker that much? Maybe that was why he didn’t like Jared. Parker and Jared never really hit it off, which Beth found strange since Parker got along with most everyone. But lately, their animosity seemed to be reaching new heights.

  “Parker, no matter who I’m dating, you know you’ll always be my best friend, right?”

  Beth could’ve sworn she saw emotion flicker across Parker’s face, but he fixed his eyes on the road and all he said was, “Relax, Beth. It’s just packing. I don’t need your help.”

  4

  Parker

  Parker was kicking himself for being short with Beth when she offered to help him pack. Why the hell did his ego flare up at the most ridiculous times? Where was it when Beth first started dating Jared? Cowering in the corner, that’s where.

  By the time they’d finished eating their tacos and were driving back to campus Parker had managed to smooth things over with Beth. He’d changed the subject to finals and they’d somehow segued their conversation to colleges. It wasn’t Parker’s favorite topic to discuss with Beth, but it was at least better than Jared.

  “So everything all set for BC?” Parker asked.

  “Yep, I just filled out my roommate application last week. Did you know they actually group all the theater majors together? How cool is that?”

  Parker laughed. “Of course they do. Anyone else would smother you in your sleep for singing show tunes all day.”

  Beth’s mouth dropped open. “You said you love it when I sing!”

  “I’m the exception to the rule.”

  She smiled. “True. God, I’m gonna miss you so much, Park! Why do you have to go to stupid Cornell? It’s so far away.”

  Parker frowned. “You know why.”

  Parker’s parents had met at Cornell and it was his mother’s dream for Parker to go there one day. Unfortunately, Cornell wasn’t where Parker wanted to go. It wasn’t even in his top three—but it’s not like he could deny the wish of his dead mother.

  “Seriously? Come on Park, you can’t tell me that your dad will actually force you to go to Cornell if it’s not really what you want. I mean your mom mentioned it a million years ago. Who knows if she’d even still feel the same way?”

  “Exactly,” Parker said quietly.

  Beth was silent for a moment and Parker looked over to see her chew on her thumbnail. He could tell she was worrying that she’d said the wrong thing. She hadn’t. But that was the problem with bringing up his mother and college. No one would ever know what she would’ve wanted.

  Parker sighed. “All I know for sure is it was my mother’s dream for me to go there, and it’s kinda hard to argue with at this point.”

  Beth’s voice was soft when she spoke again. “Yeah, but what’s your dream, Parker? What do you really want? That’s what college is all about. It’s time for us to chase our dreams and find out who we truly are.”

  If only he could just tell Beth what he really wanted . . . that she was his dream . . . going to school with her, starting a life with her . . . Those were the answers to her questions, but he still couldn’t bring himself to say them out loud. Instead, he smiled and spoke softly. “I envy you, Beth. You’ve always known how to go after your dreams. It’s harder for some of us.”

  “Oh my God, are you serious right now? You not only got into Cornell, but Harvard, Brown and Yale. It must be so hard being brilliant and having to choose between so many Ivy Leagues.”

  Parker grinned at Beth’s sarcasm. “Point taken. But I’m going to Cornell, so can we just drop it?”

  Beth crossed her arms. “I just don’t get why you applied to those other schools if you want to go to Cornell so badly?”

  “Th
ey were my safety schools.”

  “Oh please, you’re graduating top of your class and your parents both went to Cornell. You’re a legacy. Cornell would never snub you. What other excuses you got?”

  Parker sighed, knowing Beth was just getting started. She was always passionate when they discussed college. He knew she was just trying to help, but it only made things worse since he couldn’t tell her how he really felt.

  Beth seemed to sense his unease and took mercy on him. “Look, I know we’ve had this conversation a million times, but just promise me you’ll think about it, okay? You wouldn’t have applied to those other schools if somewhere deep down you didn’t want to go there.” Beth reached across the center console and took Parker’s hand. “College is a big decision and it should be one you make for yourself.”

  “I know, but . . .” Parker’s throat tightened as he tried to say his mother’s name. Even after all this time he still had trouble talking about her.

  Beth squeezed his hand. She didn’t say anything but she didn’t have to. It was one of the many reasons Parker had fallen in love with Beth. She knew how to be there for him. She knew when to talk and when to listen.

  Parker didn’t really know how to talk about his emotions when it came to his mother. His father never spoke about her, except to say that she’d wanted him to go to Cornell. Plus, Parker was so young when his mother died that sometimes he couldn’t really remember her. And that feeling of loss made it hurt all over again. But Beth was always there. Just being near her was a comfort to Parker. Since they were four years old, Beth had been by Parker’s side, holding his hand and now his heart. She was his other half. And perhaps that’s what Parker hated more than even Jared, the looming future that threatened to tear apart the steady comfort that Beth brought to Parker’s life.

  Jared was just the beginning. Soon college would take Beth away from Parker, and then she’d meet someone else and become their other half forever. The notion made Parker’s eyes burn and he swallowed back the lump in his throat.

  Beth’s steady pressure remained on his hand and she spoke in a quite voice. “Your mom would want you to be happy, Parker.”

  He swallowed hard and nodded. If that were the case, Parker’s problems would be solved. He knew exactly where he’d go to school. He’d stay in Boston, go to Harvard and never leave Beth’s side.

  Beth

  Beth continued to glance over at Parker during the lacrosse game. He’d been quiet since their conversation about college. And quiet for Parker always meant there was something wrong. To everyone else it would seem normal. Parker wasn’t a super talkative guy with most people. But Beth wasn’t most people. She knew Parker better than anyone. They’d been best friends since they could walk and if the two of them weren’t bickering or laughing, something was up.

  If she was honest with herself, she’d noticed Parker starting to withdraw ever since she started dating Jared. At first she just thought it was that she was splitting her time between her best friend and boyfriend so of course things would be a little different. But that distance she’d started to feel in the beginning now felt like it had grown into the Grand Canyon when she wasn’t looking. How did that happen? How could two people who knew everything about each other suddenly feel like strangers?

  But she’d always known it would happen. She knew Parker would eventually meet some girl, that Beth would undoubtedly hate because she wouldn’t be good enough for him—no one ever would. The fact that it hadn’t happened yet was a miracle. But Beth knew it was only a matter of time. Soon it would be college that would take him away.

  Parker was a genius. He wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and go to medical school. He’d probably become the world’s youngest brain surgeon or cure cancer or form some incredible program like Doctors Without Borders or something. That’s just how Parker was. He was brilliant and handsome and kind. And it would break Beth’s heart when he left her. But she’d had him all to herself for eighteen years. It was really more than she could’ve asked for.

  Beth was relieved when Jared came into her life for many reasons. Besides being her super hot boyfriend, Jared was a good distraction from the crushing pain of what life without her best friend would be like. It was better that Beth start to distance herself from Parker now. It would make it easier in the long run. And she really did like Jared. He was funny and gorgeous and he had that edge of mischief and mystery about him that always made her nervous—but the good kind of nervous.

  Jared was hoping to go to college at Syracuse on a lacrosse scholarship. It was only five hours away and Beth was already making plans for how to visit him on long weekends and breaks. Caroline rolled her eyes every time Beth mentioned it. She always said, “You gotta leave high school behind, Beth. That includes your high school boyfriend.”

  To an extent, Beth knew Caroline was right. But it was hard. Beth already felt like she was losing so much. Her sisters had all grown up and moved out. And now, in a few short months, Parker and practically everyone she knew from high school would be leaving to go to different colleges. Beth needed something to cling to. And Jared was a pretty fine guy to hold on to. Beth knew it was probably naïve to think that her first love would last. But if she didn’t at least hope it would, then what was the point?

  5

  Parker

  Parker was convinced his ass was frozen to the bleachers. Would it kill Stanton to spring for seat cushions for the aluminum bleachers? The tuition should certainly cover it. Parker rubbed his hands together before jamming them back in his pockets. The game was almost over. Stanton was killing Thornton Park, with Jared leading the slaughter. Every time he scored he came over and blew Beth a kiss. It made Parker’s pork tacos turn sour in his stomach. And if that wasn’t bad enough, Caroline had just slinked her way up the stairs to join them in the bleachers.

  Caroline pushed her way between Parker and Beth and sat down. Parker grumbled to himself as he slid over to a new freezing portion of bleachers to make room.

  “How’s hot stuff doing?” Caroline asked nodding to the field.

  “He scored six times!” Beth replied, beaming.

  Caroline raised her eyebrows. “Whoa! Did you pledge to match his scores in the bedroom or something?”

  Beth blushed and giggled.

  Parker stood up. There was no way he was sitting through another Jared-is-a-jock-god swoon fest.

  “Where are you going?” Beth called.

  “To get some air,” he grumbled.

  “Uh, we’re outside, genius,” Caroline called. She turned to Beth. “Seriously, how is he the smartest person in our class?”

  Parker swore under his breath, but kept going. He grabbed himself a coffee at the concession stand, but then he felt guilty for not getting one for Beth, which meant he had to get one for Caroline, too. He went back and got two more coffees, balancing the three cups precariously as he weaved his way back to his seat. This time he sat on Beth’s opposite side before handing out the coffees.

  “Thanks,” Beth said, giving him a little shoulder nudge in appreciation.

  Caroline took her cup without thanks and dumped in a heavy pour from the flask she always carried. She offered it to Beth, who added a timid shot to her cup and then offered the flask to Parker. He shook his head. It’s not that he didn’t drink, but as a rule, he didn’t drink things from unmarked containers—especially things from unmarked containers belonging to Caroline Voss.

  Parker wasn’t Caroline’s biggest fan. Ever since she’d come into Beth’s life a few years ago she’d been nothing but trouble. She was always taking Beth to crazy parties and introducing her to drugs, alcohol and boys, or sometimes all three at once.

  Sophomore year, Caroline snuck Beth into a shady club in Boston and then left her to go home with some random guy. Caroline had no regard for Beth or the fact that she was wasted. By the time Beth found a phone and called Parker she was hysterical. To make matters worse, she had no idea where she was. Parker had spent two
hours checking every club in Boston until he found her sobbing in a parking lot. It was the one and only time he and Beth had ever truly fought. He’d been out of his mind with worry. Any number of terrible things could have happened to Beth while she’d been drunk and alone, and he told her so in a not so polite manner.

  After Parker took Beth home from the club and sobered her up he’d laid into her about Caroline being a reoccurring theme in Beth’s poor choices. Beth hadn’t spoken to Parker for a week after that. And that’s pretty much what solidified Parker’s method for dealing with disagreements when it came to Beth—complete and utter avoidance.

  But look where that had gotten him. Sitting next to the girl he loved, cheering for her douche bag boyfriend. Way to go, Park!

  Maybe he should’ve taken a hit from Caroline’s flask. It would’ve helped to dull the pain in his chest and made the last few minutes of the game more bearable. Currently, Jared was blatantly flirting with a group of freshman cheerleaders on the sideline. How could the guy be that stupid? Did he forget his girlfriend was in the stands?

  But it seemed Jared could do no wrong in Beth’s eyes. She always gave him a free pass. But that sure as hell didn’t mean Parker had to. “Too bad Stanton doesn’t hand out scholarships for flirting. Jared would be golden.”

  Beth ignored the dig.

  Parker kept going. “The school should really hand out vaccines to inoculate the student population against his pickup lines.”

  Beth laughed. “The student body is safe because I’m Jared’s antivirus.”

  Parker nearly puked in his coffee cup. Beth said nauseating things like that about Jared all the time. It made Parker’s skin crawl. And not just because he was insanely jealous. But because Parker was sure that Beth deserved better.

  Despite the fact that Jared flirted with everything that moved, Parker had a sneaking suspicion something was going on with him and Caroline. A few weeks ago, Parker had seen Caroline drop Jared off at his house late at night. Parker had casually mentioned it to Beth the next day but she said they were probably just at Caroline’s working on their chemistry assignment together since they were lab partners. Yeah, they were working on their chemistry all right.