Page 43 of The Boyfriend Swap

With narrowed eyes, Will glanced from James to me as if he knew we’d spent the last five minutes dishing about him. “You guys need a drink?” he asked.

I shook my head while debating whether I should stand closer to Will like a “real” girlfriend would. I looked to him for guidance, and as if reading my mind, he reached out his hand and pulled me so I was leaning with my back against his chest with his hands resting on my shoulders. I took a sip of my now lukewarm beer and tried to ignore the curious glances Will’s friend Leon, a tall guy with nearly platinum hair and pale blue eyes, was throwing in our direction. Back in high school, Leon had a reputation as a player, the label assigned when he dated a girl for several months and dumped her as soon as she’d slept with him—every virgin’s nightmare. The statute of limitations had probably expired on that particular crime by now. Still, I’d always wondered what Will got out of their friendship.

Pointing at Will (and technically me since I was leaning against him), Leon asked, “Didn’t you say your girlfriend was a redhead?”

I hoped it was Leon’s intoxication, evidenced by his bloodshot eyes and pronounced Philly accent (his “didn’t” sounded more like “ditint”), that made him think it was appropriate to ask about a former girlfriend in front of a new one—pretend or not. But I wouldn’t bet on it.

“It didn’t work out,” Will said, stealing my line—the one I’d borrowed from Sidney.

Leon frowned. “Too bad. Wasn’t she the one you said gave great—”

“We broke up,” Will interrupted in a loud voice, but anyone over the age of thirteen could probably have completed Leon’s sentence. My body tensed against Will’s and he made a show of squeezing my shoulders. I couldn’t tell if he was playing the role of the gallant boyfriend or if he sensed my actual discomfort. Either way, I was grateful my face was hidden from his sight since I was certain it looked like I’d dived headfirst into a bowl of tomato soup. If I’d wanted details on Sidney’s oral skills, I would have asked him thirty minutes before when he’d announced how sexy she was.

Since I was his girlfriend in name only, I had no right to be so uncomfortable. Then again, since a bona fide new girlfriend might genuinely be upset under the circumstances, I could probably get away with expressing my discomfort by later claiming it was all part of the act. Only, I knew if Will reallywasmy boyfriend, I wouldn’t care what someone said about one of his exes because I’d be secure in what we had. The only reason I was upset now was because I was insecureand I wasn’t his girlfriend; Sidney was.

Pulling myself out of my head, I gave James a “whatcha gonna do” look and a half shrug.

James scrunched up his lips and gazed straight ahead to where historical photographs decorated the wall. “Robyn, what did you used to call your ex, Perry?” He scratched his cheek, appearing to contemplate, and then his face lit up. “The Phoenix. Right? Because he could go on and on and—”

“James.” My mouth dropped open, but quickly snapped shut when I felt the involuntary tickle of a laugh in my throat. I inched away from Will, who had let go of me like I was a hot potato.

“What?” James asked, playing dumb.

He was so wrong, yet I wasn’t sure I’d ever loved him more. “Can we change the subject?”

James shrugged. “I was merely pointing out that Will wasn’t the only one with a …” He cleared his throat. “…skilled ex.”

“Thank you for sharing another one of Perry’s winning attributes with us,” Will muttered.

I felt Will’s stare and reluctantly met his gaze. I couldn’t gauge his expression—sadness, resignation, disgust? Was he concerned Perry was practicing his superior stamina on Sidney?

“It makes complete sense to me,” said Oliver, interrupting my thoughts. He was another regular fixture by Will’s side during high school. But it was a friendship I understood, especially after getting to know Will better over the last couple of days. Oliver was as good-natured as Leon was crude. And even though he was also in the drama club, he managed to avoid the “theater-kid geek” stereotype.

Will and I broke eye contact and faced Oliver. At the same time, we said, “Huh?”

Oliver smiled. “You two as a couple. I can see it. I was there the night you guys kissed for the first time. At least I assume it was the first time.” He raised a dark eyebrow.

I gasped out loud and quickly clapped my hand against my mouth. I wasn’t prepared for someone to mentionThe Kisson the assumption that no one remembered it besides me. My hands shook and I placed my near-empty bottle on the bar as a safety precaution. I couldn’t look at Will.

“You remembertheirkiss from ten years ago? Kind of creepy,” Leon said, pointing the bottom of his empty Yuengling bottle at Oliver with a smirk.

Oliver ran a hand through his light brown hair. When he smiled, a dimple greeted us from each cheek. “I thought Snow White was hot. I was hoping I’d be the one to kiss you,” he said to me.

My mouth dropped open. Oliver always waved hello when he passed me in the hallways and even stopped by my locker from time to time. And he invited me to his parties, but I never interpreted his attentiveness as romantic interest. He was cute too, with light brown eyes the same color as his hair and, of course, those dimples. “How come you never asked me out?” I asked quietly.

He shrugged. “I could tell you weren’t into me.”

I didn’t bother to refute the statement since he was right. How could I appreciate Oliver’s appeal when I was too busy pining over his out-of-my-league best friend?

“Dude. Stop hitting on your buddy’s girl,” said Leon, rolling his eyes at Oliver.

“I’m not hitting on her.” Oliver glanced at Will. “I’m not.”

“I need some fresh air,” Will said. Without another word, he removed his beer from the bar and walked to the porch.

“Way to go, asshole. Now he’s pissed.” Leon motioned to the bartender for another round while Oliver and I exchanged confused glances.

“If he’s upset, it’s not about my ‘true confession.’ Not Will’s style,” said Oliver before taking a sip of his beer.

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