The Pretend Boyfriend novel Chapter 10

He certainly did, and look where he is now.

"Wow, and that's supposed to be an apology?" Cassie says.

"Butt out. I wasn't talking to you."

"Hey, be polite. Sam, make him grovel."

"Groveling's not in the deal," Brian remarks. He's still not clear about what is and what isn't in the deal, but Caleb promised to make it up as they went along.

Oh shit. That's exactly what he should be afraid of.

Still, he's glad Caleb has managed to make the payment to the bank before the foreclosure. He would hate it if Mrs. Carr, proud woman that she is, would be out in the streets. Especially when she has been practically a mother to him when he was growing up.

The Carrs. Damn their fucking pride. There was many a time he wanted to go to a fancy restaurant or order a bottle of Dom Perignon when he and Caleb were out together. But nooooo, Caleb had to insist on paying his fair share. Which would set him back a week's wages. So Brian just gave up, and they did stuff more attuned to the size of Caleb's wallet - such as going to clubs and bars and gyms and bowling.

Sam lets out an audible whoosh of breath. "So you remember everything," she says.

"Yeah, and you like your vibrators turned up to the max."

Sam gasps in horror.

"I do not have a vibrator! Where did you come up with that?"

"Yeah, asshole!" Cassie slaps the back of Brian's head again.

"Seeing that you are between boyfriends, I'm reckoning you're probably sexually repressed." Brian turns to Cassie. "You do that again, and I'll write 'ASSHOLE' in chalk on your seat."

"Oh, so you remember."

"It's all coming back to me through hypnotic counseling." Brian glances at Caleb. "Light me a cigarette, will ya?"

"You shouldn't smoke while you're driving."

"So send me to detention." Brian sighs. He figures he's going to have to go through a whole carton of cigarettes before the weekend is up.

They arrive at the boutique hotel in Hartford which is rented by Lori Fox, soon to be Mrs. Lance Buchner. The blood starts to roar in Sam's ears. This is a mistake. She shouldn't be trying to delude anyone. What was she thinking about, letting Cassie talk her into this sham with Brian Morton of all people?

"How come you never told me about him, Sam? How come you've never mentioned him to Mom?" Lori's tone turns a tad suspicious.

"Oh well, you know, we hardly see each other and everything." Sam manages a casual laugh. "Anyway, you never know when these things might end, so - "

"I get it. You don't want to jinx it." Lori pauses sympathetically. "It must be so awful to be you, Sam. I mean, you're my older sister and everything, but you have the damndest luck when it comes to boyfriends. So I perfectly understand why you might feel embarrassed about introducing one of them to us ... just in case, you know, he doesn't last out the week."

Damn right if he doesn't, Sam thinks. But still, Lori doesn't have to be such a bitch about it.

The reception is one of those quiet little areas you find in boutique hotels - with teak paneling and cozy armchairs and mirrored marble floors and oil paintings of the hotel's mustachioed founders, who just all happen to be women.

"Wow," Cassie says to Sam, "I take it Mr. Lance Buchner is paying for all this."

"More like Papa and Mama Lance Buchner. I hear they are filthy rich. Believe it or not, I'm her sister and I've never even met Lance."

Cassie raises her eyebrows. "Wow. You two sisters are tight. You must have been inseparable in grade school."

"Only when Mom strapped the two of us together onto the child seats."