The Boyfriend List Read Online Free Page A

very polite.” Harper waved the champagne flute around before Kevin grabbed it from her. “You were the one objectifying her.”
    Jason poured himself a glass of wine from one of the bottles sitting on the table. “We established in church that she’s beautiful and that Nate actually likes her. So he’s not just checking her out. You, Harper, are late to the party. “
    “This is my worst nightmare,” Nate moaned. “It’s like middle school.”
    Meg laughed. “Why should you get off the hook? We’ve all had to deal with it from this crowd. When a possible hookup looms, no one is safe, as we all embrace our inner middle schooler.”
    “A hookup? Why was I not informed?” Harper demanded.
    “I’m going to get some air,” Nate muttered. He didn’t waste any time, making a beeline for the large stone terrace that looked out over the lawn all the way to the water. The sun had started to set and the weather was beautiful, with a cool breeze blowing in off Long Island Sound. It was the perfect for a temporary escape.
    This was the craziest balancing act yet. For ten months, since he first met Jenna at Owen and Kim’s engagement dinner, he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her. Every word she uttered, every smile, every laugh haunted him. And after all this time, he still hadn’t done anything to take it further.
    Nate wasn’t a believer in insta-love. His feelings for Jenna had grown over the past months. They’d spent time together at parties and dinners. She was always included because she was Kim’s best friend, and each time they were someplace together, her spirit lit him up. She made him want—she made him want everything.
    “God, I’m such an idiot.”
    “Why are you an idiot?”
    Turning, Jenna was right behind him. Her fingers were woven tightly together and she looked nervous. Tense. Like she wanted to be anyplace but that wedding.
    “Are you all right?” He took a tentative step in her direction.
    “I’m not sure.”
    “What do you mean?” It was a real possibility he’d blown it with her. Obviously, she was more sensitive than he thought. “I’m really sorry about before,” he apologized. Again.
    Damn. She looked so fragile. Sad. Every protective and proprietary bone in his body went on alert.
    “That’s not it,” she shrugged. “I know you were just kidding around. I just . . . I thought this would be easier,” she whispered. “You know, Kim’s wedding. As much as I’m happy for her and Owen, she was supposed to marry my brother. I guess it’s another reminder for me that he’s gone.”
    Jenna’s brother, Tom Albanese, had been dead almost two years. Now, based on how things had unraveled before he died, he doubted he and Kim would have walked down the aisle anyway, but that wasn’t making this any easier for Jenna and her family, who were trying to be supportive.
    “Does that make any sense?” she asked quietly. He wasn’t sure what he should say. She seemed desperate for someone to talk to, someone who wouldn’t judge.
    He put his hand on the small of her back and guided her to a quiet seating area. The brown rattan furniture was shaped like cubes, with large deep seating areas filled with beige cushions. He settled her into one of the chairs and took the one adjacent to hers. Close, but not too close. “It makes perfect sense, and you have a right to feel however you want. My older brother died when I was fifteen. It’s been twenty years and while I don’t think about it all the time, I’m still not over it.”
    “Oh, I’m so sorry.” She sat, collapsed almost, onto the large sofa. “Was he much older than you?”
    “Two years. He was my best friend.”
    “You do understand then, don’t you?”
    Nate nodded and watched her every move before rising and sitting next to her. “I do. I understand how it can affect pretty much everything in your life for a while.” Lightly taking her hand, Nate continued. “Look, let’s stick together today.