The Boyfriend Series Box Set (Books 1-6): YA Contemporary Romance Novels

by Christina Benjamin

  “How . . . how was it?”

  “What, the kiss?” Cody asked not trying to conceal his smile.

  Hannah felt her cheeks flush, but she needed to know. She shoved down her embarrassment and nodded.

  “Well I can tell it was your first kiss,” he smirked.

  “Is that bad?”

  Cody winked. “Nah. Nothing a little practice won’t fix.”

  “Practice.” Hannah repeated the word slowly. Practice was something she could do. Something she was good at. Hell, she was the poster child for practice makes perfect. “And you’ll help me practice kissing?”

  He feigned frustration. “If I must.”

  “So you’ll be like my practice boyfriend?”

  Cody rolled his eyes. “Why do girls insist on labeling things?”

  Hannah cocked her head in confusion. “Labels help clarify things. It’s something both men and women use equally. I believe women to be the superior of our species, so perhaps that’s why you assume women use labels more often?”

  “It was a joke, Hannah. But why don’t you get your sweet cheeks back on the court, tennis pro, and I’ll show you the superior species.”

  Hannah blinked while Cody retreated to his corner of the court—ball and racket in hand.

  “By the way, that’s how normal high school students speak,” Cody added with a smirk. He bounced the ball, getting ready to serve.

  “Bring it on,” Hannah called.

  “That’s it. You almost sound human.”

  If it was practice Cody wanted, that’s what he’d get. Hannah was prepared to kick his butt on the tennis court and then kiss him all night! Nothing was going to get in the way of her plan.

  She took a swig of her water bottle and spun her tennis racket waiting for Cody to serve. He sent the ball sailing far over her head. She laughed out loud when it flew over the fence.

  “That was my practice shot,” Cody called.

  “There’s no do over’s in life, Cody.”

  “You’ve got that right,” he muttered picking up another ball and lobbing it across the net.

  Hannah smiled. This was too easy. She put some backspin on it and fired directly at Cody. He dove out of the way and she couldn’t suppress her laughter.

  “You still want to serve?” she taunted.

  “Ok champ. You proved your point. You own the tennis court. But we’ll see how good you are when you’re on my courts.”

  “I don’t play basketball. I’m sure I’ll be awful.”

  “I thought you were good at everything.”

  “I’m confident I can master anything with the right amount of practice.”

  Cody rolled his eyes and Hannah glanced at her watch.

  “Last question. I’ve got to shower before class.”

  “Alright. Why is going to Harrison’s party so important to you?” Cody asked as Hannah slammed a ball in his direction.

  “Because I want Harrison and the rest of our class to see me. I want to be Hannah, the girl, for once. Not Hannah, the genius that no one talks to unless they need help with homework. I want to do something wild and carefree. I want to make memories.”

  “Where is this sudden urge coming from?”

  “You sound like a psychologist,” Hannah said wrinkling her nose as she squinted into the harsh morning sunlight.

  “My shrink would be so proud.”

  “You see a psychologist?” she asked, sounding surprised.

  “You kill your girlfriend and try not needing a shrink.” Cody’s jovial mood vanished. “I think that’s enough for now.”

  9

  Cody walked back to the main campus alone. Hannah promised to shower quickly, but he didn’t want to wait. He wanted to get as far away from her as possible before he lost it. As always, at the slightest mention of Elena’s death, his self-loathing kicked in. He’d been battling this crippling depression for a year but nothing seemed to lighten the lead weight he carried in his heart.

  Strangely, sparring with Hannah allowed him to forget his pain momentarily. But when she’d headed to the locker room to shower, Cody was left alone with his thoughts and the pain came rushing back tenfold. It was almost crueler—chastising him for forgetting his sins for even the briefest of moments.

  Distance and solitude were the only things that helped. Something Cody worried would become harder to find with Hannah in his life.

  Hannah spotted Cody on the quad and ran over, waving her cell phone to get his attention. “Did you get my message?” she asked.

  “Ya mean the relationships for dummies list? Yeah, I got it,” Cody frowned staring at the bullet point list Hannah sent to his phone.

  “It’s the list of practice boyfriend tasks. Do you have any others to add?”

  “Uh, no.”

  “Haven’t you been working on a strategy?”

  “No, I was actually in class for the past few hours.”

  “Doing what?”

  “Doing class work, Hannah! We’re not all geniuses.”

  “You said you wanted to work quickly. I assumed you meant you’d be focused on this.”

  Cody rolled his eyes. “I am. All we need to do is get you noticed. Start a buzz, that kind of thing.”

  “Okay, how do we do that?”

  Cody glanced around the campus. His eyes landed on the Golden Gate. It was full of Goldens enjoying their lunches and gossiping. “Come with me.”

  “Where are we going?” Hannah protested as Cody dragged her by the arm toward the bridge. He squeezed harder and she yelped his name!

  “Cody! Stop!”

  That’s it. Just a little bit further. He glanced up and smiled, noting he’d gained the attention of more than a few Goldens. Hannah was a natural and she didn’t even know it. Cody tugged harder knowing how Hannah would react.

  “I said stop!” she yelled digging her heels into the ground.

  Cody stopped pulling her and she nearly fell backward. He took the opportunity to catch her while she was off balance. He wrapped his arms around her and locked his lips with hers ferociously. She gasped and went limp for a moment before coming to her senses and playing right into his hand. She walloped him with a slap that made him see stars. Cody suddenly knew why she was so good at tennis. Hannah had an arm on her!

  “What the hell was that?” she screeched.

  Cody shrugged and smirked. “Just a bit of fun,” he whispered.

  Hannah was fuming. She took off back toward the school and Cody yelled after her. “Ah, come on, doll face. Don’t be mad at me. You know I can’t help it.”

  Hannah didn’t look back, but Cody did. His plan had worked flawlessly. The Golden Gate was full of slack jawed students.

  10

  It was after school by the time Cody found Hannah again. She was waiting for him in her car looking none too pleased when he swung his lanky body into the passenger seat.

  “Hey, doll face,” he greeted her.

  “That wasn’t funny, Cody. We’re practicing to prove a point, not just so you can get off whenever you want.”

  “Ya know, you’re pretty good at slinging insults for someone who isn’t good at talking. And for your information, I wasn’t getting off. I was getting you the attention you need. The whole Golden Gate saw us kiss and then you slap me. That instantly gives you points in their eyes.”

  “Really?”

  “Really. The Goldens hate me after . . . well everything that happened last year.”

  “So because I slapped you, they’ll like me?”

  “It’s a step in the right direction. They’ll definitely want to talk to you to get the gossip.”

  “So what do we do now?” she asked pulling out of the school lot.

  “Take a right.”

  “But home is—”

  “Hannah! What’s rule number two?”

  “Fine. But I’ll be a better driver if I know where we’re going.”

  “Shopping. You need to dress the part.”

  “What’s wrong wi
th how I dress?”

  “Nothing, if you’re running for congress.”

  To Hannah’s dismay, Cody was directing her to the luxury district in the heart of Boston, not the outlet mall she was used to doing her shopping at. She cringed when she pulled up to Neiman Marcus and the valet opened the creaking door to her rust-bitten Volvo. It didn’t fit in with BMW’s, Audi’s and Mercedes that lined the glowing glass-fronts of the posh street.

  “I don’t have any cash,” Hannah hissed when Cody came around to her side.

  He winked at the valet and simply muttered, “Matthews,” before taking her hand and leading her into the gigantic department store. “You don’t pay the valet here. It goes on your account.”

  “Oh,” Hannah murmured, suddenly feeling like she didn’t have a clue how the Goldens lived.

  A petite brunette clerk rushed up to Cody the moment they were inside the glittering department store. “Mr. Matthews! We’ve missed you. And who is this?” The woman’s perfectly sculpted eyebrow arched as she took in Hannah.

  “Hello, Bianca. This is my girlfriend, Hannah Stark.”

  “Girlfriend!” Bianca barely recovered her composure. “Good for you,” she added softly touching Cody’s arm. “It’s about time you start dating again.” Then she turned her attention to Hannah. “Miss Stark, it’s a pleasure,” Bianca purred.

  Hannah smiled politely and shook Bianca’s perfectly manicured hand, sensing she wasn’t pleased in the least to be touching Hannah. She really couldn’t blame the delicate sales woman. She looked like she’d been meticulously steamed and pressed. There wasn’t a crease anywhere on her, including her plastic-like complexion.

  “What can I assist you with? Are we shopping for anything in particular today?” Bianca asked as she eyeballed Hannah with distain, probably wondering where to start.

  From her scuffed loafers to her clearance rack cardigan, Hannah felt like a street urchin compared to the patrons in Neiman Marcus. Even the mannequins seemed to be looking down at her.

  Luckily Cody saved her. “We’ll be doing our shopping on our own today,” he replied graciously and tucked Hannah’s hand under her arm, pulling her away from Bianca’s judgy little eyes.

  “Do you not usually do your own shopping?” Hannah asked when they were out of earshot.

  Cody snorted. “Bianca’s my family’s personal shopper. I come in once a year to have my measurements taken and then she just sends things to the house for me.”

  “Seriously? That’s ridiculous.”

  He shrugged. “You’re the one who wants to be a Golden. This is how it’s done.”

  Hannah noticed that Cody didn’t say it was how he did things. Did he really not consider himself a Golden? Maybe the kids at school had kicked him out of their little elitist club, but it seemed the rest of the upper crust was still happy to take his money. She sighed deeply. Perhaps she’d underestimated how difficult it would be to crack the Goldens.

  “Is this really necessary,” Hannah groaned as Cody navigated the racks of mesmerizing apparel with ease.

  “Not much of a shopper, are ya?”

  Hannah frowned. She wasn’t opposed to shopping. It was the blinding price tags that were making her sweat.

  As if sensing her distress, Cody laughed. “Come on, I have a feeling we’re gonna need a pick-me-up if we’re gonna get through this.”

  “Starbucks?”

  “What did you think I meant?”

  Remembering one of Cody’s earlier lessons, Hannah kept her comments to herself. He probably didn’t want to hear that she’d assumed he meant drugs or something illegal when he mentioned a pick-me-up.

  They stood in line listening to obnoxious coffee orders being slung at the barista like some foreign language.

  “What would you like?” Cody asked as they approached the counter.

  Hannah stared at the board in wonder. What language was this? Some of the words were in Italian, some English and frankly some just seemed made up.

  “Um, I don’t know. I don’t drink coffee.” Hannah admitted sheepishly.

  “What? Hannah, are you Mormon or something? Because I draw the line at destroying your religious faith.”

  “No. I’m not Mormon. But it’s good to know you have some morals.”

  “Are you sure? No coffee, no sex, no fun. . .”

  Hanna rolled her eyes and elbowed Cody in the side, which only made him laugh.

  “How does Miss Perfect stay up late and study without coffee?”

  Hannah scoffed at his dig. “I don’t need coffee. It’s a drug you know?”

  Cody smirked. “Well it’s one drug you’re gonna have to get used to if you want to mingle with the Goldens outside of school. Spotting them without their Starbucks and cell phones glued to their hands is like spotting Bigfoot.”

  “Fine. Can you just order me something mild?”

  Cody laughed. “And here I thought you wanted to be wild.”

  When it was their turn to order, he asked for two vanilla lattes. The barista looked grateful for the simple order and quickly served them. They retreated to a high-top in the corner of the coffee shop and sipped their lattes.

  “So what’d ya think?” Cody asked gesturing to the coffee mug.

  “It’s delicious. I can see how people get addicted to these.”

  “I knew you’d be a latte girl.”

  “Is that a good thing, or are you making fun of me again?”

  “It’s not really a thing. It’s just you. You’re so vanilla latte.”

  “You mean mild and boring.”

  “You said it.”

  “You’re right. I am boring. But that’s why I have to do this. I have the rest of my life to be boring vanilla-latte-Hannah. Harrison’s party is my only chance to be wild-and-free-Hannah.”

  “What, Brown’s not known for its wild party scene?”

  “How do you know I’m going to Brown?”

  “Everyone knows you’re going to Brown, Hannah. The school posted it on the bulletin board freshman year,” Cody teased. “It’s been up there so long it’s turning yellow.”

  “Oh.”

  “Don’t worry, you’ll have your wild and crazy night. We just need to get you some new clothes, create some more buzz about you dating a bad boy and you’ll be Golden.”

  “Ha ha, very funny.”

  “Look at you! Already picking up on my sarcasm. Perhaps there’s hope for you yet.” Cody grinned and stood up. “Come on let’s take these to go.”

  He led Hannah to the counter to get to go cups when a swirl of pink cashmere and glossy blonde hair cut them off— Savannah Huxley.

  “I ordered an iced, half caff, ristretto, venti, four-pumps, sugar-free, cinnamon-dolce, soy, skinny, latte, no whip. This is clearly not sugar-free!”

  “Was that even English?” Hannah whispered to Cody, who laughed.

  Hearing their laughter, Savannah whirled around about to direct her wrath at them. But her mouth hung open when her eyes took in Cody, and then Hannah.

  “Oh my god, Cody and . . . Hannah, right?”

  Hannah nodded.

  “I didn’t know you two were an item.”

  “That’s because you weren’t supposed to,” Cody replied taking Hannah’s hand and dragging her quickly from the coffee shop.

  “What did you do that for?” Hannah howled when they’d escaped Savannah’s glare. “That was my chance to talk to her.”

  “Lesson number two. Always leave them wanting more.”

  11

  Hannah’s day had gotten stranger after the coffee shop. She somehow stepped into a strange subculture that she didn’t know existed. One where torture was disguised as pampering, shopping the sales was taboo and being spotted with an empty glass of champagne in hand turned clerks into track stars, racing to fill your glass.

  Cody had been able to politely decline—with his reputation and all—but Hannah gave in after Cody’s taunts about being wild and free.

  At least she could check u
nderage drinking off her list, she thought while sipping the delightful bubbles. She was convinced it was the only reason she survived her first—and hopefully last—eyebrow wax. The mani-pedi was almost enjoyable, but Hannah ran from the spa when they explained what a Brazilian wax was.

  She currently sat motionless at the makeup counter while two artists perfected her flaws. Hannah found it funny that she’d never noticed her flaws before, but after Roderick and Hector pointed them out and quickly caked the right makeup or lotion over them, she wondered how she’d ever survived without them.

  “Voila! You’re perfection, darling!” Roderick exclaimed after an hour of primping.

  Hannah was stunned when she saw her refection. She looked just like Bianca—polished and plastic. “Thank you,” she said in awe raising her hand to touch her flawless skin.

  Hector slapped her hand away. “No touching!”

  “You like?” Roderick asked Cody, who was busy texting.

  He looked up for a moment. “Yes, very much.”

  “What account will we be putting the products on today?” Hector asked.

  “Matthews,” Cody replied.

  “Splendid.”

  Roderick handed Hannah a gigantic shopping bag full of cosmetics, creams, spritzes and strange looking applicators. How was she ever going to replicate their masterpiece on her own? She kept her concern to herself and thanked them, letting Cody lead her away.

  “Come on, doll face, your new wardrobe awaits,” he declared steering her through the brightly lit aisles to a doorway labeled ‘fitting rooms’.

  “Must you call me doll face?”

  “Do you prefer Miss Perfect? Or maybe sweet cakes, snookums—”

  Hannah huffed. “Never mind. Doll face is fine!”

  “Great, then on to the fitting rooms, doll face.”

  Cody’s grin was infectious but Hannah was exhausted. It was already 7 pm. She was normally in bed by 8 or 9 at the latest and she still hadn’t eaten dinner.

  “Do we have to?” she groaned.

  “Yes! How are you not loving this? It’s your Pretty Woman moment. I thought that was every girl’s fantasy?”