The Practice Boyfriend (The Boyfriend Series Book 1)

by Christina Benjamin

  It suddenly felt like there wasn’t enough air in the car. Hannah rolled down the window and let the biting cold clear her mind. She needed to change the subject.

  “I wanted to thank you for the laptop, but I brought it with me to return to you.”

  “I don’t mind replacing it.”

  “I know, but my father—”

  “Yes, yes. You already mentioned he replaced it,” Harrison said waving away her argument, “But I still don’t see why you can’t keep both.”

  “I really can’t. Computers are sort of his thing. He’d be hurt.”

  “What about my feelings?”

  Hannah smiled. “I think you’ll be just fine. You’re tougher than you look.”

  “Hey!” Harrison mocked insult and playfully nudged her shoulder with his. “That’s what everyone thinks you know? That I’m rich and spoiled and without feelings.”

  “I don’t think that?” Hannah replied worrying she’d actually insulted him.

  “Good.” He smiled and tucked Hannah’s arm under his.

  Harrison was staring at her, his blue eyes piercing hers hungrily. He ran a finger down her cheek and she shivered. “I’m so grateful I didn’t harm you in the parking lot. I feel terrible about it. Please let me make it up to you.”

  “Honestly, Harrison. It wasn’t a big deal. And you’re making it up to me right now.”

  Harrison pouted. “Giving you a ride hardly makes us square.” His blue eyes twinkled, luring her in. “Let me take you on a date.”

  Hannah swallowed, she’d suddenly forgotten how to speak. This was what she wanted. Wasn’t it? A date with Harrison Cohl. If she could pull this off she could get her own key to the ball!

  Harrison took her silence as rejection.

  “Forgive me. I was hoping you and Cody weren’t that serious, but . . .” he sighed. “I know it’s not my place to say so, but you can do much better than Cody Matthews. He doesn’t have a good reputation.”

  “I know all about his reputation,” Hannah said a bit too defensively.

  Harrison smiled. “Of course.”

  “What do you have against him? I thought you used to be friends?”

  “We were. But that was before I realized how reckless Cody is. I just don’t want to see you get hurt, Hannah.”

  “I’m not foolish enough to let someone like Cody hurt me.”

  “That’s what Elena thought,” Harrison said quietly.

  “What?”

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. It’s just . . .” Harrison trailed off.

  “What?”

  “She came to me about Cody. The day of the accident they’d had a terrible fight. She was covered in bruises, Hannah. Elena was terrified of him. I never should have let them leave together. If only I’d done more. I . . . Hannah, I vowed not to sit by the next time.”

  A cavern of emptiness carved a home in Hannah’s chest. Could Cody really have hurt Elena? He still seemed so wrecked by her loss. And in the few glimpses she’d gotten of Cody, he’d shown her a gentle vulnerability that she never would have suspected was capable of violence. Hannah suddenly saw the massive flaw in her plans. She’d taken both Cody and Harrison at face value and now found herself among monsters.

  “Hannah, please keep this to yourself. I’ve never shared it with anyone.”

  “You didn’t tell the police?”

  “I didn’t see the point. It wouldn’t change anything. Elena was dead and Cody was arrested. And honestly, I was ashamed.”

  “But your family helped Cody? Their lawyers got him a slap on the wrist!”

  “Like you said, we used to be friends, Hannah. It’s hard when someone you care about betrays you.”

  It certainly is, she thought, biting her lip to hold back the tears. How had she not seen through Cody’s lies? Hannah had felt bad for him—losing his girlfriend, abandoned by his friends, disowned by his team. But he’d done it all to himself.

  “Promise me you won’t tell anyone. Especially Cody. He’s not stable, Hannah. If he hurt you because of something I said . . .” Harrison turned toward her, moving closer. His eyes were shining and his fingers trembled as he touched her cheek pulling them even closer together. Their foreheads touched and Hannah held her breath. Was Harrison going to kiss her? “Please, Hannah. Promise you won’t say anything. I couldn’t deal with it, if he hurt you.”

  “I promise,” she whispered.

  Her phone buzzed in her lap and they jumped apart, the spell broken.

  Hannah looked down to see, Dad, flash across the screen. She scrambled to answer it. “Hey, Dad.”

  “Hi, honey. Just checking to see if you made it to your match.”

  “Almost there.”

  “Are you still driving?”

  “Yep.”

  “You’re not supposed to be on the phone while you drive.”

  “I wouldn’t if you weren’t calling,” she reminded jokingly.

  “Okay. Just text me when you get there. I love you, Hannah.”

  “Love you too, Dad.”

  Hannah disconnected and felt her cheeks flush, slightly embarrassed that Harrison witnessed her dorky display of affection with her father.

  “Sorry about that. He worries.”

  “It’s sweet,” Harrison replied genuinely. “My parents could take a lesson from your father.” He reached for her hand. “So tell me about this tennis match.”

  26

  Cody stuffed his hands in his pockets and sunk further into the stiff collar of his wool peacoat. The frigid morning air turned his cheeks red and his fingers stiff. Although his body shivered against the cold, Cody welcomed the numbing feeling. He only wished it could reach his heart.

  Staring at Elena’s tombstone always crippled him, but it was something he made himself do. Cody was under the impression that if he could desensitize himself to the pain, it would go away. But it’d been over a year and every time he visited her grave he felt like the world was caving in beneath him. He stared at the single white rose he’d placed under her headstone’s inscription.

  Elena Harlow Michaels

  1999 – 2016

  “Death leaves a heartache no one can heal,

  love leaves a memory no one can steal.”

  The words gutted him. They summed up his ruined life in one perfect sentence. He felt the darkness come, swift and consuming as he struggled to force himself to breathe. Sometimes he wished his body would give up and he would just collapse and lay there next to Elena for eternity. But whenever he tried to give in to the temptation, his heart remembered the pain she’d inflicted and how she’d selfishly left Cody alone with her betrayal and no one left to be angry with but himself.

  Cody collected himself, repeating his mantra of things that kept him in the present, rescuing him from being swallowed by his past. He smiled when he realized he’d added Hannah’s name to the list. A pang of guilt plagued him as he walked back to the waiting car. He’d been short with her this morning. But he was with Marci, Elena’s sister, and only family member who still spoke to him. He had to stay on her good side in order to get into the private cemetery plot if he wanted to continue his ritual of self-torture.

  Marci barely tolerated him as it was, so mentioning he’d have to reschedule visiting Elena to take his fake girlfriend to her tennis match wasn’t an option. Their ride to and from the cemetery was silent, as always. Marci dropped him off at his house and Cody thanked her for the ride, agreeing to next month’s visit.

  Cody stood on the cold stone steps of his porch, watching Marci pull away. He felt the emptiness creeping back in, threatening to take hold. He looked at his uninviting front door. Home was the last place he wanted to be. He checked his watch. Hannah was probably at her tennis match. Maybe if he showed up with flowers and begged her forgiveness she’d still be willing to talk. God knows I need some sort of distraction, he thought. The increasing need to drink or do something to dull the pain was gnawing at him.

  The heaviness of
the keys in his pocket called to him. Sure, Hannah’s house was only a mile away. He could walk it. He should walk it. But he didn’t want to. It was a cold and miserable day. The heavy gray clouds promised rain. Cody grabbed the keys and jogged to the garage. He slid into the driver’s seat of the Range Rover and gripped the wheel. “It’s only a mile,” he reminded himself.

  27

  The rest of the ride to the tennis match went by quickly. Hannah was surprised with the ease she and Harrison conversed. He was much more down to earth than she’d assumed. And he surprisingly followed tennis, so she actually enjoyed chatting strategy with him.

  When they arrived at the courts Harrison gave her a kiss on the cheek and wished her luck, saying he’d be watching from the stands. It made her nervous to have him there. The only person who’d ever come to her tennis matches was her father.

  Harrison’s words invaded Hannah’s mind the whole time she warmed up. Especially the part about Cody being unstable. She had already witnessed Cody’s mood swings and panic attacks. But despite Harrison’s warning, Hannah’s heart still broke for Cody. He needed help. She knew better than anyone what happened when someone tried to battle their demons alone. But she’d been through this before and as much as it killed her, Hannah had to harden herself against Cody. She couldn’t let herself be dragged down into his world of depression. She was too afraid she might not survive it.

  Luckily, the moment the match started Hannah was transported back into her comfort zone. The court was her realm and she was in control there.

  The match was over quickly. Hannah won. Her opponent was a joke. Hannah strategically scheduled her matches with the easiest at the end of the season to help pad her ranking—not that she needed it. She secured the state amateur title with today’s win and the purse would be a huge help with the rest of her college expenses.

  She felt butterflies at her sense of accomplishment when her name was announced. Her dreams were all within reach.

  She heard Harrison cheering her name from the crowd and she trotted over, unable to contain her grin.

  “Way to go, Ace!” he said wrapping her in an affectionate hug.

  Hannah laughed. “Thanks. But I’m all sweaty,” she said wriggling out of his grasp.

  “I’m not complaining.”

  Hannah blushed. “Let me shower off and I’ll meet you at the car.”

  As promised, Harrison was waiting, bottle of champagne in hand.

  “To your big win!”

  Hannah giggled like a schoolgirl when Harrison popped the bottle and coated them in the sticky bubbles.

  “Sorry,” Harrison laughed wiping the champagne from her hair.

  “It’s okay. It’s already wet.”

  Harrison still had his hands in her hair. “You looked hot out there.”

  Hannah took a big swig of champagne.

  “I’ve always wanted to date a tennis girl. Love means nothing to you, right?”

  Hannah rolled her eyes at his cheesy pun.

  “Okay, okay. I’m sure you’ve heard that one before. But seriously, how do you like your ice cream? Soft serve?”

  Hannah laughed. “Oh my god! I’ve never heard that one before!”

  “Really?”

  “No! Of course I’ve heard it. Kiss my ace, I’d hit that, Show me your backhand. I’ve been playing tennis since I was six. I think I’ve heard them all.”

  “Well it was worth a try,” Harrison laughed. “I like you this way.”

  “What way?”

  “Fun and smiling. You always seem so serious at school.”

  “I wasn’t aware you paid attention to me at school,” Hannah challenged, still smiling.

  “Of course not. You don’t give anyone a chance.”

  “Are you implying I’m stuck up?”

  “If the tennis shoe fits . . .” Harrison smirked.

  Hannah playfully nudged him. “I am not stuck up.”

  “Prove it. Let me take you out.”

  “We are out.”

  “On a date.”

  “What kind of date?”

  “Whatever kind you’d like.”

  “Well . . . you do owe me for almost running me over. It’s going to have to be a really nice date.”

  “How about dinner tomorrow to prove you’re not stuck up. And . . .” Harrison reached into his pocket and pulled out a bronze skeleton key with a purple ribbon tied to it. “This is to make up for the parking lot.”

  Hannah’s eyes grew as she reached for the key, but Harrison didn’t let go.

  “Come to my party with me next weekend. As my date.”

  “Already planning our second date?” Hannah asked, trying to play it cool although her heart was pounding. “I haven’t said yes to the first one.”

  “You will.”

  28

  Cody arrived at Hannah’s without an issue. He’d been right to drive. The rain had already started coming down. He jogged to her front door and knocked. Custard’s excited barks were the only answer.

  “Where’s Hannah, boy? Is she still at tennis?” Cody asked Custard through the windowpane next to the door.

  He wagged his tail and pawed at the glass.

  “You want to come out?” Cody asked, checking the handle. Locked.

  He felt around the top of the doorframe for a key. Then he checked under the mat. Bingo. Cody unlocked the door and Custard pounced on him, licking and wagging his tail in a flurry of affection.

  Cody couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re quite the guard dog, Custard. I see you’ve been trained to lick intruders to death.”

  He put the key back and grabbed Custard’s leash from its hook inside the door. He took the dog for a short walk around the house so he could do his business. The rain had turned into a fine mist that chilled Cody to the core. It was the kind of dampness that only a hot shower could rid you of. Somehow he knew showering in Hannah’s house while no one was home would be frowned upon. Cody sighed. Maybe he shouldn’t have come. He looked down at the adorable fur ball staring up at him. He was just as soaked as Cody.

  Glancing around the porch Cody spotted a blanket lying over the side of an old wooden rocking chair. He picked it up and started to dry Custard’s coat.

  “This is our secret,” he said hoping the wet dog smell wouldn’t cling to the blanket. When he’d finished drying him he let Custard back inside. “There’s no need for you to freeze to death.” But the little dog immediately turned to see why Cody wasn’t following him. “Sorry, pal. I gotta wait out here.” Custard whined and pawed at the glass again. “Nope. I don’t care how cute you are.”

  But Cody was all talk and Custard sensed his weakness. A few more seconds of whining and Cody was back at the door. “Fine, but I’m still not coming inside.”

  Custard happily joined Cody on the porch and settled on his lap once he sat down in one of the rocking chairs. “This better not get me in trouble. I’m already in hot water with Hannah.”

  Custard barked and Cody looked up to see a black limo pull into the driveway.

  Shit.

  “Were you expecting company?” Harrison asked.

  Hannah stiffened when she saw Cody’s car in her driveway. Custard’s yapping caught her attention. She barely caught a flash of his tawny fur running toward the limo before she was out the door, screaming for the world to stop.

  “STOP! STOP!”

  The driver slammed on the brakes but not soon enough. Hannah rounded the front of the car and crumbled to her knees. Custard lay whimpering on his side.

  “No! Please, no. Custard!” Hannah sobbed as she gently buried her face in his fur. “How did you get out, baby?” she whispered.

  Hannah was sure she’d locked the door. She and her father were always careful to make sure Custard couldn’t get out. Since he was a puppy, chasing cars had been his vice. They’d always been extra precautious living near a busy street.

  Hannah stroked his damp fur and whispered soothing words to the dog, placing his head in her lap
. The driver and Harrison knelt by her side.

  Cody ran toward them, pain etched across his pale features. “Shit! Hannah, I’m so sorry. He was sitting with me on the porch and—”

  “You let him out?” she interrupted incredulously.

  “I . . . we were waiting for you. I—”

  “Why are you even here?”

  Harrison interrupted, ignoring Cody completely. “Come on, Hannah. We need to get him to the vet.”

  She nodded, turning her back on Cody and helping Harrison lift Custard. They gently placed him on the backseat. Hannah crawled in and sat on the floor so her head was level with his. “I love you, Custard,” she whispered. “You’re going to be okay.”

  Harrison got in, with Cody on his heels. “I think you’d better sit this one out,” he warned Cody.

  “I want to help.”

  “You’ve done plenty.”

  “Hannah,” Cody pleaded, “I’m so sorry. Please let me come with you.”

  “Go home, Cody!”

  Harrison pulled the door shut and they sped away, leaving Cody alone in the rain.

  29

  Cody drove home in stunned silence. The windshield wipers rhythmically whispering all the wrong he’d done. His house was cold and empty. His thoughts echoed around him as he grabbed a bottle of Jack on his way to his room. He kept the lights off. He didn’t want to see himself. Cody turned on his music as loud as he could to drown out his thoughts and then uncapped the Jack, swallowing the liquid—praying it would drown years of regret.

  Cody looked around, uncertain of the time or what woke him, but his room was bathed in darkness and silence. He jumped when his bedside lamp flicked on and the world slowly came into focus. Hannah stood feet from him, her eyes puffy and hair undone.