Page 111 of The Love Playbook

“On it,” I say with a sly smile. “I mean, I don’t wanna take credit or anything, but I’m half the reason Jace and Brynn are together.”

“This again?” Jace scoffs as the group of us head for the doors. “He had literally zero to do with it.”

My mouth gapes. “If it weren’t for my approval,” I say, stabbing a finger at him, “Brynn would never even have lived with us for the summer.”

“That’s a minor detail.”

I scoff as we approach the door to the club, wrenching it open and stepping outside. “Whatever. Point is, leave it to us, Elizabeth, and we’ll find you Mr. Perfect.”

“I’m going to hold you to that,” she says, pulling her coat tighter as she comes to a stop at her powder blue VW bug. Anticipating the fact that she’d be going home alone, she drove the girls here, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel a little bad about it. “Text me in the morning, ladies, and we’ll have lunch.”

The girls nod as everyone else says their goodbyes until only Charlotte and I remain.

Reaching out, I intertwine her hand with mine and glance into her eyes. “It’s late . . .” I say, unsure of what she wants to do with the rest of her night. The idea of spending the night together is something we’ve yet to discuss, so I’m not sure where her head’s at.

“Not too late. The night is still young, Collins.” Charlotte bites her lips, her gaze dipping to my mouth.

I step closer, drawing her in. “What did you have in mind?”

She curls her finger, beckoning me to come closer. I do so, dipping my head until my mouth is merely inches from hers. “Why don’t we go back to your place, and you’ll find out?” she whispers.

A shiver racks through me as I brush my mouth over hers, a promise of what’s to come, then step back quickly and tug her toward the car. “Let’s go!” I shout, practically sprinting across the lot until we reach the Boss with Lettie’s laughter trickling behind me.

Opening her door, I help her get in then slam it closed behind her, before rounding my car and sliding behind the steering wheel. The engine rumbles to life with a roar, and I waste no time backing out of my spot, heading in the direction of my apartment when Lettie’s phone rings.

Still snickering, Lettie glances at the screen, and her expression shifts. A crease furrows her brow as the color drains from her face.

“Who is it?” I ask, concern drumming in my chest.

“The hospital,” she murmurs, and then I watch as she answers the call and her grip on the phone tightens. “Hello?”

Chapter 26

CHARLOTTE

The second the heavy glass doors to the emergency room open with awhoosh, I rush to the registration desk, a frog in my throat. “Hi,” I croak. “Someone just called me about my mother, Tiffany Baker? She was admitted a couple of hours ago?”

After checking her computer screen, the attendant nods. “Okay, go ahead and take a seat. I’ll notify the nurses that you’re here, and someone will be out to get you shortly.”

I give her my thanks, then turn, and without waiting for an invitation, I fall into Chris’s arms. Pressing my cheek into the soft material of his shirt, I allow him to soothe me. One hand strokes my hair while the other runs over my lower back, anchoring me in place.

The moment I got the call from the nurse at the hospital, asking me to come, I panicked. My thoughts went into hyperdrive. I imagined the worst-case scenarios, all the things that could’ve possibly gone wrong, including the one thing I fear the most?that my mother finally hit the end of her rope and tried to harm herself. Suicide isn’t something I’ve allowed myself to contemplate often, but I’d be lying if I said it’s never crossed my mind that my mother might one day try it, and no amount of reassurances from the doctors could calm the knot in my chest.

Embarrassed, I pull away from Chris, fighting the flush rising from my neck to my cheeks. My vulnerability in the yoga studio where I admitted my deepest and darkest fears was bad enough. The last thing he needs is me falling apart on him now, especially when things have been going well for us. I’m happy, learning to let go and to trust whatever is growing between us. Most of all, I’ve been living in the moment without the fear of what tomorrow might bring. Without worrying how I’ll handle it if things go south.

But what if this is too much for him? It’s more than he bargained for when all he wanted for so long was the petite brunette with the smart mouth. Right now, at this very moment, we should be back at his place, having fun. Instead, we’re at the hospital waiting to hear about my mother. My hair’s a rat’s nest from running my hands through it on the ride here, my fingernails are bitten to the quick, and my bottom lip is swollen from chewing on it in an effort to quell my nerves. I’m a mess, and not the hot kind. If my stomach wasn’t currently doing jumping jacks, I’d be more than a little embarrassed?I’d be mortified.

“I’m sorry,” I say, dropping my gaze to his chest. “I know this isn’t how you pictured the night ending.”

“Sshhh. Hey,” Chris tips my chin with his fingers, ducking his head to meet my gaze. “This isn’t your fault. Shit happens, sodon’t go apologizing for it. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be right now than here with you.”

I nod, staring up at him and wondering how in the hell I got this lucky. Who would’ve thought Chris, my bestie’s boyfriend’s goofy roommate, would be so fucking amazing?

“Miss Baker?” a voice calls behind me.

Sucking in a breath, I turn around to find a nurse with warm hazel eyes and a soft smile beckoning us to follow her. “Right this way.” She nods toward the hallway, then wastes no time as she turns and waits for us to follow.

My stride eats up the slick linoleum, heart pounding in my chest as I rush behind the nurse down the sterile corridor. By my side, Chris holds my hand, a constant reminder of his presence.

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