Page 24 of The Love Playbook

“The thought of my father getting remarried to anyone is laughable. Ever since he left my mom, all he’s done is serial date. He’s had one failed marriage already, a family he completely gave up on, and he wants me to think this is the right thing? That I should take him seriously, and that it’ll last?” I shake my head. “I just don’t buy it, and yeah, the fact he’s dating Chris’s mother is freaking weird, but it’s not the reason I’m so against it.”

“So, what are you going to do?” Brynn asks. “Did you agree to be in the wedding?”

“Nope. I refuse to be involved in another sham”?I cough?“ahem,marriage, of my father’s. I lived through the first one, which was a disaster. Why should I think this one will be any different?” I stare down at my drink, then take a sip, relishing the burn as it slides down my throat.

Maybe it’s not entirely fair to put the demise of my parents’ marriage on him. I know the score, just like I know living with my mother is impossible, but I can’t help but resent him for giving up on us, and for leaving me in a situation he was all too happy to escape himself.

“Anyway,” I say as I wave my hand, “if they want to get married, I won’t stand in their way. They’re adults. It’s not like I can tell them what to do, but they’ll have to do it without me.”

Brynn flops back in the booth, shaking her head in disbelief when her gaze lands on something behind me, and her eyes widen. “Oh, shi?”

“Sis!” a familiar baritone booms from behind me just before a giant arm wraps around my shoulders. “Let me in,” he says to Lizwho slides out before I can hit her with my death stare, allowing Chris to take her place.

Heat shoots up my spine with an electric jolt as I turn my gaze to him. He’s wearing a backward baseball cap, along with a gray T-shirt and jeans I wish didn’t look so good on him.

“Call me that again,” I warn, “and I’ll karate chop you to the throat.”

“So violent.” He squeezes my shoulders again as I squirm away from him. “So, did Brynn tell you the good news?” he asks, turning toward my girlfriends.

“How has it been an hour already? We just barely got here.” I ask Brynn, ignoring the big buffoon beside me.

“Oh, yeah, about that . . .” Chris lifts my cup to his lips, takes a sip, and I nearly rip it from his giant mitt. “Jace got Brynn’s text, but I told him it was just a ploy to get girl time and convinced him we should head out early.”

I shoot a scathing look at Jace, then Brynn who grimaces, and mouths,Sorry. Beside them, Damon and Brandon wisely avoid the glare directed at them.

Scowling, I duck out from under the cover of Chris’s muscular bicep before I nudge him out of the booth?and by nudge, I mean stab him in the ribs with a knife hand?then promptly stomp toward the bar. Because if I’m going to survive this, I’m going to need a lot more liquor.

Chapter 8

CHRIS

Itry not to check out Charlotte’s ass as she walks away, but in my defense, the short red dress she’s wearing makes it a little difficult, and I’m only human.

“Dude, not sure the way to get what you want is by antagonizing her,” Jace mutters.

I turn back to my roommate with a grin. “But it’s just so easy. God, I love it when she’s mad,” I say, my tone husky as I glance back at her in time to watch her accept a drink from the bartender, then head back this way, hips swaying with every step.

Damn, she’s hot.

Jace groans. “You’re hopeless.”

Beside me, Damon hovers by the booth, clapping me on the shoulder. “As much as I’d love to sit here with the ladies andwatch you make an ass of yourself, I’m going to grab a drink and hit the dance floor.”

“I’m down,” Brandon says. “Ladies?” he asks, eyeing the girls across from me.

Both Samantha and Elizabeth slide from the booth and follow the boys, leaving me to wonder if there’s any potential there. Samantha’s pretty keen on that James dude, but as far as I know, Elizabeth is single. Still, I’m pretty sure Brandon’s hopelessly in love with his best friend, and Damon’s a bitter Betty.

“Why don’t you two join them?” I tip my head in their direction, flashing Jace and Brynn a shit-eating grin. “Let loose. Go have some fun.”

Brynn shoots a look of longing toward the dance floor before returning her violet gaze back to mine. “Charlotte will never let me hear the end of it if I leave her with you.”

“Also, I feel like someone needs to stay and ensure you two don’t kill each other,” Jace adds.

“And there’s that.” Brynn points at him.

I scoff. “Do you guys have that little faith in me?”

“Yes,” they answer in unison.

---