Page 127 of The Book Club Boyfriend
Because this?
This feels like a beginning.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Better Than Fiction
Scarlett
I didn’t want an engagement party.
I said it multiple times. Loudly. In writing. Possibly even in all caps.
Harper ignored me, obviously.
Which is how I’ve ended up in Chase’s backyard—correction,ourbackyard—surrounded by twinkling lights, overfed athletes, and roughly thirty people shouting, “Kiss! Kiss!” every time we stand within three feet of each other.
Rip is wearing a bow tie. It’s clip-on. He looks thrilled.
“You doing okay?” Chase asks, slipping his arm around my waist as I rescue my third mini cupcake from a dangerously wobbly tower.
“Define okay.”
He grins. “Are you going to bolt before Harper givesher toast?”
“Unclear. She’s had two margaritas, and I saw her holding a microphone earlier. It’s not looking good.”
Chase’s family is here—his parents, Evie, and even Owen. My own parents are here too—tolerating each other.Weird.
Just then, Harper clinks a glass with a fork, and every molecule in my body prepares for flight.
“Everyone!” she shouts, swaying slightly in heels shedefinitelycan’t walk in. “I just want to say a few words before I black out!”
The crowd cheers like she’s a rock star. I drop my head into Chase’s chest.
“Kill me now,” I whisper.
“You love this.”
“I loveyou.I tolerate this.”
Harper winks at me from across the yard. “I’ve known Scarlett since college, and I can say with full confidence that she is terrifying,brilliant, allergic to vulnerability, and definitely didnotbelieve in love until this man over here”—she points wildly at Chase—”broke through her cold little heart like an emotionally intelligent linebacker.”
I choke on my champagne.
Everyone cheers.
Traitors.
Chase chuckles under his breath and pulls me tighter, kissing the top of my head.
Harper keeps going. “I knew they were endgame when her writing changed. One day, it went from I-can-do-it-all-on-my-own to learning how to let someone in. That was the moment I realized she was done for. Her editor probably knew before we all did.”
The crowd erupts with laughter. Chase is full-onshakingwith silent laughter beside me. I’m going to die. This is how I go.
Prepare my casket now.
I’ve heard you can get one at Costco nowadays.
