Page 20 of The Book Club Boyfriend
Scarlett turns to her. “That wasn’t a compliment.”
“Well, I took it as one anyway.”
Harper claps her hands together. “Okay, so this is fun.”
“Foryou,” Scarlett grumbles, looking ready to bolt.
“Oh, come on, Scottie. Stay,” Harper says, patting the towel next to her.
Scarlett, or as everyone else calls her, Scottie, levels her friend with a glare that could topple a building.
I smirk. “Yeah, Scottie. Stay.”
Scarlett’s gaze snaps to mine, fire blazing in her eyes.Do not look at her chest. Do not look at her chest.
Then—much to everyone’s shock, including my own—Scarlettsits.
Right there, on the towel, her lips pursed as ifshe already regrets it.
I raise an eyebrow. “Wow. I thought you’d put up more of a fight.”
She grabs a handful of sand andchucksit at me.
Harper and my sister absolutelydielaughing.
Rip? He trots up and lays down between us, tail wagging, blissfully oblivious to the war that’s just been declared.
Scarlett is still glaring at me when Rip decides he’s had enough lounging and sprints back toward the water. I push up from the sand and follow, bracing myself before heading into the waves. The water is perfectly cold—refreshing without being unbearable—and I waste no time diving under, resurfacing with a shake of my hair.
When I glance back toward the shore, I expect to see Scarlett firmly planted in her dry, safe space, arms crossed, drink in hand.
Instead, she’s… wading in?
I pause, watching as she steps into the surf, clearly debating her life choices. Harper calls something to her from the sand, but Scarlett just flips her off and keeps going.
Huh.Color me impressed.
I don’t know why I assumed she’d be the type to stay firmly on dry land, but there’s something captivating about seeing her here, sunlight glinting off her damp skin, waves lapping at her legs as she cautiously ventures deeper.
She doesn’t hesitate in her convictions, but when it comes to the actual water? She’s clearly second-guessing.
It’s kind of cute.
I’m about to comment on it—because obviously, I have to—when a particularly strong wave rushes in out of nowhere.
It slams into Scarlett’s back like it has a personal vendetta against her, and before she can brace herself—
“Oh,shit—”
She disappears.
I blink.
One second, she’s standing there; the next, she’s gone, swallowed by the waves.
“Scarlett?” I call, taking a few steps closer.
Nothing.
