Page 30 of The Book Club Boyfriend
I shake my head. Nope. Not going there.
Instead, I drag myself out of bed, throw on a T-shirt, and head downstairs, where Evie is already packing her things by the door.
“Hey,” she greets, zipping her bag. “Sorry I have to head out early.”
I nod, running a hand through my hair. “Did you sleep okay?”
She snorts. “Considering your dog snores? Yeah, not bad.”
Rip, now sitting obediently at her feet, wags his tail like the world’s most well-behaved pet.
“Yeah, sorry about that,” I mutter, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge.
Evie just grins, then studies me with that way-too-knowing twin gaze that makes me instantly suspicious.
“What?” I ask, twisting the cap off my water.
She shrugs. “Nothing. Just... last night was fun.”
I take a sip, nodding. “Yeah.”
“You and Scarlett had arealinteresting dynamic, though.”
I nearly choke. “It’s too early for this, Evie.”
She grins. “I’m just saying. For two peoplewho claim to hate each other, there was a lot of eye contact.”
I scoff, setting my water down. “That’s because I was watching her try to control her rage. It was fascinating.”
“Uh-huh.” She slings her bag over her shoulder. “Whatever you say.”
I roll my eyes. “Drive safe, okay?”
She steps forward and squeezes my arm. “I mean it, Chase. She’s got walls, sure, but walls don’t go up without a reason. Sometimes, the people who push back the hardest are the ones who need someone to stick around.”
I stare at her, but she just pats my cheek and winks. “Love you, loser.”
“Love you too, nerd.”
She laughs, and then she’s gone, leaving me standing in my kitchen with way too many thoughts swirling in my head.
I exhale sharply, pick up my phone, and finally call Drew back.
He answers on the first ring. “There he is. Thought you’d died.”
I grab my keys and step outside, walking toward the beach. “Nah, just ignoring you.”
“Charming as ever. Listen, I won’t keep you long, but I’ve got an interesting proposition for you.”
I smirk. “If it’s about the book club thing, saveit. Not happening.” Bennett already tried to sell me on the same thing…
“Not so fast. We got a call from a publisher today—with an interesting proposal.”
I frown. “What kind of proposal?”
A pause. “Bestselling author Scottie Calloway has agreed to co-host this thing with you.”
I stop in my tracks.
