Page 121 of The Book Club Boyfriend
“Yup. There’s footage. The internet is forever.”
I’m laughing so hard I nearly drop my slice. He’s grinning at me like he can’t believe this is real, and maybe I can’t either.
Because somehow, even after everything, it’seasyagain. The kind of easy you don’t fake. The kind you fall into without meaning to. Like we’ve been doing this for years.
I look at him—really look at him—and the warmth in my chest isn’t just about pizza or banter or tuba-based trauma.
It’s him.
Still him.
Maybe always him.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Third Wheel with Paws
Chase
I don’t want the night to end. That’s all I can think about as I watch Scarlett across the table.
She’s smiling, debating another slice of pizza, and I’m dangerously close to convincing myself I haven’t completely wrecked things between us.
We’ve been bickering for over an hour—about pizza toppings, about which Ninja Turtle has the best energy (it’s obviously Raphael), about how I fold my pizza like a tourist—and somehow, it’s perfect. Easy. Familiar.
She wipes her hands on a napkin and leans back, stretching. “Alright. That hit the spot. My heart’s still broken, but at least I’m full.”
I grin. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted to hear from a woman.”
She rolls her eyes, but she’s not pushing away anymore. Not like before.
I take a breath. “You wanna come over?”
Her brows lift slightly. “Subtle.”
I fight off a laugh becauseof courseshe calls me on my terrible line. But instead of backing down, I lean into it. “It’s late. We’re both riding the high of surviving pineapple pizza trauma.”
She doesn’t say anything, so I go for the real hook.
“Plus, Rip misses you.”
That gets her.
“Oh,Ripmisses me?”
I nod solemnly. “Hasn’t stopped whining since you left. Practically watchedThe Notebookwithout me last night.”
She smirks, but there’s something warm in her eyes now. “Yeah, I wouldn’t want to deprive your emotionally needy dog.”
“So that’s a yes?”
She shrugs, but it’s playful. “Let’s go before I remember I’m supposed to be mad at you.”
I try not to smile as we slide out of the booth.
My place is dark when we enter, and I immediately hear the soft jingle of Rip’s collar as he trots out to greet her like she’s been gone for a year.
Iflip on the kitchen light.
