Page 126 of The Book Club Boyfriend
“What?” he asks.
I shake my head, smiling. “Nothing.”
But what I really mean is:Everything.
By the time we leave the bar, I’m buzzed on tequila, compliments, and the terrifying realization that I might be happy.
Chase wraps an arm around my shoulders as we walk toward his car, the night warm and quiet around us. My heels dangle from my fingers because my feet gave up two hours ago.
I yawn as he drives us home, tired but content.
He unlocks the door, and before I can step inside, a familiar thump-thump-thump of paws barrels down the hallway.
“Rip!” I drop my shoes and immediately crouch, greeted by the world’s most dramatic dog, tail wagging as if he’s been personally wronged by my absence. “Hi, baby,” I say, scratching behind his ears. “Did you miss me? Did Dad tell you I published my book?”
Rip whines and licks my cheek, proud yet slightly offended he wasn’t invited to the launch party.
I laugh, standing slowly, and Rip follows me like a shadow as I drift toward the living room. Chase disappears into the kitchen to grab us water, and I flop onto the couch, feeling the weight of the night settle over me—but in a good way. In aI-did-the-thing-and-the-world-didn’t-endway.
He returns a minute later, hands me a glass, then slides in next to me, close enough that our legs presstogether.
“I’m proud of you,” he says quietly.
I look over at him. “I know.”
He huffs a laugh. “You’re supposed to say ‘thank you.’”
“Yeah, well. I’m still recovering from watching your friends do dramatic readings of my sex scenes.”
He groans. “I will never be able to look Tyler in the eye again.”
“Good. That makes two of us.”
I take a sip of water and glance down at Rip, curled up at our feet like he knows this is a big moment and he’s not about to ruin it.
Then I feel Chase’s hand brush mine again. Not urgent. Not needy. Just there.
“I love you.”
My heart skips.
He says it like it’s not some grand declaration. Like it’s the most obvious truth in the world.
“I know,” I say, biting back a smile.
I lean in and kiss him—slow, soft, and grateful. His hands find my waist, grounding me.
“I love you too,” I whisper.
Rip lets out a sigh from the floor.
I glance down. “Yeah, yeah. You were right all along.”
Chase grins. “He totally called it.”
We stay like that for a while—pressed together on thecouch, our dog-shaped third wheel asleep at our feet, everything finally still.
And for the first time in forever, the ending doesn’t scare me.
