Page 24 of The Book Club Boyfriend
“You did, actually. You nodded, which, in most cultures, counts as a yes.”
I glare at her. “I was recovering from a near-death experience.”
Harper rolls onto her side, grinning. “It was one tiny piece of seaweed.”
I yank open my dresser drawer. “Well, it was traumatic.”
She grins, unbothered by my foul mood. “I don’t see what the problem is. Chase is hot, his sister is awesome, and there’s free food. It’s a win-win.”
“The problem is that I came here to relax and work, not to socialize with professional hockey players and their cool, friendly siblings.”
Harper levels me with a look. “Oh, yes. Because God forbid you enjoy yourself.”
I throw a shirt at her head.
She laughs, batting it away, then watches as I dig through my limited wardrobe. “Please wear something cute,” she says, feigning exhaustion. “You’re in this perpetual state of man-repellent fashion, and I feel like, just once, I deserve to see you look a little flirty.”
I raise a brow. “I am not dressing up for Chase.”
Harper smirks. “I never said you were.”
I grab the first thing I see—a pair of cutoffs and a soft navy tank top—and pull them on. “How’s this?”
Harper studies me, then shrugs. “Eh. It’ll do.”
I roll my eyes. “Glad I have your approval.”
Fifteen minutes later, we’re making our way over to Chase’s rental. The deck is lit with warm string lights, and the smell of grilling meat drifts toward us in the salty summer air. Rip is lounging at the base of the stairs like he owns the place, his big head lifting the second he spots me.
“Look at that,” Harper muses. “Your only true friend on this trip.”
I scratch behind Rip’s ears, and the traitor rolls onto his back immediately, asking for belly rubs.
“You’re embarrassing yourself,” I murmur, rubbing his stomach anyway.
“Don’t let Chase hear you talking sweet like that,” Harper warns. “Wouldn’t want him to know you’re capable of affection.”
I shoot her a glare, but before I can respond, Evie appears at the top of the stairs, waving us up. “Hey! Glad you came.”
Harper bounds forward, all charm and easy conversation. “Wouldn’t miss it.”
I follow a little more slowly, steeling myself for whatever fresh hell Chase has in store for me.
He’s standing at the grill, beer in hand, wearing a fitted T-shirt that clings to his torso in ways I’drather not analyze.
His eyes flick to me, and that slow, insufferable grin spreads across his face. “Well, well. Look who survived the treacherous seaweed attack of 2025.”
I ignore him and turn to Evie instead. “Thanks for having us.”
She grins. “You’re welcome anytime.”
Chase makes a noise of protest, and I level him with a glare. “Do you have a problem?”
“Nope,” he says easily, flipping a perfectly grilled steak kabob. “Just mentally preparing for the lecture you’re going to give me about how meat is bad for my heart or whatever.”
I grab a beer from the cooler. “I’m not a vegetarian.”
Chase blinks. “You’re not?”
