Page 36 of The Book Club Boyfriend
With a dramatic sigh, I grab the hoodie and stomp off to change.
I slip off the wet T-shirt and tug the hoodie on. The damn thing smells like him. Like cedar and soap and something uniquely Chase. Unfair.
I return to the living room with Chase’s hoodie drowning me. The sleeves are ridiculously long, the hem falling mid-thigh over my shorts.
Chase takes one look at me and grins.
I thrust the towel at him, and he takes it.
He chuckles but says nothing and hangs the towel over a dining chair. A fire flickers in thefireplace, casting warm light across the space. The storm rumbles outside, but in here, it’s almost… cozy.
Chase flops onto the couch, stretching an arm along the back. Like he owns the place. Which, fine. He does.
I hesitate, then lower myself into the chair across from him.
Chase shakes his head, amusement dancing in his eyes. He tips his water bottle to his lips, watching me over the rim.
I ignore the way his stupid forearm flexes.
I definitely ignore the way he’s watching me like I’m the most entertaining thing in the room.
This isnothow I envisioned my night going. Finally, he exhales, setting his water down. “So.”
I arch a brow. “So.” My gaze drifts to the coffee table.
I freeze.
Blink.
My book.
Mybook, sitting right there, next to his drink, a worn bookmark peeking out from the middle.
I sit up and reach for it before I even think twice. “Wait. Are youreadingmy book?”
Chase stretches, like this isn’t shocking information. “You thought I just bought it to impress you?”
I scowl becauseyeah, that’s exactly what Ithought. But I can’t say that out loud, so instead, I huff, “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’mnotthat easily impressed.”
Chase hums like he’s considering that, then shrugs. “Eh. I’ll figure out what works eventually.”
I flip through the pages, half-expecting them to be crisp and untouched, but no—there are dog-eared corners and subtle creases along the spine. The man hasbeen readingthis.
“You’rehalfway through.” My voice is laced with suspicion. “That’s… unexpected.”
He shrugs. “It’s not bad. A little bleak for my taste, but I’m holding out for the part where you admit love isn’t a scam after all.”
I snort. “Spoiler alert: that partdoesn’t exist.”
Chase sighs. “Damn. And here I thought it was all just a slow burn to the big romantic realization.”
I narrow my eyes at him, gripping the book a little tighter.
His lips twitch.
I close my mouth.
Set the book back down.
