Page 35 of Just for the Plot
“I know, but now I have boots on the ground, watching over him.”
“Is that the real reason, or is it because you’re jealous that Bennett and I are friends and we’re now in a book club together?”
“Uh…excuse me?”
“Yeah, me and Bennett are in a book club together. He’s reading romance, the romances I told you to read that you refuse to partake in.”
“Since when?”
“Since the other night.”
“Bower,” she says in a stern voice. “I swear if you become better friends with my brother, I will scream. You’re mine, not his, remember that.”
I laugh and rub my finger along the fireplace mantel, pleased to see zero dust.
As if anyone could take Gabby’s place. You don’t go through the kind of things we have gone through together throughout the years and not hold each other as our number one human.
She’s my person.
And I would never do anything or let anyone take that away from me.
“He will never be able to take your place, but if you’re looking to join a book club, we’d be willing to take on a third.”
“I will not be pressured into a book club just out of fear that my brother is taking my place as your best friend.”
“Please, that would never happen. Bennett is cool and all, but you know far too much about my life that I’d never tell him.”
“It would be in your best interest if you remember that.”
CHAPTER 7
BENNETT
“What are you reading?”
“What?” I snap my book shut and slide it by my side. “Nothing. What are you reading?”
Nolan stares from the seat in front of me on the plane, not buying my lie one bit. With his arms on the top of his chair, he leans his weight on it. “There’s a fabric cover on your book, one of those old lady ones that my grandma used to use to be discreet when reading her Fabio books.”
“What are Fabio books?” I ask.
“Romance books with bare-chested men on the front. And given that you’re covering up your book and hiding it from me, you must be reading such a book. So, let me ask you again…what are you reading?”
Sighing, because I know he won’t let this go, I pull my book out. “It’s a baseball romance book that Bower gave me to read, and she gave me this fabric cover so that no one on the team made fun of me for reading it.”
“Why would we make fun of you?” he asks, hurtling himself over theseat and landing, not so gracefully, in the seat next to me, knockinghisfoot against the plane window at the same time. Once settled, he says, “This shit is gold. I’ve learned some good moves from reading romance.”
Uhh…what?
“You read romance?”
“Listen, my man.” He points to his ear. “I listen to the books. Nothinggets me pumped up more than a male narrator telling the girl he’s spanking to come on demand.”
My brow creases. “That’s what you listen to before a game?”
“No.” He laughs. “But, fuck, the look on your face was great. I listen to them at night, before bed to calm myself down. I also enjoy mysteries, and I’ll be honest, I almost never guess right who the killer is. It’s a shock for me every goddamn time, and that keeps me coming back for more. But romance, dude, excellent choice. And are you reading it to impress the girl who you couldn’t land the other night despite my best efforts?”
“Your best efforts almost had you telling her about my crush and getting us drunk. If that was your best efforts, then remind me never to come to you for help again.”
