Page 79 of Just for the Plot

“Oh my God, Bennett, they’re terrible.”

“Tell me,” I say as I put the phone on speaker and start getting ready for bed.

“Well, the most obvious is Baseball and Books.”

“Oh fuck, she did not suggest that.”

Bower laughs and it’s the most beautiful fucking sound ever. “She did. It was on the top of her list.”

“That’s embarrassing for her.”

“That’s what I thought.” I can practically envision her curling up on her couch in those pajama shorts and oversized shirts she likes to wear, talking to me. Makes my fucking heart all warm and tingly just thinking about it.

“What were the other ones?”

“Bombers Book Club, which is just as lame. And then there was Bennett’s Book Club, which…boo.”

“Yeah, not great.”

“And the best is when she put all three together and suggested Bombers Bennett’s Book Club. Or, if you will, Triple B Book Club.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake.”

She laughs some more as I start to brush my teeth. “Yeah, it’s so bad. I told her I’d think on it and talk to you. And I’m telling you right now, I will not be a part of a book club with that name. I’m just daring enough to go against Satan herself and call it the Kim Halpert Book Club before Triple B.”

“Is that what we’re calling Gretchen? Satan?”

“Ehh, might be a little harsh, but if she keeps it up with those horrible names, I might call her that out of spite.”

I chuckle and then spit the toothpaste out of my mouth. “I dare you to call her that to her face.”

“Just so she can scratch my eyes out of their sockets? No, thank you.”

“Probably a smart move. Either way, do you have any ideas for the name?”

“I’ve been brewing some things up, but I’m not ready to present yet. In the meantime, are you still reading your assigned books?”

“I am.”

“Did you get to the scene where they’re on the kitchen floor and she sticks the vibrator up his ass?”

“I did,” I say, my cheeks flushing.

“Thoughts?”

“You want the truth?”

“Always.”

Smiling, I lean against the bathroom counter and say, “It made me hard as fuck.”

I wait for her reaction, because I know it’s daring, but I think these are the moves I need to make with her. Get her thinking about me in a different way.

“Oh my God,” she whispers. “Why did my nipples just go hard?”

I let out a wallop of a laugh as I make my way back to the bed and strip out of my clothes, even my underwear. I stretch out along the mattress and place one hand behind my head as I continue to talk to her.

“You trying to tell me something?” I flirt.