Page 25 of Hot Girls Read Book Club

I slide my hands up his chest, pulling him to me. He doesn’t resist, dipping his face down to mine, allowing our lips to meet without hesitation.

This kiss isn’t frantic like our first, nor heady like the stolen ones outside of the library. It’s steady and certain, knowing that we both are fully choosing this. No more running, no more hiding.

When we break apart, he rests his forehead against mine like he’s trying to memorize the fact that I’m still here.

“I don’t know how to do this,” he breathes out.

Outside, the rain keeps falling.

“That’s okay, neither do I.”

THREE AND A half months ago, when the Hot Girls Read Book Club first started, it consisted of one librarian, one mechanic, and an alarming amount of sexual tension.

Tonight, we’re out of chairs at the table.

I balance a folding chair under one arm as I shoulder through the library door.

The community room is already buzzing with conversation. Lily brought her signature store-bought cookies. Somebody else brought brownies. There are romance novels scattered across every available surface, and somehow Noah and Sean are standing in the corner arguing with three women about whether a certain fictional hockey player qualifies as quality book boyfriend material.

I stop just inside the doorway and stare.

“You’re smiling again.”

I glance over to find Lily looking up from the sign-in table.

“What?”

“That thing you’re doing, with your mouth.” She points at my face. “It’s called smiling, and if you’re not careful, you’re gonna give everyone a heart attack.”

My grin widens, and I press my palms against the surface of the table, leaning closer to her.

“Lily Caldwell,” I drawl low. “Are you flirting with me?”

A pretty pink blush creeps across her cheeks.

“No!” She immediately protests. “I was trying to make a joke that everyone is going to be shocked that you’re smiling this much!”

“Hm,” I hum, flicking my eyes up and down her frame. The tragedy of the cooler months sliding in is that her sundresses have been put away for the year. Still, she’s beautiful in a dark gray sweater dress layered over black leggings and boots.

“All I heard was that my smile is a heart-stopper.”

Lily rolls her eyes, blowing out a breath.

Noah sidles up next to her, slinging an arm around her shoulders. It’s funny because I would’ve bet my truck that Noah Miller would never voluntarily attend a romance book club. But here he is, fully present and taking it way more seriously than I ever expected.

“Don’t worry, Lil. Sean and I will have you razzing him like a pro before you know it. You just gotta find the right buttons to push.”

A bark of laughter rips out of me.

“Good luck with that,” I say with a wink.

Lily blushes even more while Noah laughs.

Seeing the two of them become friends does something fuzzy to my chest. Not because Lily needs more friends. Clearly, looking around the room here proves she doesn’t need help in that department. But because both parts of my world are blending together seamlessly.

A year ago, I would’ve laughed in your face if you told me this where I’d end up.

Noah is back to debating romance novels. Sean is flirting with Becca by pretending he hates the book. Rachel is arranging snacks into categories for reasons nobody understands. Lily is standing at the sign-in table, smiling as she welcomes another member through the door. And somehow, against all odds, I belong here among them.