How to Choose a Guy in 10 Days (Chick Flick Club, #1)

by Lila Monroe

I turn on my heel and stalk back across the hall. Zach’s voice follows me. “A pleasure, as always, Emma.” I flip him the bird over my shoulder. He chuckles.

They have cute banter

“I’m not interested in doing you a favor!” I bellow, and throw open the door, expecting to see my cute, but very uptight neighbor. I kind of love that she’s so uptight—it makes her so easy to rile up—but instead, I find it’s Martin, my best friend slash former business partner, with his wife, Julie, in tow.

Ha ha ha

I grab the first outfits I set aside and shove them into his arms. “Go, change.” “You know, you can be real bossy,” he smirks at me.

“Oh. You’re a morning person,” Zach grumbles. “Great.”

She’s my ex-wife.”

This is bigger than we thought boys, its time to retreat.

Where did he learn to kiss like that? And can he please do it again—as soon as possible?!

Hello, sailor.

This book has so many ways to take you out of it.

“I know,” he says, watching me darkly. “I fucking know.”

Okay, that got me.

“Hey.” I give her a polite smile around my toothbrush and then bend over the sink to spit. “So … you and Zach, huh?” she asks casually. Since he gave me a unicorn and we’re sharing a trailer (and a bed) it doesn’t feel like too much of a lie to nod. “You’re a better woman than I am,” she says with a laugh. “Excuse me?” I ask politely. She gives me a conspiratorial smile. “You got him to shave that gross beard and trim his hair. Also, I hear you’ve gotten him to start looking at his wardrobe.” She leans in, “Do us all a favor and throw most of it out first chance you get. He’ll be mad, but he’ll get over it.” Is she serious? “I … I didn’t get him to shave,” I say slowly. “That was his decision.” Because if there’s one thing I know about Zach, it’s that he doesn’t do anything he doesn’t want to. She shrugs like she doesn’t believe me. “Zach’s a good guy,” she says. “But he needs a kick in the pants, or he’ll just sit around playing video games all day. Trust me, I know.” “His video games are what made him successful,” I point out icily. “It’s not just play.” She rolls her eyes. “Whatever. He could be really successful if he had some ambition. He was a brilliant programmer back in the day.” “He’s still a good programmer,” I bite out because WTF is wrong with this woman? “I wouldn’t know. But you look like you’re up for the task. I do wish him well, you know,” she adds quickly. Maybe because I’m glaring at her. “We grew to want different things. Like, I wanted a grown-up who t...

If you want a man to change himself for you, you don't actually like him, in fact you've made him become your own personal Ken doll.

“Absolutely.” I agree, licking some of the sugar off my fingers. He grabs my wrist and the next thing I know, he’s licking the sugar off my fingers. Oh God, and now I’m thinking of last night and what else he licked. As I watch, his eyes get intense; he’s thinking the same. “We can’t have sex on the beach,” I say breathlessly. “Too sandy.” “You have a one-track mind, don’t you?” he teases. “I only brought you here for the sunset.” Aaaand now I feel like an idiot. “Right,” I cough, blushing. “Well, thank you.” “But …” He adds, his mouth curving into that sexy smile that kills me. “That doesn’t mean we can’t … kiss.” His hand comes up to push a stray lock of hair behind my ear. I nod because resistance is futile. The best I can do is make light of it so he can’t see the emotion coursing through me. “I’m pretty sure it’s the law that when you drink wine and eat artisanal marshmallows on the beach, you have to kiss.” I wave vaguely toward where we left the car. “I saw it on the sign by the parking lot.” “Well, if it’s a law,” he grins. A second later, his lips find mine. He tastes like wine and sugar, and pure Zach. I sigh in pleasure. This picnic, the marshmallows—everything—just might be the most romantic thing anyone’s ever done for me. But that perfect sunset? We totally miss it. After all, there are better things to do.

Rn i'm on the same boat as her.

“You so are,” she smirks. “Whatever. All I care about is the job—you tell your new boyfriend about the bet, you forfeit.”

This bet isn't as bad as the og one, like honeslty I dont see it .

GAME OVER

See Me, personally, I would've told him first thing, and told him that if he didn't want to he didn't have to. But nooooooo

“Maybe we were.” I swallow hard. “But I screwed it all up.”

She did screw it up, and she's gonna fix it too.

“Oh. Good.” I scowl harder. “She deserves to be miserable.” Except, I don’t mean that. And it doesn’t look like my friends are buying my ‘fuck her’ attitude either.

He is making me cry rn, he's breaking my heart.

She wasn't manipulating me, not really. No, Gemma was upfront from the start about wanting to make me over for work. I’m the one who happily signed up to all the buffing and puffing and wax. And sure, she didn’t tell me about the contest, but would that have really changed anything?

THAT'S WHAT I SAID EARILER

Dear Zach, I’m so sorry about what happened at the gala. I never meant for you to find out about the bet that way. I wanted to tell you, I swear, but that would have meant forfeiting. I know now that I should have done it anyway. No promotion was worth using you like that. I promise, what I feel for you is real. You’re an incredible man – just the way you are. Getting to know you was one of the best things that’s ever happened to me, and whatever you choose to do now, I just want you to know, don’t ever change. For anyone. I hope you can forgive me. Gemma. I suck in a deep breath. Fuck. She could still be lying, trying to smooth things over, but I know in my gut, this is all sincere. I know Gemma. I fling open my front door, and head across the hall, but before I can knock, I hear a man’s voice coming from inside. “Come out with me tonight,” he says. “We’ll go dancing, I’ll get you drunk and then I’ll have my way with you.” “Fine, fine, all right,” Gemma says, laughing. “That is definitely an offer I can’t refuse.” I clench my fists, wanting to bust the door down. But for what? She sounds happy. She’s with a guy. She’s moving on. What did I expect? I turn away in defeat, before giving myself a reality check. So, she thinks it’s over between us. I just have to prove to her it isn’t. Show her what she means to me, make her see, I’m the man for her. I haven’t fought for anything in a long time, but I want to fight for her. For us. It’s time to get back to work.

WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT

It takes a moment to process what she’s saying. “We’ve never taken commissions before,” I say slowly.

I see it now, I didn't see how this was related to the movie, now I do.