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

by Lila Monroe

Do you ever wish life was more like your favorite romantic comedy—full of hot, charming guys with great hair, upbeat music montages, and a guaranteed happily-ever-after? No crappy, mediocre dates. No painful periods (or, you know, messy bodily functions of any kind). No stress over making rent on your tiny shoebox of an apartment. And definitely no men who seem like they’re totally into you but then ghost harder than Casper, with zero warning at all.

Where did she even come from? I thought she’d disappeared in a cloud of smoke, or whatever it was Disney villains do to make an exit.

“It tastes like … I don’t know, like I went down on a swamp mermaid or something.”

This burger? Totally uncomplicated. Doesn’t want to change me. Needs nothing from me. Is never passive-aggressive. Doesn’t talk in code. It’s just here for me, no matter what. It’s just meat, cheese, and bread. The perfect relationship.

He sighs and nods. “Fine. Under one condition.” “What?” I ask warily. A slow, mischievous smile spreads from his lips up to his amber eyes, making me fear for my life. Also, my panties a little, because a mischievous Zach is a sexy Zach. Huh. Who knew? “I get to pick an outfit for you,” he says. “Fine,” I shrug, unconcerned. This is my favorite store, after all. “Do your worst.”

Sure enough, maybe the pants are—eh hem—slightly too tight. And he forgot to mention the zucchini to go along with those tomatoes. Okay, maybe the pants are way too tight if I can see all his vegetables.

Like she feels my gaze, she glances over and smiles. Not one of her careful, suspicious smiles she gives me when I’m teasing her or when she’s yanking my chain. No. This is a real smile. An open smile, filled with joy. One that tells me so much about her—about a different side of her that I never imagined existed. A side that it turns out I like. Very much.

She rolls her eyes. “In the trailer. It’s in the box marked, ‘I was bullshitting’. You’ll find it right next to the bug spray I didn’t put on.”

Gemma’s face changes. “Was she your first love? Super-serious?” “Serious as a colonoscopy. And about as fun,” I finally meet her eyes. “Lisa isn’t just my ex-girlfriend. She’s my ex-wife.”

“Zach?” I whisper, my head spinning. We’re on the edge of something here, and somehow I know, once we step over the line, there’s no going back. “We should … I mean … if you …” With a groan, he leans in and captures my lips in a searing kiss. Oh. My. God.

Inevitably, my thoughts return to what happened at the lake. Because it was a hot makeout session. Like, I’m talking The Notebook, Ryan and Rachel in the rain hot. But part of me wonders if this is still a part of his post-Lisa playboy routine. I don’t want to be another notch in Zach’s bedpost.

He spreads my thighs, and I squirm, the ache uncomfortable and delicious at the same time. “Zach,” I pant. “I know,” he says, watching me darkly. “I fucking know.”

The events of the day before come rushing back to me. Especially the part where he made me have the kind of orgasm that is stuff of legend. Like a unicorn: you hear about them. See them in in movies, talk to your friends about how elusive they are, but don’t really believe they exist. Until you experience one of your own and see what all the fuss is about. What you’ve been missing … and are suddenly worried you’re going to spend the rest of your life chasing.

We get out of the car, and I sigh in satisfaction. It’s secluded out here, we’re the only ones around. The only thing that would make it better would be a blanket and a glass of wine. He pops the trunk. Out comes a picnic basket and a folded blanket. Is death by romance a thing? If so, I’m so dead.

Screw being cautious. I’m getting on that unicorn and am going to ride it over the rainbow into Orgasm-land.