Page 21 of One Killer Night

His whole face distorts as if I’ve just spoken gibberish.

“I didn’t think you were serious. Noah,” he groans. “If you tell me you’re dissing for the ‘other plans’ you’ve been out with like a hundred times this month, I’ll lose it.”

I smirk, crossing my arms and leaning against the counter as I shrug.

“Technically, it’s only been three weeks.”

Chase laughs a few times, punctuating each huff. “I could’ve filed a missing persons report for the first week alone.” He lifts his hand to his head like he’s searching for someone as he looks around. “Noah ... are you out there? Come home, Daddy misses you.”

I chuckle. “Come on. I’m into her. Can you blame me? The night we met was ... Fuck, it lasted the whole night into the next day. She’s—”

“This ‘whole night into the next day,’” he mocks all singsongy, interrupting me and making me laugh again.

“Stop being so dramatic. If you worked on your personality, maybe women wouldn’t be so repulsed, and you’d get to second base. And stop hating on me for having a girlfriend.”

Silence, and then his voice fills the room.

“Girlfriend?”

I wince. Dammit.

“This isn’t real life.” He throws a dish towel at me, but I duck, laughing. “I’m living in a simulation. She had better be the best sex of your life because you’re doing it for both of us now. No wingman means I’m in my priest era.”

I raise my brows, and he holds up a finger. “Nope. Eat whatever you’re about to say. I heard what I said. Point is—”

“Nothing,” I gripe before tossing the towel back, connecting with his face. “There is no point. And don’t talk about sex and Goldie, ever. Plus, I don’t know if you’re aware, but women do this really cool thing called speaking. It’s nice.”

“So is getting ass.”

“You’re disgusting.”

Chase stares at me, his eyes growing wider by the second. “You haven’t fucked yet, have you?”

“Enough,” I groan, lifting my hands, but he laughs. “She wants to take it slow, and I respect it.”

“Does she even know she’s your girlfriend? Or is this like when I was thirteen and named all my children with Megan Fox after watchingTransformers?”

Why am I friends with him? I can’t remember.

“This is not at all like that. And no ... I haven’t technically had the conversation with her, but that’s what tonight’s for.”

Chase crosses his arms, looking smug.

“Fine,” he says flatly. “If this is happening, then I get to meet her. To approve. And since you screwed me for hot guy fall. What are the three of us doing tonight?”

I scoff and make my way back out of the kitchen toward my bedroom.

“Very funny. Hell no. I’m taking her to dinner and a movie. Alone.”

Shit. I said the “dinner” part out loud. I stop and turn to face my occasionally lovable but mostly jackass friend.

“Dinner and a movie?” he accuses, his eyes locked on mine, making it hard to keep a straight face.

I nod, but he repeats himself ... heavy emphasis on the first word.

“Dinnerand a movie.”

Fuck.