Page 16 of The Last Love Story (Baker Girls #3)
Once we’ve filled our plates, we get settled on the couch, and as we do, both of our phones go off. And then go off several more times.
Right. I might’ve been a chaos gremlin again and created a group chat for the Baker Girls Book Club.
Jade looks at me questioningly as we both reach for our phones.
I open my texts and immediately laugh.
Kennedy: Is this the text where we finally get to yell at Jade?
Kennedy: Since I’m not as creepy as Justin and didn’t want to slide into her DMs.
Kennedy: Anyway… Jade… HOW DARE YOU?
Hallie: She woke up and chose violence. It’s the only answer for the ending to book 7.
Hardy: La la la. I can’t hear you. I haven’t finished yet! No spoilers!
Hallie: Get out of the chat then. We have grievances to air.
Frannie: I’m not ready yet, but that’s my own doing. I know the last two chapters are going to destroy me, so I’m avoiding them and having a Joey Tribbiani moment .
Kennedy: Put the book in the freezer?
Frannie: Metaphorically speaking since I’m reading the e-books.
Hardy: Seriously! No spoilers. I’m muting this chat until I’m done!
Me: Jade, welcome to chaos.
“What did you do?” she asks with a laugh.
I shrug innocently, but she doesn’t buy it. She shakes her head and types out a response.
Jade: I don’t know who all of you are yet, but welcome to the party. I provide tissues and emotional support cat memes. You can send me your therapy bills, but don’t expect me to pay them.
Jade: Oh, and I only have brunch with Satan the second Tuesday of every month. And yes, we do use your tears to brew the tea. XO
I laugh as I read the texts.
“You’re savage. I kinda like it.”
Her eyes dance, and it’s impossible to miss the shift in the air around us. If we lock eyes for longer than a second, the tension between us grows exponentially.
After a moment, she rolls her eyes and smiles.
“I like having fun with it. And obviously, it’s different with your friends, but generally speaking, being playful creates a stronger barrier between my work life and my personal life.
They can bleed together, and I try to keep that from happening too much. You somehow got through. ”
“I’m sneaky like that.”
“So, who all is on this text with us?”
“First one is Kennedy.”
“One of your besties.”
“Yep. And second is Hallie.”
“Her younger cousin and Frannie’s sister?”
“Yes. And Frannie was the fourth one. The third is Hardy.”
“Hardy?” she asks in confusion.
“Well, Ryan, but that’s what he goes by?—”
“Wait. Ryan? As in Ryan Hardison? The New York Bandits wide receiver?”
“Little bit. Are you a Bandits fan?”
“I’m a sports girl in general, but yeah, my dad and I always watched their games together—sometimes still do.
We even went to a game their opening season…
twelve or thirteen years ago, I think?” She shakes her head in disbelief, then her brow furrows as she puts the rest of it together.
“Wait. And Frannie’s boyfriend Mark is Mark Abbott?
Their quarterback? The one who went through that whole scandal thing and then maybe got engaged—was it Frannie? Are they engaged?”
I laugh out loud at the rapid-fire pace she spits all that out.
“They’re not engaged. Mark just apologized to her in the dumbest way possible. They’d only known each other for like a week at that point.”
She side-eyes me, then gestures between the two of us.
“Hey, we’d at least been talking for two weeks.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. You’re right. Big difference.” She shakes her head. “Wait. Was Hardy one of the guys you messaged me about the other week?”
“Maybe.”
She grabs my arm. “I’ll never mention it. I was just curious. And I’ll be paying attention now. I’m invested.” She sets her phone to the side and sighs. “I’m also exhausted. And hungry.”
“Eat, darlin’.”
“Want to watch something? ”
“Sure. What are you in the mood for?”
She shrugs. “I don’t know. What’s your go-to show?”
“ The Mandalorian .” I glance at her shirt again. “I’m kind of a Star Wars nerd.”
She smiles at that. “How much of one?”
“You know how you said Disney Princesses were your lore? Star Wars is mine. I’ve watched every iteration of it. While I didn’t love all the later movies, I still love the universe, and they’ve done a phenomenal job with some of the shows. The Mandalorian just happens to be a favorite.”
“Let’s watch it then.”
“Have you seen it?”
She shakes her head and grabs the remote. “Nope. So I’m expecting you to pause it and explain all the details to me. Give me the lore and behind-the-scenes info.”
I blink at her a couple of times, surprised by the emotion that swells in me. “Really?”
“Yeah. I love finding out the background of things and catching all the little Easter eggs, so explain away. Plus, it’s a fun way to get to know you better, seeing you enjoy something and share your love of it.”
Well, damn. Hit me right in the feels.
“Okay. But on one condition. You have to do the same with your favorite show or movie or universe.”
“ Once Upon a Time .”
I chuckle. “That tracks.”
“Have you seen it?”
“Nope.”
“Okay, then. One episode of your show and one episode of mine each night.”
“Sounds perfect.”
I shift a little closer, then finally take a bite of my lasagna and nearly groan.
“Good, right? ”
I nod. “Amazing.”
“Get used to it. Dad loves to share his cooking.”
I glance at her, only to see her eyes fixed on the beginning of the episode.
“I can definitely get used to this.”
But I’m not talking about her dad’s cooking. I’m talking about this . Sitting on the couch, watching my favorite show with the girl I’m falling for.
It hasn’t been long, but I can’t shake the feeling I’ve finally found the home I’ve been looking for. Not the apartment, but the incredible woman by my side.