Page 128 of Fake it for Keeps

“A vacation,” April added. “Somewhere tropical.”

“Girls!” Mom shook her head, but she was smiling. “Don’t start already.”

“I’m kidding,” Hallie said. “Mostly. But seriously, Hallie, we’re so happy for you.”

“You deserve this,” April agreed. “All of it. The love, the happiness, the billionaire husband who chartered a jet to come grovel at your feet.”

“He didn’t grovel,” I protested. “I groveled. I wronged him.”

“He absolutely groveled,” Hallie countered. “And it was beautiful.”

“I’m in good hands,” I promised, looking at each of them in turn. “And I can’t wait to spoil you. All of you.”

A knock on the door interrupted us, and Frankie poked her head in.

“Hi,” she said tentatively. “Can I steal Hallie for a minute?”

My stomach dropped. We hadn’t really talked since that day in Colt’s lobby. Since she’d called me a heartless bitch and left me standing there in ruins. We texted but that was it.

“Of course,” Mom said, reading the room. “We’ll wait here.”

I followed Frankie out into the hallway, my heart pounding. She led me toward my old bedroom, the small one at the end of the hall that had been mine when I was a kid.

But halfway there, she stopped.

“Hallie.” She took a deep breath. “I need to apologize. For what I said to you. How I said it. You didn’t deserve that.”

“Frankie, no.”

“Let me finish.” She held up a hand. “I was protecting my brother. He’s been through so much, and I couldn’t stand the thought of him getting hurt again. But I shouldn’t have attacked you like that. Shouldn’t have said those things.”

“You were right to be angry,” I said quietly. “I lied. I hurt him. I deserved⁠—”

“No.” Frankie shook her head firmly. “You made a mistake. A big one. But you owned it. You showed up when Colt needed you. You didn’t run away when things got hard. Well, you ran to the Hamptons.”

Despite everything, I laughed. “I did run to the Hamptons.”

“But you didn’t run away emotionally. And Colt flew out to you because he couldn’t be apart from you.” Frankie smiled. “That’s when I knew. When he told me about that phone call, about how you stayed on the line with him, how you listened and didn’t judge. That’s when I realized you actually love him.”

“I do,” I whispered. “So much.”

“I know. And I’m sorry for doubting you. For not giving you a chance to explain.” She stepped forward and pulled me into a hug. “Can we start over? Do-over?”

I hugged her back, tears threatening to destroy my makeup that the makeup artist promised would stay put even if I decided to go for a dip in the ocean. “Yes. Please.”

When we pulled apart, we were both crying and laughing.

“Don’t mess up your makeup,” Frankie said, wiping at her own eyes. “Colt will kill me if I make his bride cry before the ceremony.”

“Too late.”

“Come on.” She took my hand. “He wants to see you. A first look, just the two of you.”

“But my gown.”

“Hold on.” She stepped into the bathroom and returned, holding out my robe. “Put this on. I think it should keep you from triggering any bad luck.”

I laughed and managed to get it over my dress. She tied the belt. “Good enough.”