Page 22 of Fake it for Keeps

“So you’re actually going to marry him.” My mother sat across from me at our small dining table, her wine glass suspended halfway to her lips, her expression caught somewhere between shock and concern.

Hallie and April flanked her on either side, both of them leaning forward like they were watching the season finale of their favorite show.

It was our typical dinner. My mom got lonely so we had started inviting her over for dinner a few times a month. I liked that my roommates accepted her as one of us. She was my mom and friend. I loved our relationship. I loved that I could be honest with her. I was pretty sure I was violating the NDA a little, but I trusted these women.

They would keep my secret.

“Fake marry him,” I corrected, stabbing at my pasta primavera. “There’s a difference.”

“Is there?” Mom set down her glass. Her eyes, the same dark brown as mine, searched my face. “Because it sounds like you’re going through with an actual wedding ceremony.”

“Without the legal paperwork,” I emphasized. “It’s all for show. Six months, then it’s over. The dress. Guests. Ceremony but no marriage license. No one will know.”

The news had broken yesterday. I’d woken up to seventeen missed calls and a flood of text messages, all because someone had published photos of Colt and me at Valenteen. The images were everywhere, splashed across gossip sites, entertainment blogs, even a few legitimate news outlets.

Billionaire Playboy Finally Settles Down.

Colt Jesson Off the Market.

Who is Hallie Bellrose?

I shouldn’t have been surprised. It wasn’t like I didn’t know there were photographers. I just didn’t think people would actually care.

“I still can’t believe it,” Hallie said, reaching for the garlic bread. “You’re engaged to Colt Jesson. The guy who⁠—”

“Trust me, I’m aware of the irony.”

“Irony?” April snorted. “Babe, this is basically a Greek tragedy waiting to happen.”

“Or a revenge fantasy,” I countered. “Depends on how you look at it.”

Mom sighed and shook her head. The lines around her eyes deepened with worry. “Hallie, honey. What exactly are you planning to do?”

I glanced between my roommates and my mother. These three women knew me better than anyone. They deserved the truth.

“I’m going to make him fall in love with me,” I said simply. “And then I’m going to break his heart. Just like he broke mine.”

The table went silent.

“Plus,” I added, trying to lighten the mood, “I’m making a ton of money in the process. So, you know, there’s that.”

“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,” Mom whispered, making the sign of the cross even though we weren’t particularly religious.

“Mom, the money is worth it,” I said. “I’ll have the money to fix the house.”

Mom’s expression softened at the mention of my father. “The Hampton house.”

“I’m going to bring it back to life,” I said, my voice catching slightly. “Make it beautiful again. The way Dad always wanted it to be.”

“He would love that.” Mom’s voice held the usual emotion that came with talking about my late father. “But, Hallie, he’d also be worried about you doing this.”

I sighed. “I know.”

“If your father was still alive, he’d raise absolute hell.” A small smile tugged at her lips despite her concern. “He’d probably say something like, ‘No daughter of mine is going to marry a prick like Colt Jesson.’”

I laughed because she was right. Dad had never been one to mince words, especially when it came to protecting the people he loved. He’d been a gentle man in many ways, but he also had a fierce streak a mile wide when someone threatened his family.

And Colt had threatened me, even if he didn’t know it. Had hurt me in ways that had taken years to heal from.