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“Better yet, did the magazine give their approval?” Emma tag teams with Zoey and rapid fires more questions. “What if this got out? Or is it supposed to get out? This could ruin you and ruin the magazine. What about your dad? Does he know?”

“Stop!” I whisper shout so I don’t bother the kids. “It’s too much. Obviously, this isn’t something that was planned. I was supposed to marry Henry. Our wedding was going to be featured, but the universe decided to rain on my parade with a meteor shower.”

“Oh, Luce…” Emma and Zoey both get up, round the coffee table, and smother me in a friend-sandwich.

“Listen, I’m sure everything will be fine. Blissful Bride is a reputable magazine that probably has a team of lawyers who will make sure this ‘fake’ event stays top secret.”

I finally let the other cat out of the bag. “Fake fiancé plus real wedding equals legit husband.”

“Wait! What?” Zoey tenses. “Did you say real wedding?”

“Seriously?” Emma leans back so she can look me in the eyes. “Like sign a paper, send it off to the state type of real?”

“Yep.” It’s all I can manage. The look on their faces makes me panic about what the rest of my small town is going to think if they find out my big secret.

“Oh, Lucy, this has bad idea written all over it. Why would you agree to this?” Zoey wrinkles her brow in concern. “Marriage is no joke.”

“Yeah,” Emma chimes in, smelling a little like coconut and a lot like tequila. “What she said.”

“You’re the one who said I should—” The thought dies on my lips when Emma holds up her hand.

“I maybe said have a wild night with a stranger, not get fake engaged and real married!” Emma whines.

“Lord knows marriage is harder to get out of than into. I should know,” Zoey murmurs.

It seemed good on paper—hell, it even seemed good falling from Beau’s perfect lips. But hearing myself try to explain it to my best friends—scratch that, justify it—it sounds crazy and opens the door for the doubt to creep in. “Guys… what did I get myself into?”

“What were you thinking?” Emma’s eyes widen.

“I wasn’t, okay?” I admit. “I was three mimosas in when I found out that Mr. Penthouse was Beau. There was no getting around it. I could either lose an opportunity of a lifetime or accept a proposal that might save everything.”

“But what’s in it for him?” Zoey asks the million-dollar question.

“It’s personal.” I don’t say more, and it kills me to hold back, but he’s going to be my fiancé.

Fake one. But still. It makes me feel all the things and my nerves about seeing him tomorrow kick up a notch.

I point at Emma. “I know what you’re thinking, and no, he doesn’t give off serial killer vibes. He’s just a guy who just so happens to be the editor-in-chief- to the magazine that could make or break my career. A magazine that his grandfather owns.”

“Ohhh!” Zoey coos. “And there it is. He’s a trust-fund fuckboy, and you just became his latest conquest.”

Fuckboy?

Conquest?

It sure didn’t feel that way when I was with him.

“Listen.” I stand and begin to pace the room. “I know it’s a lot to take in—trust me, I’m still processing it myself. But I needed this and he needed this. I’m not sure what Beau Montgomery has up his sleeve, but I’m confident that Blissful Bride will make sure he is protected, and if he’s protected, then I’m protected. Okay?”

“If you say so, but I will feel better if I could meet this guy in person,” Emma agrees, albeit skeptically, wrapping her arm around Zoey. “Like actually meet him. Unlike the other guy that shall not be mentioned.”

“You will. I promise.”

The girls give each other a knowing look before they turn to me a smile.

“Good! Now, let’s talk bachelorette party,” Zoey giggles. “Bottomless tequila for everyone!”

Okay, this is what I needed. To know that everything is going to be okay. With my girls on my side, anything is possible. I plop down beside them and wrap them both in a hug. “I think I can make that happen.”