Chapter 32
HALLIE
The restaurant Hallie had chosen was perfect, with cozy booths and soft lighting. It was the kind of place where you could actually hear yourself think. The smell of garlic and fresh bread filled the air, and I was already eyeing the bruschetta on the menu.
“This place is amazing,” I said, sliding into the booth across from my roommates. “How did I not know about it?”
“Because you’ve been spending every waking moment with your fake fiancé,” April said with a knowing smile. “Who, by the way, we need to discuss.”
Before they could pepper me with a million questions, a server appeared.
“This is on me guys,” I said. “And I feel like splurging.”
“Oh, someone is feeling rich,” Hallie teased.
We ordered stuffed mushrooms, bruschetta, cheese sticks, and an antipasto platter. I also insisted on a nice bottle of wine. A little day-drinking was in order.
The server returned, opened the wine, and poured three glasses. It all felt so fancy. We were more accustomed to burgers, fries, and cokes at whatever little joint was closest. It felt good to be able to do this for my friends.
Hallie held up her glass of wine. “We need to toast my promotion.”
“You got it?” I exclaimed.
She was grinning so big I just knew her face had to hurt. “I did. Big pay bump. Bigger office!”
“To Hallie,” April and I chorused, clinking our glasses together.
“Associate Director of Marketing,” Hallie said proudly. “With a corner office and everything.”
“You deserve it,” I said. “You’ve been working your ass off.”
It had been almost two weeks since I’d had a proper conversation with my best friends, and I’d missed this.
I felt so out of the loop. I didn’t even know what was going on in their lives.
By the time they got home from work, I was usually already heading out to Colt’s place.
He always told me I could hang out at his penthouse while he was at work, but that felt too weird.
So I usually spent the day home alone in our little apartment trying not to go stir crazy.
Two trays filled with way too much food were delivered. It all smelled and looked delicious. My eyes were bigger than my appetite. I wanted to eat with Colt later, too. I was going to snatch a couple of the mozzarella sticks to take to him. He loved Italian food.
“So, April,” Hallie said, stealing a mozzarella stick from the basket. “Tell us about this mystery man from the apps.”
April’s face lit up in a way I hadn’t seen in months. “His name is David. He’s a teacher. Fourth grade. And he’s just really sweet, you know? We’ve been on three dates, and he hasn’t once tried to pressure me into anything. He just wants to talk and get to know me.”
“That’s so healthy it’s almost suspicious,” Hallie teased.
“I know, right?” April laughed. “I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. But so far, he’s just genuinely nice.”
“I’m happy for you,” I said, and meant it. “When do we get to meet him?”
“Well, I was hoping he could be my plus-one for your wedding.”
I smiled. “Yeah! I can’t wait to meet the guy.”
“Okay, okay,” Hallie said, turning to me with an expression that meant business.
“We saved the best for last. Hallie, what’s going on with you?
And don’t try to downplay it, because we know you’ve been staying at Colt’s place all week.
You guys are certainly taking this whole engaged thing pretty seriously. ”
Before I could answer, a familiar voice called out, “Hallie!”
I looked up to see Frankie approaching our table, a warm smile on her face. She was dressed in a sleek work outfit, her coat draped over one arm.
“Frankie! Hey!” I stood to give her a hug. “Small world.”
“Yeah, I just finished lunch with a friend. I’m heading back to the office.” She glanced at my friends, and I quickly introduced them.
“These are my roommates, Hallie and April. Guys, this is Frankie, Colt’s sister.”
“Nice to meet you,” Frankie said with a pretty smile. “I’ve heard a lot about you both.”
“All good things, I hope,” Hallie said.
“The best things.” Frankie turned back to me. “I’ll tell Colt you’re here if I see him before you do.”
“Oh, I was actually planning to stop by the office after this,” I said. “Surprise him before his afternoon meetings. I told him I would bring him lunch.”
“He’d like that.” Frankie squeezed my arm. “He’s been in a good mood all week. Wonder why.”
I felt my cheeks heat. “No clue.”
“I’m just saying.” She grinned. “Anyway, I should get going. Nice meeting you both!”
She waved and headed for the exit, and I sank back into the booth.
“She seems nice,” April observed.
“She is.” I paused, trying to find the right words. “She’s been really welcoming. Especially this past week. And she’s a freaking genius when it comes to dressing me. I know she does most of the wardrobe stuff for me, and I literally need her to choose all my clothing from now on.”
“Speaking of this past week,” Hallie said, leaning forward with a gleam in her eye. “Spill. Everything. Because you’re glowing and his sister says he’s in a good mood. Details, lady. Details!”
I took a deep breath. “Okay. So. Things with Colt have changed.”
“Changed how?” April asked.
“We’ve gotten closer. Like, really close.” I played with the stem of my wine glass. “We have breakfast together, dinner together. He’s been showing me his ring designs, and we talk about our families and our childhoods.”
“And you’re sleeping with him,” Hallie finished.
I shrugged innocently. “Sleep’s not all we do in his bed.”
They laughed and clapped.
“It’s got to be amazing, judging by that flush on your cheeks,” April teased. “Details, remember. We need them all.”
“It’s good, huh?” Hallie pushed.
I didn’t think Colt would mind if I stroked his ego a little. “Yes, but it’s not just that.” I met their eyes. “I told him the truth. About how we know each other. About high school.”
April’s eyes went wide. “You told him about the beach?”
“Yeah. And he apologized. Really, genuinely apologized. He explained what happened. His friends dragged him to a party and he made a stupid choice. He said he wished he could take it back.”
“And you believe him?” Hallie asked carefully.
“I do. Because he didn’t have to admit remembering at all. He could have pretended he had no idea what I was talking about. But he owned up to it and didn’t make excuses. He felt bad about it.” I took a sip of wine. “And I’ve decided… I’m giving up on the whole vengeance thing.”
The table went silent.
“Just like that?” Hallie finally asked.
“I knew you were too pure-hearted to actually go scorched earth on him,” April said, but she was smiling. “I’ve been waiting for this moment.”
“You have?”
“Babe, you’ve been falling for him since that first time you brought him lunch. Maybe before that.” April reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “The vengeance plan never really fit you.”
“I was going to do it,” I insisted. “I was going to make him fall in love with me and then walk away and break his heart and enjoy every second of it. I wanted to hurt him like he hurt me. Give him a good healthy dose of pain to hopefully teach him a lesson so he’ll never do it to anyone else.”
“But?” Hallie prompted.
“But now things have changed. I see the real him, not just the playboy persona. And I’ve let him see me, too.
The real me.” I swallowed hard. “Even if this doesn’t end the way I expected, even if we don’t work out after the contract ends, at least we’ll be friends.
At least we’ll have been honest with each other. ”
“Mostly honest,” Hallie said pointedly.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean you still haven’t told him that you signed the contract specifically to get revenge. That your entire motivation was to hurt him.”
My stomach dropped. “No. I haven’t told him that part. In my defense, I also signed for the money.”
“Hallie.”
“I know, I know. I should tell him.” I shook my head. “But does it even matter now? What if it ruins everything? What if he can’t get past it?”
“Then at least you’ll know,” April said gently. “But babe, you can’t build a real relationship on a foundation of lies. Even lies of omission.”
“I’m not trying to build a relationship. We’re just seeing where things go and eating sexy breakfast together.”
“Are you?” Hallie tilted her head. “Because from where I’m sitting, it sounds like you’re already in a relationship. You’re staying at his place every night. Having meals together. Meeting his sister. Going to his office. That’s not ‘seeing where things go.’ That’s a relationship.”
“Okay, so maybe we’re in a relationship,” I admitted. “But it’s still based on the contract. It still has an expiration date in July.”
“Does it have to end, though?” April asked. “Have you actually talked about July? About what happens when the contract ends?”
“No,” I said quietly. “We haven’t talked about it.”
“Maybe you should,” Hallie suggested. “Before you marry him in six days.”
Six days. Holy shit. My wedding was in six days.
“He never has to know,” I said, more to myself than to them. “About the revenge plan, I mean. It doesn’t matter anymore because I’m not going through with it. So why bring it up and cause unnecessary drama?”
“Because honesty matters,” April said. “Because if you really care about him—and I think you do—then he deserves to know the truth. All of it.”
“Uh oh,” Hallie said suddenly, her face going pale as she looked past my shoulder.
“What?” I turned to see what she was looking at.
And my heart stopped.
Frankie stood just a few feet away, her coat still over her arm, her expression shocked and hurt. She’d come back. For her scarf, or her phone, or something she’d forgotten.
And she’d heard everything.
“Frankie,” I breathed, standing up so fast I nearly knocked over my wine glass.
“You were planning to break his heart?” Her voice was quiet but sharp as glass. “That’s why you signed the contract? For revenge?”
“Frankie, let me explain.”
“Explain what? That you’ve been lying to us this entire time? That you’ve been planning to hurt him since day one?” Her eyes were bright with unshed tears. “I warned you not to hurt him, Hallie. I told you he’d been through a lot.”
“I know, but I changed my mind. I’m not going through with it.”
“When?” Frankie demanded. “When did you change your mind? Yesterday? Last week? After you’d already slept with him and got him to fall for you?”
The restaurant had gone quiet. People were staring. But all I could focus on was the betrayal on Frankie’s face.
“It wasn’t like that,” I said desperately.
“Then what was it like? Because it sounds like you used my brother’s feelings against him. Like you took advantage of him.” Her voice broke. “He said he was letting his heart lead because he thought you had feelings too.”
Guilt crashed over me like a wave. “I do have feelings.”
“Or are you just a good actress?” Frankie shook her head. “God, I should have known. I should have trusted my instincts when you first showed up. But he was so happy.” She laughed bitterly. “I thought you were actually good for him.”
“I am good for him. Frankie, please, just listen.”
“No. You listen.” She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a harsh whisper.
“My brother has been through hell. I don’t give a fuck about the investors or the publicity!
” Her composure finally cracked. “I care about my brother. And if you actually cared about him too, you’d tell him the truth and let him decide what he wants to do.
But you won’t tell him, will you? You’re a coward.
I’ll tell him. I’m stopping this before you destroy him. ”
She rushed out of the restaurant. I turned back to my friends and felt dizzy. My head spun. I didn’t know what to do. I was going to lose him. But worse, I was going to hurt him.