Chapter 10
My Big Fat Fake Wedding
“I can do this,” I whisper.
I grip the edges of the sink and take a deep breath, staring at my reflection.
For the ceremony, I kept things simple—light foundation, mascara, and a dusting of eye shadow that brings out the green in my eyes.
My hair is swept into a low chignon at the nape of my neck, and I’m wearing a dusty rose lace mini dress cut with a sweetheart neckline that I couldn’t resist saving when it arrived at the shop last month.
A traditional wedding dress didn’t feel right for the occasion.
It was perfect for Birdie when she married Walker, symbolizing love, new beginnings, and two lives becoming one.
For Heath and me, though, this is nothing more than an arrangement—a legal union that provides me with financial security while giving him the family he appears to want badly.
I’m under no illusions that this will last. He didn’t slap an expiration date on it, but he’ll eventually tire of playing house and want the real thing with someone he doesn’t feel stuck with.
I tear my gaze from the mirror as a soft knock sounds at the door.
“Charlie, are you all right in there?” Heath calls out.
“Yeah,” I choke out. “I just need another minute.”
After checking in with Carol at the reception desk, I slipped away to the bathroom and must have lost track of time.
I swipe at a rebellious tear while rummaging through my clutch for my red lipstick. My hands tremble as I apply it.
Even though I agreed to this, it doesn’t dull the sharp sting, knowing my groom is only giving me his last name out of duty, not love or devotion.
And it certainly doesn’t help that we’re saying our vows in a drab, low-lit courthouse with just a cranky judge and a court clerk with an obsession for Tic Tacs that rattle in her pocket whenever she moves.
Grams, Florence, and the girls not being here weigh on me more than I expected. They would’ve dropped everything to support me if I’d asked, but involving family and friends would have blurred the lines and made it feel like more than it really is.
I have to guard my heart somehow, and keeping things as practical as possible is the only way I’m going to come out unscathed.
Although I’m not even sure that would be true if Heath cut things off today.
Regardless, I still wish I’d ignored logic and asked everyone to come, but unfortunately, it’s too late, and I’ll have to live with the consequences of my choice to do this alone.
I take a deep breath, smooth out my dress, and tuck my clutch under my arm before opening the door.
Heath leans against the wall just a few feet away. He pushes off it immediately when he sees me, a frown creasing his forehead.
“You sure you’re okay, hellcat?” he asks, moving to my side. “It’s not right for a bride to be sad on her wedding day, even if she’s about to marry a moody son of a bitch who can’t do a tie to save his life.” He motions to the crooked knot at his collar.
He’d texted me this morning asking what color dress I was wearing so he could match his tie, as though he already knew I’d skip white.
I also appreciate him making the effort to cheer me up, even if it comes with making a joke at his own expense.
I’m sure his pride is taking a hit, but damn if it doesn’t send warmth blooming through my chest.
“Good thing I’ve spent years dealing with a particularly grumpy asshole whose entire wardrobe consists of Wranglers.” I step in front of him, rising onto my toes. “Lucky for him, I happen to be quite good with ties.”
I loosen his, slide the silk free, then carefully loop it.
My fingers graze against his neck as I adjust the length and tighten the knot with a gentle tug.
The simple touch has my fingers trembling, making it hard to finish what should be a simple task.
When I get the courage to look up, I’m met with Heath’s heated stare.
“Yes, very lucky,” he whispers, leaning in a fraction. “This guy must really test your patience, huh?”
I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling. “It’s his favorite hobby.”
“So why put up with him?”
“He’s easy on the eyes.” I tip my head and give his tie a final tug to center it. “Plus, I’m told he’s got great health insurance.”
A soft gasp escapes me as he trails a finger over my shoulder where my sleeve must have slipped. “He’s looking forward to providing for you,” Heath murmurs, his eyes not leaving mine as he pulls the fabric back into place. “And he thinks you’re the most beautiful bride he’s ever laid eyes on.”
My knees threaten to give out, and I shift my weight, aware of how close he’s standing.
A playful smirk crosses my lips. “Does he now?”
“Yeah.” His breath is hot against my mouth. “And he’s finding it real hard to keep his hands to himself right now.”
“Well, if he plays his cards right, I just might be tempted to—”
“Halstead and Bennett, you’re up,” Carol hollers from the end of the hall. “Best not to keep Judge Clark waiting.”
The few people in the waiting area turn to look at us.
“So much for staying under the radar,” Heath grumbles.
“Might as well give them something to talk about,” I say, kissing his cheek.
When I pull back, I spot the perfect red imprint of my lipstick marking his skin.
“Oops.” I giggle, reaching out to clean it off. “Let me just wipe that off real qui—”
Heath wraps his hand around my wrist to stop me. “Leave it.”
I arch a brow, lips twitching. “You realize you have lipstick on your face, right?”
He nods, his thumb circling my wrist. “I like being marked by you.”
Holy shit.
My heart races when he draws my wrist to his lips and places a chaste kiss on my pulse point, his breath warm against my skin. It has me picturing all the other wicked things he could do with that mouth of his.
“You lovebirds getting hitched or what?” Carol calls out impatiently.
Heath and I both look over to find her pointing at her watch, motioning for us to get a move on.
“Now there goes our plan of keeping things under wraps,” I muse with a grin.
I can feel every pair of eyes fixed on us with blatant curiosity. Our bickering matches are legendary around here, and after Carol’s announcement, the sight of us heading into the judge’s chambers will send the whole town into a frenzy.
Judge Clark releases an exasperated sigh, his gaze darting between Heath and me.
“You sure you don’t want more time to think about this?”
He’s in front of his desk, holding our unsigned marriage license, looking far more inclined to light the thing on fire than to officiate our wedding. His enthusiasm is certainly a promising start to this union.
“Isn’t it your job to perform the ceremony, not talk us out of it?” Heath asks, voice clipped.
“What he means is yes, we’re sure,” I chime in sweetly, nudging Heath’s arm.
The last thing we need is to be escorted out before we make this official. Then again, maybe the universe is trying to warn us that this is a terrible idea. I’d kill for a pen and paper to scribble a pros and cons list right now—probably not the most reassuring sign that I’m all in.
Judge Clark stares at us for a long beat before reluctantly waving us forward. “Let’s get on with it, then.”
A soft gasp slips from me when Heath’s hand settles on my lower back, ushering me forward.
Cowboys are my kryptonite—particularly ones with a five o’clock shadow and a permanently furrowed brow like the one Heath wears now.
I take a moment to appreciate how he dressed up for the occasion in his white button-up, Wranglers, and polished boots.
He looks devastatingly handsome, and I hate how quickly my resolve slips whenever I glance his way.
The logical side of my brain is still conflicted about this arrangement, but the part responsible for the butterflies swarming in my stomach has me seconds away from dragging him closer.
And doing something wildly inappropriate in front of the judge, like discovering all the other places I could mark him with my lipstick.
This has to be the pregnancy hormones talking.
Can they make you want to throttle someone and cling to them like a koala at the same time? I make a mental note to ask Wren about it later.
Oblivious to the way Heath’s touch has scrambled my thoughts like eggs, Judge Clark clears his throat and begins the ceremony in a painfully monotone voice.
I swear right then and there that if I ever get married again, I’m picking an officiant with a sense of humor who doesn’t sound like he’s personally offended by my nuptials.
I bite the inside of my cheek to stay quiet. No way am I explaining to the judge that I’m daydreaming about another wedding before this one is even finished—or how bitter the idea of standing beside any other groom feels.
I’m chalking it up to a mix of insanity and pregnancy hormones.
“Do you both come here freely and without reservation to be married? If anyone has cause to object, speak now,” Judge Clark recites flatly.
“We already went over this. We’re sure—”
Heath never finishes the sentence before the door flies open. Julie Halstead barrels in with her husband in tow, followed by Briar, Jensen, Birdie, and Walker. Our family and friends stop dead, staring at our joined hands in stunned silence.
Julie clutches her chest, still catching her breath. “Please tell me we didn’t miss it.”
“Ma, what are you doing here?” Heath blurts.
Her eyes narrow as she puts her hands on her hips. “You don’t get to ask questions, not when you’re standing in the judge’s chambers about to get married.”
“How did you find out?” he asks.
My money is on Carol. She’s hovering in the corner, trying (and failing) to look innocent, her phone half hidden behind her clipboard while she taps out a message.
My guess is she spilled the beans when we stopped by for our marriage certificate yesterday, and she’s giving whoever she told the latest update as we speak.
And in Bluebell, when you tell one person, it spreads faster than wildfire.
“Told you it wasn’t just a rumor,” Walker whispers to Jensen. “You owe me twenty bucks.”
“Oh, come on, that’s unfair. How was I supposed to know they were secretly in love when they act like they can’t stand each other?” he grunts, pulling out his wallet and slapping a crisp twenty into Walker’s hand. “Should have known secretly dating one of Briar’s friends runs in the family.”
“Don’t hate the player, hate the game.” Walker winks.
Birdie swats his arm. “Seriously?”
He shrugs. “What did I do?”
She levels him with a pointed glare. “I can’t believe you bet on whether your brother and my friend were getting hitched. We almost missed the ceremony.”
“Thank god we didn’t,” Julie interjects, turning back to Heath and me. “How on earth did you think this would go—getting married without inviting your own mother, for heaven’s sake?”
I wince, bracing for the reprimand, but freeze when I realize what she said.
“Wait,” I say, holding up a hand. “You’re not upset?”
She lets out a short laugh. “Oh, I’m definitely not pleased my son kept an entire relationship secret.” She shoots Heath a disapproving stare. “But his choice of bride? I’m thrilled, honey. I love having you and Birdie around, and nothing makes me happier than gaining you both as daughters-in-law.”
I’m stunned speechless as she pulls me in for a hug, too dazed to correct her assumption that we’ve been together all along.
Despite my past differences with Heath, Julie has always been warm, welcoming, and kind.
She used to check in on Grams’s and me regularly to make sure we had everything we needed, and when Grams’s health started to decline, she often stopped by with meals and took her to doctor’s appointments when I couldn’t.
The last thing I want to do is disappoint her—not when I’ve dreamed of being part of the Halstead family since I was a kid. Even if this is only temporary.
“So are we pretending this has nothing to do with the baby?” Briar chimes in from where she’s tucked under Jensen’s arm.
The whole room goes deadly silent as Julie pulls back, eyes darting between Briar and my stomach. “Baby? What baby?”
“Really, Briar?” Heath mutters. “You had to bring that up now?”
She raises her hands. “How was I supposed to know you hadn’t told her yet? Guess I should have figured if you kept a whole wedding from Mama Julie, you’d keep the pregnancy a secret too.”
I don’t think Heath was actively hiding it from his mom as much as he was too preoccupied with getting me to accept his proposal to figure out how to break the news.
Heath rakes a hand through his hair. “Charlie’s pregnant, Ma.”
“Really?” Her eyes fill with tears when I nod, and she throws her arms back around me. “This is the best news. I’m so happy for you two.” She hiccups softly.
My vision blurs as she holds me, warmth blooming in my chest. Her reaction is more than I could ever have asked for and gives me hope that this baby will be surrounded by nothing but love from the moment it’s born.
Heath’s dad rests a hand on Julie’s shoulder. “Love, let’s give Charlie some room to breathe, yeah?”
She gives me a sheepish smile as she lets go. “Right, sorry. I’m just so happy I’m going to be a grandma of two and got carried away.”
I give her arm a reassuring squeeze. “That’s all right. I’m glad you’re excited.”
“I hate to interrupt, but I have another appointment in thirty minutes,” Judge Clark says, pointing at his watch. “So, if you two are set on getting married, let’s move things along.”
Heath meets my gaze as he holds out his hand. “Charlie? You ready?”
It might sound like a simple question, but it’s much more than that. He’s giving me an out in front of his whole family if I want one. A chance to do this on my own if that’s what I decide.
Even if I didn’t have the added incentive to say yes because it means I’ll have stability and support I wouldn’t have otherwise, I can’t help but wonder if I’d still want this regardless—a chance to be part of a family who loves unconditionally and shows up when it matters most. And to belong to a man who’s looking at me like I’m the only person in the room, making me forget for a moment that this is nothing more than a beautiful facade.
I smile as I slip my hand into his. “Yeah. Let’s do this.”