Page 24 of Faking it For Summer

“Hey, don’t be down on yourself.” I reach over and rub her shoulders. “You’ll meet a good guy. Maybe there’ll even be someone at the wedding.”

“Maybe.”

“Girls, what if we vow to have the best summer of our lives?” I jump up and hold my glass in the air.

“I’m in,” Josie says.

“Yeah. I wouldn’t mind some good sex and some hot kisses,” Wendy says, grinning wickedly as she stands up and spins around.

“I guess I wouldn’t mind some fun,” Louisa says with a devilish smile.

We all turn to Gigi, who is looking down and blushing.

“Hey, you already know that I fucked up and sent my Coworker those pictures,” she says, waving her hand in front of her face. She’s now bright red. “I think, right now, I just need to concentrate on the reno.”

“Or wickedly send him even sexier pictures?” I tease.

“Really, Mia?”

“What? I’m just saying, this is going to be our summer. We’re all going to have the best sex of our lives.”

“We’re all going to be wooed,” Josie says.

“We’re all going to fall in love,” Juniper says.

“I just hope to save the bed-and-breakfast,” Wendy adds.

“I just hope to get over my broken heart and succeed in business,” Louisa says.

“And I just hope to get the beach house looking as beautiful and wonderful as I’ve always envisioned it could be,” Gigi murmurs.

We all grow quiet then, because Gigi recently lost her parents, and we all know that she’s still getting over that trauma. I know that grief is something that never fully leaves you, but I want Gigi to know she will always have us supporting her.

“Here’s to a summer of fun. And to you, fooling the world into thinking Luke Haverbrook is your gorgeous boyfriend.” Juniper grins. “Cheers, girls.”

We all hold our glasses up and clink them.

I’m so happy to be in Coconut Beach with this group of girls. I haven’t known them all as long as I’ve known Juniper and Luke, but they all mean something to me. It’s friendships like this that make small towns worth it.

“Do you think we’ll grow up to be the busy Bees?” Juniper asks, laughing.

“Never. We don’t gossip,” Josie says. “As much.”

“Just all the time,” Wendy adds, and we all join in the laughter.

My phone rings. “It’s Lukey,” I say, waving it. “Should I answer or let it go to voicemail?”

“Answer,” Gigi says. “And does he like it when you call him Lukey?”

“I think he absolutely hates it.” I start giggling. “But it is what it is.”

I answer the phone. “Hey there, darling lover boy. What are you up to?”

“Are you drunk already, Mia?” His voice is dry.

“No, I’ve only had one glass. I’m here with the girls, and we’re getting ready to go to Cocktails & Chaos.”

“Oh.” His voice changes slightly. “So, you’re going through with that plan then?”