Page 69 of Fake it ’Til Fall

This time, the preview shows a different name.

Carla Alden: So sorry to bother you again! Principal Whitcomb mentioned the coaches’ dinner may overlap with our final walkthrough. I don’t like that at all. We’re paying good money for this not to become a circus. If something goes wrong, we’ll sue.

Daisy stares at the screen.

All the humor drains from her face so quietly it makes me want to stand up.

“We’ll countersue,” I say. “Add emotional damage.”

The corner of her lip lifts slightly. “I don’t have money for that.”

“I’ll cover the legal fees. Unless we sue her for those too.”

“You are surprisingly supportive of litigation for a man trying to look safe.”

“I contain multitudes.”

“You contain a bad attitude and a dog.”

“Also legal strategy.”

That gets me half a smile.

Half is better than none.

Then her eyes sharpen like a thought has just cut through the noise.

“You know what would help me?” she asks.

“If they move the wedding to somewhere far away, and you get to keep the deposit?”

She taps her chin. “Good one. Elegant. Ambitious. Sadly, no.”

“What?”

“If I show up with a boyfriend.”

The word hits the table between us.

Boyfriend.

I stare at her.

She stares back.

Puck sighs under the table like he’s been waiting for the slow humans to arrive.

“I don’t need a man,” she adds quickly. “Let’s be very clear. I’m not standing here waving a tiny flag for outdated social validation. But it’s Winterberry Cove. Optics mean a lot. Stories matter. If I go back alone, everyone sees the woman Liam left. If I go back with someone, suddenly I’m . . . I don’t know. Thriving. Mysterious. Possibly sexually satisfied.”

My eyes cut to hers.

Her cheeks heat.

Interesting.

She points at me. “Do not make a face.”

“I didn’t.”