Page 29 of After the Vows

“This is the part where we warn you that if you hurt Chloe, we’ll come for you,” Sophia says.

“I’m not going to hurt Chloe. This is a business arrangement.”

“Nevertheless. You will not toy with her feelings,” Paisley says.

“She’s been hurt enough,” Nova adds.

“She’s not as strong as she portrays herself to be,” Maya whispers.

“What happened to her?” I ask.

Sophia shakes her head. “We’re not saying anything happened to her. We’re just warning you to be gentle with her.”

I scowl. “I’m not an asshole.”

“Sophia Milton,” Chloe yells from the hallway. “Open the door this instant or I’ll tell Flynn about the time you told his high school girlfriend he had herpes.”

Sophia yanks the door open. “You wouldn’t!”

Chloe crosses her arms over her chest. “Try me.”

“Some best friend you are.”

Chloe motions to the women in the room. “I’m not the best friend who’s warning my fiancé off.”

“But—”

“Nope. I’m not listening to whatever reasoning you’ve come up with in your crazy mind.”

“Ahem.” Nova clears her throat. “We all agreed.”

Chloe rolls her eyes. “Please. I know Sophia roped all of you into doing this.” She motions to the hallway. “Off you go.”

Sophia stomps away. Paisley and Nova follow her. Maya trails behind. “Sorry,” she mutters as she passes me.

“I apologize on their behalf,” Chloe says once we’re alone.

“No need to apologize. They care about you.”

She rolls her eyes. “They have a funny way of showing it. Trying to convince you not to marry me.”

I start to correct her but stop myself. Chloe won’t appreciate knowing her friends are worried about her. She prides herself on being a strong woman.

There’s obviously more to her than the confident woman she portrays to the world. Consider me intrigued.

I want to reach for her. To pull her into my arms and comfort her. But I fist my hands to stop myself.

This is a business arrangement.

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

Chapter 11

Friends – people who support you despite thinking your actions are cray-cray

Chloe

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