Page 23 of Fighting Happily Ever After

Faith shook her head and looked to the ground with a sigh. She’d done crazier things. Finally, she looked up into Stephanie’s expectant gaze. “No problem.”

“Oh, thank you!” Stephanie clapped her hands. “That’s perfect. I’ll get all of Dax’s flight details and we’ll go from there, okay? I really just want to do it before the press gets wind of it and turns it into a circus.”

Faith nodded. As much as that circus would be good for business, she could completely understand the desire to avoid it.

“And when it’s all over, we’ll share the pictures and make sure Ever After is mentioned everywhere.” Steph pulled her in for a quick hug. “Don’t think I don’t know how important that is.”

She really was a genuinely sweet person. Faith couldn’t deny that. How could she not help her with a beautiful wedding?

“Faith?” Stephanie looked at her with unshed tears shining in her eyes. “I’m really glad I saw that article and came to town.”

In response, Faith nodded and they fell once again into silence.

Her thoughts drifted to Logan and their bet that had brought Stephanie to town in the first place.

The bet.

That’s all it was: a bet. It wasn’t anything more. She needed to remember that because it was so damn hard to keep that clarity when he kissed her. Or touched her. Or put his hands on her. Or…

A bet.

It was just a bet.

Faith glanced at Stephanie and guilt filled her. It was her stupid bet that had brought Stephanie to town, sure. But it was more than that keeping her here, and it would be selfish and hurtful to tell her the truth now. At least not yet.

She reached across, smiled and took her new friend’s hand. “I’m really glad, too.”

ChapterTen

“Finally!”

When they returned to the house and Faith saw her twin sister at the kitchen table, she burst through the door and raced across the room to pull Hope into a tight hug. “Oh my God, I feel like it’s been forever since I’ve seen you.”

Hope laughed, but squeezed her sister even harder in return. “It’s only been a few months.”

“Might as well have been forever.” Faith jumped back. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t squeeze you so hard.”

“I’m not going to break.”

“You might. The doctors sent you home.”

Hope’s smile dipped at Faith’s concern. “They didn’t send me home. We just decided it was for the best.”

“That’s right,” Levi said from the fridge, where he was pulling out a jug of orange juice. “As much as I want to show Hope the world, there’s no way I’m doing it at the expense of her health or that of our little miracle there.” He winked, and despite the fact that it was super cheesy, Faith couldn’t help but feel extra love toward her brother-in-law.

“Besides, it’s no fun to see the world from a wheelchair because I’m not allowed to walk around and raise my blood pressure.”

Faith pulled up a chair and sat closer to her sister. “Well, I promise not to do anything to raise your blood pressure now that you’re home.”

Logan, who was flipping pancakes, snorted with a laugh, and Hope didn’t bother hiding her grin. “Whatever you say.” She held out her arms for another hug. “I am glad to see you, though. Being home will be so fun.” Her gaze flicked over Faith’s shoulder for a moment before her eyes twinkled with mischief. “And now that you and Logan have finally decided to get over yourself and…”

Faith shot a warning look at her sister, who summarily ignored her.

“You’re together at last,” Hope effused. “There’s nothing I love more than love.”

Faith had to take a deep breath and hold herself back from strangling her sister, who was clearly putting on a first-class show for their guest—whom she’d completely forgotten about for the moment.

She pasted on her biggest, toothiest smile and turned around to wave Stephanie over. “Steph, come meet my sister, Hope. She’s as big of a fan of love as you are.” Faith turned again and mouthed the words to her sister, “I’m going to kill you later.”

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