Page 8 of Fighting Happily Ever After

“Okay,” Sarah amended. “He said it wasintense.I believe his exact words werean intense kiss.”

“I wouldn’t say it was intense…”

“If it was anything like the kiss in that picture online, it was definitely intense.” It was Nicole’s turn to jump in. “Personally, I’ve always thought the two of you had an intensity together.”

Intensity?What was with the word choice?

Faith reached for her glass, but realized it was empty and tried not to sigh out loud. “Anyway,” she said. “It’s really not a big deal, but we are—”

“Not a big deal?” Katie was still bouncing in her seat. “You’re going to be my sister-in-law. I’d say that’s a pretty big deal.”

“Whoa.” Faith grabbed the bottle and poured what was left, which was very little, into her glass before downing that, too. “No one is saying anything about getting married. We’re just…”What? What were they? “We’re just taking it slow.”There. That’s what people said.“We don’t want to rush anything.”

Katie settled back into her seat and the rest of her friends looked placated for the time being. But if Faith knew anything about this particular group of friends, it was that they weren’t going to stay that way for long. And no doubt by the time dinner was done, word would have spread even further around town until everyone knew that she waswithLogan.

“We should order more wine.” Faith waved the now empty bottle over the table.

“And food,” Nicole said. “Amy’s in charge of the kitchen tonight, and she insisted on making us a special meal if we wanted it.” Nicole quickly glanced over at Sarah. “I think she cleared it with Brody first.”

“I’m looking forward to it.” Sarah laughed. “I love Brody’s cooking, but I think I’ve had everything on the menu already. It’s too bad Amy can’t be out here with us, but I suppose if Brody’s out with the guys, someone has to be in charge.”

“Out with the guys?” Faith tore her attention from the wine list. If Brody was outwith the guysthat meant Logan was too, which meant they better have their stories straight.

“Yup,” Sarah said. “Something about meeting up with Logan, Damon, Jeremy, and Damon’s friend Nick at the Knot. I have to say, we’re definitely getting the better food.”

Everyone laughed because their local watering hole, the Knot, was a lot of fun and served great drinks, but it was absolutely not known for its cuisine.

Faith pushed out of her chair. “Can you order another bottle of whatever it was we just had?” she said to Sarah. “And I’m happy to have whatever delicious creation Amy comes up with. I just have to make a quick phone call. Sorry. I’ll be right back.”

Logan had just sat down with the guys and ordered a beer when his cell phone rang. His first instinct was to ignore it. After all, whatever it was could wait until he’d had at least one sip of the cold draft that was about to be delivered. He made the mistake of glancing at the screen. A photo of Faith, taken at the beach when they had gone as a large group the month before, filled the screen. She was smiling. Sun-kissed and totally relaxed, she was completely irresistible. He had to answer it.

“I’ll be right back,” he told the guys and excused himself outside to take the call.

“Hey,” he said as soon as he stepped out the heavy wooden doors. “What’s up?”

“Did you tell them?”

Logan couldn’t help but grin. “Tell them what exactly? And furthermore, who isthem?”

“Did you tell the guys that we’re together?” She was clearly trying not to raise her voice and her face was probably that cute shade of pink that it always got when she got worked up.

“Was I supposed to?”

“Logan!”

He knew he was only making her stress more, but he couldn’t help it. Getting Faith riled up was a deeply ingrained reflex. “I didn’t tell them anything,” he said after a moment. “But mostly because I didn’t get the chance yet. I just sat down. I don’t even have a beer yet.” His thoughts drifted to the cold drink that was probably being delivered to the table as they spoke. There was nothing quite like a cold beer on a hot summer night.

“They know,” Faith said, ignoring the mention of his absent beverage. “They already know. Brody saw us kissing and of course he told Sarah, which means that Amy and Nicole know, and I’m not sure about Damon and Katie and what they knew or didn’t know, but I more or less had to admit that we were together, and now I’m pretty sure that your sister is planning our wedding. It’s all—”

“Calm down.” He couldn’t help the smile that crossed his face at the idea of all their friends being excited for them that they were a couple. Despite the fact that it was a lie—at least for now—it still spoke to the fact that they liked the idea of them together. “Wasn’t that the idea?” he asked. “Everyone is supposed to think it’s real, right? At least for a little bit. They’ll understand. Everyone understood when Katie and Damon faked their relationship.”

“It’s not the same.”

No. It wasn’t the same. Despite what his mother said.

“Are you getting cold feet?” he teased. “Maybe you can’t hack it. Pretending to be with me? I knew you wouldn’t last—”

“I’m not getting cold feet.” Her voice had lost any edge of panic. “And I can absolutely hack it, as you put it.”

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