Page 73 of The Love Wager

What was that expression—a man plans and God laughs?

Yeah, someone was cackling at that moment at his idiotic fake relationship plan.

He toed off his running shoes and pulled his shirt over his head before he grabbed his phone and texted Hallie.

Jack:I should’ve said this before, but you look incredible.

He knew she was wrinkling her brow as she read the message.

Hallie:Why are you texting me from the bathroom?

Jack:Because I don’t want this sentiment to get caught up in our games. Your buddy Jack—not fake boyfriend—is telling you in a purely subjective statement that you look absolutely stunning.

Hallie:Well if I’m being honest with my real-life bestie, not my fake bf, I’m having the best time vacationing with you and I don’t want it to end.

Jack:Same.

He put down the phone, shed his remaining clothes, and got in the shower.

He wished he had any fucking clue what Hallie was thinking. What she was feeling.

Because it appeared to him that she was enjoying their little game just as much as he was. But she seemed casual as hell about it—blasé, even, which made him think she was still his wingwoman and just “leaning in” to the weekend of pretend, whatever she even meant by that.

And if that was the case, he couldn’t bare his soul to her and risk losing her as a friend.

He quickly shaved, brushed his teeth, and combed his hair before getting dressed, and when he walked out of the bathroom and looked at her in that dress again, leaning back on the bed and looking at her phone, his necktie felt like it was strangling him.

His phone buzzed as he slid his feet into his dress shoes, and he pulled it out of his pocket.

Hallie:Don’t let this go to your head, but you look handsome AF. Like, I want to call you beautiful, but I feel like you’ll be insulted.

Jack tried to swallow, but his throat was fucked up all of a sudden.

He texted back:Are you ready to go, TB?

He kept his eyes on his phone but heard her giggle as she texted:I am. But I feel like I should warn you—your girlfriend gets a little handsy when she drinks wine.

He couldn’tnotgrin, and he responded with:Then I feel like I should warn YOU—when my girlfriend gets handsy, I usually find the nearest broom closet or elevator and make her scream.

He did look at her then, half smiling because he knew he’d shut her up, and he instantly regretted it. Because first, her mouth dropped open and her cheeks got red; the response he’d been shooting for. But then—holy balls—she puckered her crimson lips, tilted her head, looked him straight in the face, and raised an interested eyebrow.

Fuck my life, he thought, as he pulled open the door and held it for her.

Chapter

TWENTY

Hallie

“So we want the bridal party out in the hallway,” Hallie’s mother shouted, “and everyone else in the ballroom.”

Hallie rolled her eyes and said to Jack, who was holding her hand and patiently waiting for the rehearsal to get under way, “I’ll be back.”

“I’ll be in the ballroom, apparently.”

She started pulling away, but he jerked her back and kissed the tip of her nose. His eyes were warm as he smiled down at her, and her stomach did the tiniest little flip as she had no choice but to smile back.

She was grinning as she walked out into the hallway, lost in her own thoughts. So much so that she didn’t even see Ben until he said, “Hey, Hal.”

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