Page 158 of The Holiday Fakers
Brody’s still staring at me. “Is this for real?”
I nod, my cheeks hurting from smiling so much. “Jack was amazing. He went through every paragraph, every clause, every word. And he knows one of the showrunners anyway, so it was easy to get the changes done right then and there.”
There’s a beat, then Brody’s blank expression breaks, and he pulls me into the tightest hug. “Oh my God, Piper, I love you. I’m so fucking proud of you. You’re coming with me. We’re doing this together.”
I don’t get a chance to reply, because he’s kissing me like his life depends on it, like I’m the oxygen keeping him alive.
My body instantly responds, electricity crackling across my skin and liquid fire pooling deep in my abdomen. I love him and need him, and nothing can keep us apart now.
“Not in front of the children!” Mia yells, and we slowly break the kiss.
She holds up her camera. “Now let’s get a family-friendly version.”
I tuck into Brody’s side and smile for the photo.
Mia snaps a couple, then looks at the back screen and snorts. “That’s the picture of the night.”
Turning it around, she shows us the last one she took. We’ve got cheesy grins on our faces, our hair is sticking up in all directions, and my lipstick is smeared around both our mouths.
I burst out laughing. “That’s terrible!”
“It’s perfect,” Brody says. “Absolutely perfect.”
“Not so fake anymore, then?” Mia asks with a smirk, wagging her finger back and forth between us.
Brody’s eyes meet mine. “It was never fake for me.”
“Me neither,” I say as I smile up at him, my heart bursting with happiness.
“Well, no shit,” Mia says. “I just wish I could’ve bet on this outcome. I would’ve won big.”
“Aunt Mia!” Martha cries as she runs over. “Daddy, Grandpa, and Uncle Hudson are here!”
“That’s great, sweetie,” Mia replies, running a hand over Martha’s blonde curls.
Martha raises her eyebrows at Brody and me. “Have you been kissing?”
“I’m afraid so,” I reply.
“Why are you afraid?”
I laugh. “It’s just?—”
She waves her little hands, cutting me off. “Grandma will have a handkerchief in her purse. You need to clean up, because you both look silly.”
Brody chuckles beside me, then flattens his hair back down. “Any better?”
Martha purses her lips. “You still look like a clown. But a handsome one.” She turns back to Mia. “Uncle Hudson is wearing a suit, like Uncle Brody. He looks like a mighty fine piece of ass.”
“What the f—heck?” Mia splutters as Brody and I crack up. “Where did you hear that?”
Martha shrugs. “Some ladies were talking about him. Do you think Hudson is a mighty fine piece of ass, Aunt Mia?”
My best friend’s cheeks flush scarlet. “You can’t say that.”
“Why not? Should I say he’s a mighty fine piece of bottom instead?”
Brody and I collapse with laughter, and Martha gazes crossly at us.
