Page 86 of The Texan's Secrets

“It’s not,” she repeated. “If Maggie’s not sure.”

Pledging your life to another person was an enormous commitment.

“I don’t want to back out,” Maggie said. “I’m sorry if I seemed upset.”

“Don’t be sorry,” Natalie said, giving Maggie’s hands a squeeze.

“I don’t know what that was,” Maggie continued. “It just...all of a sudden...came over me.”

“Stage fright,” Ashely suggested. “I’ve seen that happen before. You’re having a really big wedding.”

“You should have eaten more at brunch,” Misha suggested. “Are you hungry?”

“I couldn’t eat a thing.”

“Thirsty then,” Natalie said. “Your dress is upstairs in your bedroom. We’ll stop for something to drink on the way.”

“I’m sure thirsty,” Misha said.

“The bridesmaid dresses are in the front guest room on the second floor,” Natalie told Misha and Emilia. “It won’t take you two as long to get dressed, so you don’t need to rush.”

“Can we hang around?” Ashley asked. “We’d love to see you all in your outfits.”

“Sure,” Maggie said, seeming like she was fully recovered. “Help yourself to something to drink. There’s plenty of space to sit down in the great room.”

“We’ll pack up here first,” Ashley said as Natalie ushered Maggie out the door.

“Thirsty?” Misha asked Emilia.

“Hydrating is probably a good idea.”

The two women headed across the pool deck into the back door of the mansion, picking up some sparkling water in the kitchen before making their way to the spacious guest room that held their dresses.

“How are things with you and Nick?” Misha asked as she closed the door behind them.

“There’s...” Emilia girded herself. “There’s something we need to talk about.”

Nick might be willing to keep her name out of the k!smet security flaw discovery, but Emilia wanted to come clean.

“Is something wrong?” Misha’s hand went to the back of an armchair in the corner of the room.

“Yes. There is. Things with the two of us aren’t exactly what they seem. Maybe he even said something to you?”

Misha sat down, her tone going hushed. “Said something about what?”

Emilia took the chair cornerwise to Misha. It might not be the perfect time to come clean, but she couldn’t quash the feeling she’d betrayed her friend.

Emilia gathered her courage. “I hacked k!smet.”

Misha drew back, looking startled and confused. “What?”

“I did it. I hacked in.”

“While you were working for HitMeUp?”

“No.” Emilia quickly shook her head. “Nothing like that. Then again, maybe this is worse. I hacked in for the Surprise Me! contest. I matched Paris with Chase and me with Nick.”

Misha blinked rapidly. It took her a few seconds to speak. “You matched yourself with Nick?”

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