Page 52 of Don't Fall For Your Fake Boyfriend

“Thanks, guys. I’m lucky as hell to have you all. Now, let's do these shots so I can hand my balls over to Hartford,” Paxton says, tossing back his shot.

We all follow suit and I look around. I wasn’t excited for this wedding when I sat down on the plane, but now I am.

I’m excited for my brother and I’m excited for me.

Paxton is marrying the love of his life in Vegas and I’m pretty sure I found the love of my life in Vegas.

“Let’s go!” Paxton shouts.

“Let’s get you married,” Callum says, wrapping his arm around Paxton's shoulder.

We all walk out of the room and my pulse races. I’m about to see my girl and I can’t fucking wait.

Chapter 23

Willow

“Everything is falling apart,” Hartford exclaims, her voice tinged with panic. “I can’t believe this.” Her eyes glisten, looking like they could spill tears at any moment.

Anya, moving with determined urgency, rushes around the hotel room, searching every nook and cranny for Hartford’s veil. “It’s here… somewhere. I’m sure of it,” she reassures, her voice laced with a mixture of confidence and anxiety.

The room is a whirlwind of bridal chaos: open suitcases, scattered makeup, and dresses draped over chairs. Anya flips through hangers in the closet, checks under the bed, and even peers into the bathroom, her mind racing through all the possible places the veil could be hiding. Hartford sits on the edge of the bed, wringing her hands, her heart pounding in her chest.

“I swear, I saw it just a minute ago,” Felicity mutters, her brow furrowed in concentration as she sifts through the pile of clothes on the armchair.

Hartford takes a deep breath, trying to steady herself, but the anxiety is palpable. The clock is ticking, and every second feels like an eternity. “What if we can’t find it?” she whispers, her voice barely audible.

I meet Hartford’s worried gaze. “We will find it,” I say firmly, a determined smile spreading across my face. “We promise.”

Just then, Anya lets out a triumphant shout. “Found it!” She holds up the delicate veil, waving it in the air like a victory flag.

Hartford’s face lights up with relief and gratitude, the tension melting away. “Oh my God, Anya, you’re a lifesaver!” She leaps up and hugs her friend tightly, her earlier panic forgotten.

Anya laughs, hugging her back. “I told you we’d find it. Now let’s get you ready to walk down that aisle and marry the love of your life.”

With the veil safely in hand, we all take a moment to breathe.

“Listen,” Hartford starts. “I appreciate every single one of you today. I never thought in a million years I’d be marrying Paxton Atwood. I’d dreamed I would, but never really believed it would actually happen. But here we are, and I’m a nervous wreck.”

Clara smiles. “Hartford, just breathe. As soon as you spot Paxton at the end of the aisle, that nervousness will melt away. Promise.”

Hartford smiles, tears welling in her eyes. “I don’t want to cry,” she says, leaning her head back and fanning her hands in front of her face. “No more mushy shit please.”

We all laugh, and Anya raises her champagne glass. “To no more mushiness.”

We all clink glasses and smile.

Hartford’s mother is finishing up the last of Hartford’s hair, curling her hair into beautiful tendrils that fall gently down her back.

“Wow, Hartford. You look beautiful,” I say, wondering if I’ll ever get married.

I honestly could never have pictured me walking down the aisle, until last night. I woke up in the middle of the night from a dream. I’d been dreaming about Brock standing at the end of the aisle, his boyish grin lighting up his face as I walked down a long aisle to meet him. The look in his eyes said it all, and I remember being so happy in the dream.

Like I’d never wanted that feeling to end.

When I woke up, I glanced over at Brock. He was fast asleep, and I watched him, studying him. Listening to the sounds of his breathing as I thought about what a real relationship would look like. I nearly cried thinking about it all.

I snuggled up closer to him, and fell asleep, wrapped in his arms, and I realized at that moment I was falling in love with him.