Page 68 of Royally Bad

Getting kissed under the stars—even through a window—was pretty amazing.

Regardless, being stuck as I was, I couldn’t see my mother or run my business. Kain had returned my purse and phone to me, which did help some; I could call her freely, but it was clear she doubted my reasons for not stopping by.

Blaming work was a shaky lie, it wasn’t keeping me busy at all. It was a mixed blessing that Fran’s wedding had ended so abruptly. No one was blogging or gabbing about the dress she’d worn—the one I’d made. That meant I didn’t have the explosion of business I really needed ... and it also meant I didn’t have to field calls about dresses I couldn’t make because I wasn’t able to get to work.

Kain’s father wasn’t going to let me go anywhere.

In a last-ditch effort to not lose everything, I’d given Kain my bridal shop key, asking him to collect my mail.

And ... he’d done it.

“There’s a lot of stuff,” he said.

Frowning, I started digging through the pile. Most of the stack consisted of bills. Kain saw too many for me to bother hiding them. “What?” I finally asked. “Is it that shocking?”

Dropping into a chair beside me, he pulled one of the envelopes closer. “When Fran and I went to your shop that first time, it looked like you were doing really well.”

“Appearances.” I shuffled another bill aside. “They say if you act rich, you’ll become rich.”It almost worked, too. Maybe the police will still turn those checks over to me someday.

“If it helps, after seeing what you did in such a short time for us, I think you’re one hell of a wedding planner.”

That had me smiling helplessly. I almost shoved a small, white envelope in with the rest, but at the last second, I saw the name on it.This is ...Peeling it open, I pulled the photos into the light. They weren’t even all the way out before I was shaking.

Hazel looked beautiful in her wedding dress. It fit her perfectly—of course it did, I’d made it—but it was her smile that really made her glow. She was standing in front of a man dressed as Elvis, her husband grinning in a mismatched blue-and-tan suit.

It was easily the trashiest wedding photo I’d ever seen.

Ilovedit.

“Whoa, hey, you okay?” Kain asked me.

I couldn’t answer, I was so overwhelmed.She looked so happy.

There was a knock at the door. I heard someone outside talking—was Costello on guard duty or Hawthorne? When the chatting continued, I knew it had to be Fran and Hawthorne. She never talked to Costello beyond a few blunt sentences.

Heels clicked through the door, Francesca swaying into my prison. Mic followed her closely. She said, “I was going to ask if you wanted breakfast, but it looks like someone else brought it to you.” She leaned over my shoulder. “Wow. That’s got to be theworstwedding I’ve ever seen!”

Heat burned up to my ears.

“Are they seriously in Vegas! Ha-ha, wow, who does that? Gawd, that’s ... Sammy? Are youcrying?”

Wiping tears from my eyes, I folded the envelope. “No, of course not.”

Kain touched my knee under the table. It was comforting, I sent him a quick smile.

Next to me, Frannie folded her arms. “I didn’t mean to make you sad.”

“I’m not sad. I’m happy.” Sliding my chair back, I took a deep breath. “It just feels good to know Hazel got the wedding she’d always hoped for.” How could I explain how I was feeling? I’d spent hours on that dress, and I’d given it all up just to keep Hazel from missing out on her big dream.

Mic made a tiny whimper. Lifting my head, I realized Francesca was looking at her feet. Her hair had fallen over her forehead, hiding most of her expression. It dawned on me that her silence wasn’t because she was being snotty.

“Fran,” I said, starting toward her.

Shaking her head, she forced out a loud, fake laugh. “What? Stop looking at me like I’m some little orphan on the side of the road.” Mic whined again; she bent down, scooping him up. “He’s hungry, I’ve gotta feed him before he throws a fit.”

Faster than normal, she hurried from the room.

“Huh,” Kain said. “What was that all about?”

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