Page 124 of Fauxmance

Jasmine's voice came through the phone with all the finesse of a wrecking ball, and I was glad I'd had the good sense to duck into one of Constance Davenport's many hallway closets. It was actually pretty sizable. I'd needed privacy and was just glad to get away from the engagement party for a moment.

Until Jas started in on me.

"Hello?Hellooo?" she said. Then as if she'd taken her mouth away from the phone, she added, "Cole, there's something wrong with this line. I don't think she can hear me."

"I can hear you," I said.

"Never mind, Cole. It's all good." Jasmine's voice came back clear as a bell. "Well, why didn't you answer then? These minutes aren't cheap, Magnolia."

I knew she was right.

Jasmine had taken a break from her weeks-long honeymoon, traveling through Europe to make this call.

"I don't know what to say," I said finally. "When I saw your number I figured something was wrong."

"Oh, there is," she said. "There's something very wrong. I warned you about Hayden and his player ways. You and he are not a good match."

"You don't know him."

"Cole does."

"And they're best friends, Jas, so he must be more than just a player."

Jasmine paused. "Are you…arguing with me right now?"

I shook my head even though she couldn't see it. "I just don't see what the big deal is."

"You kissed him, and now, it's splashed all over the internet."

"I saw," I said. Unlike me, someone had definitely been recording that night at The Sleepy Turtle. They'd even captured Hayden's dedication and the song afterward. I'd only watched it like a thousand times. But Jasmine was only interested in the kiss. "Hayden didn't make that video. I went to see his band. His ex from hell showed up and tried to make him feel bad. We kissed. That's all."

"You sound stressed," she said. "Did Hayden do something?"

I sighed, sick of holding the truth inside. "What do you want to hear, Jas? That I like him? That I can't stop thinking about him? That I'd keep him forever if I could? Because yes, okay. To all of those things."

A groan came through the line, and I could almost feel her anguish across all the miles separating us.

"I knew something was up when he called to ask Cole about you," she mumbled. "Okay, that's it. I'm coming home."

"What?" I laughed. "You can't be serious. Your honeymoon still has another week."

"I am not going to let you get tangled up with the Davenports. You're too sweet, Maggie. They'll chew you up and spit you out."

"Actually, I've already met them," I said.

It was silent a beat.

"I went to Phillipa's wedding, met his parents, aunts, uncles and cousins, too. I even went to tea with his grandmother."

"You…" she tried again. "You went to tea withtheConstance Davenport?"

"Yes."

And we watched a concert alone but together, I thought but didn't say.

"She's scary," Jasmine said.

"She's actually not," I said. "And I met Hayden's family, on more than one occasion, and lived to tell the tale. So, you can stop worrying. I can take care of myself."

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