Page 112 of Fake it for Keeps

“When?” The word came out sharp as a whip. “When did you change your mind, Hallie? Last night? Last week? After you’d already gotten me to fall for you?”

“I don’t know exactly when.” She took a step toward me, but I moved back. “It was gradual. Forever ago. The more I got to know you, the more I realized⁠—”

“The more you realized you could hurt me even worse?” My laugh was bitter. “God, I’m such an idiot.”

“No, that’s not⁠—”

“How could it be forever ago?” Frankie cut in, her voice sharp. “It’s only been six weeks, Hallie. Six weeks! Did you have your come-to-Jesus moment yesterday? A week ago? Two weeks ago? You’re a fraud. And a mean one, too.”

I stared at Hallie, trying to reconcile the woman I thought I knew with this revelation. I thought about every moment we’d shared.

Had any of it been real?

Or had she just been a really good actress, playing her part to perfection?

The doubt crept in like poison, and with it, all my old defenses triggered. The walls I’d spent all this time building, the ones Hallie had somehow managed to slip past, slammed back into place.

When I looked at her now, all I could see was someone who wanted to hurt me.

Alarm bells rang in my head.

Danger. Danger. Run.

I had been hurt enough.

“Colt, please,” Hallie said, moving toward me. “Can we talk? Just the two of us? I can explain.”

“Explain how you’ve been lying to me from day one?” My voice was cold now, detached. “How you’ve been playing me this entire time?”

“I wasn’t playing you.” She stopped, tears streaming down her face. “Please. Just let me explain.”

“I think I’ve heard everything I need to hear,” I said. “Please go.”

“Colt, just wait.”

“Get out of my office.”

“Please don’t do this.” Her voice broke. “Don’t shut me out. Not now.”

Frankie moved toward the door. “Get out, Hallie. He doesn’t want to talk to you.”

“Colt! Please!”

“If you won’t leave, I will,” I said, grabbing my coat. “I need air.”

I pushed past them both, heading for the elevators. I could hear Hallie calling my name, hear her footsteps behind me, but I didn’t stop. Didn’t turn around.

I pressed the elevator button repeatedly, willing it to come faster.

Hallie caught up to me. “Just listen. Just give me five minutes to explain.”

The elevator dinged and the doors opened. I stepped inside, and Hallie followed.

The last thing I wanted was to be trapped in a steel box with the woman that just stabbed me in the heart. Did she know that? Did she know she just killed any shot at love for me? I would never—could never—go through heartbreak again.

It would destroy me.

Frankie tried to get on too, but the doors started closing. She slammed her hand against them, but they shut in her face.