The Make Up (Falling for Franklin, #2)

by Hailey Gardiner

He couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket if it were made out of vibranium from Wakanda.

Because here’s the thing about Hunter and me…we are fine just the way we are. And if he were to ever find out that my feelings run a whole lot deeper than friendship, I would risk losing the truest love I have ever known. He would find another Sarah to replace me like *that*, and I would rot away as a spinster for the rest of my days, trying and failing to find a man who could measure up to all that Hunter is for me. I couldn’t bear that.

Hunter will lose his shiz watching Chloe with another man. Hunter will NOT lose his shiz watching Chloe with another man.

“Why do I feel like I’m being bribed?” “Because you are,” Luke says. “Everyone who knows you knows that you’ll do anything for a plate of baked goods.”

“How did I get so blessed to have you boys as my sons?” I shrug. “I don’t know. I think God was trying to get rid of some of his overflow stock of rowdy kids and sent two of his top troublemakers your way.”

“Pushing through pain is noble, but not always necessary. You don’t get a prize for being strong.”

“Rest. Say no. Slow down before you’re forced to.”

Oh, heaven help me. He’s got his glasses on today.

Valid

Inhale. Exhale. Would Snoop let his emotions show right now? No, ma’am. I’m poised. Unreadable.

“I want to be…” Hunter’s voice is low, intimate. “More than just your best friend. I want to prove to you that I’ve changed. That I see you, Chloe. That I’ve always seen you.”

“I’m going to do everything in my power to convince you to give me a chance,” he says.

Just like that, he’s gone. And just like that, I’m utterly undone.

“I didn’t hit you on purpose! You were too busy staring at me to see the ball coming.” “I was trying to be subtle.” She rolls her eyes, swinging around the pole to join me on my side of the court. “You’re about as subtle as a sledgehammer.”

“I can’t even tell you how long I’ve wanted to kiss you like that, Chloe Paulson.”

“I don’t want you to change for me, Hunter. I’ve always accepted you for exactly who you are. At every stage and every moment.” “I know that,” I say, my hands finding her hips. “And that’s exactly why I want to change. You make me want to be better.”

Oh, the cleverness of me.

Peter Pan?! What are you doing here? 🥰

I’ve tried to consciously love and accept myself, flaws and all, but for some reason, it feels so much harder to believe that someone else, someone like Hunter, could accept those parts of me that are a little twisted, a little crooked, a little uneven.

This pure desire to see Chloe happy, even at the expense of my own happiness. Because her happiness multiplies mine tenfold.

Is this what love feels like? Because if so, I’d like to bottle it up and carry it with me always.

“To be honest,” I counter, “I’d prefer you to refer to me as your highness, or perhaps goddess divine.” “I’ll call you whatever you want, as long as I get to call you mine.”