Page 197 of Bridesmaid for Hire
Brody:Hey Jude, it’s Brody. Sorry to drop in like this on your honeymoon, but I have some pressing things I need to talk to you about. It involves Haisley.
I hit send and wait.
I can’t believe that fucker. It’s one thing to mess with me, but to mess with Maggie? Someone with a heart of gold, who helped make his own daughter’s wedding amazing…who stepped in selflessly and gave her all. Fuck him if he thinks he can treat her—and her business—with such disrespect.Like he’s above reproach.Not going to fucking happen.
My phone buzzes in my hand and I quickly pull up Jude’s reply.
Jude:We got home early. I’m free tonight. I don’t fuck around when it comes to Haisley.
Same, Jude. I don’t fuck around when it comes to my girl either.
Brody:Meet me at The Bean at eight. We need to talk.
Gary:Are you sure you don’t want me to be there? What if he beats you up?
Brody:Why would he beat me up?
Gary:After you showed me a picture of him, all I can think about is his fist driving through your face. He might not like what you have to say.
Brody:He’s not going to punch me.
Gary:You don’t know that for sure. You could say somethingabout his woman and then whammo bammo, he pulls his hammer from his back pocket and bashes you between the eyes.
Brody:I love you, Gare, but he’s not going to do that.
Gary:I’m not risking it. I’m on my way.
Brody:Jesus Christ. Stay home.
“Hey, man,” Jude says, coming up to me with a cup of coffee in his hand.
I look up from my phone and start to smile. Until I see Hudson and Hardy walk up behind him.
Oh…fuck.
Maybe I do need Gary here.
“Uh, hey guys,” I say nervously as I stand and hold out my hand.
Jude shakes it, and to my surprise, so do Hudson and Hardy.
Nervously, we sit down, crowding a tiny bistro table that we’re too large for.
“So…” I begin. “How was your honeymoon?”
“Cut the formalities,” Jude says in a gruff voice. “What’s going on?”
Okay, yup, should have expected that. I told him I needed to discuss his wife, and he doesn’t want to beat around the bush.
“I first want to apologize for the bachelor party,” I start off. “I know I was out of line—”
“I’m going to stop you right there,” Jude says. “I’ve already spoken to you about this, and I had a chat with Hudson and Hardy on the way over here. You were not at fault for what happened that night and they agree with me.”
“You do?” I ask.
Hardy nods. “I’m ashamed of my father—that’s what this comes down to. He should never have treated you like that, and I don’t care what the circumstances were.”
“Agreed,” Hudson says. “We’ve been having discussions, the three ofus, on what we want to do about Reginald because frankly, he’s not the kind of man we want to be—or the kind of man we want representing us.”
