Page 178 of Bridesmaid for Hire
No, no, no. This can’t be happening. I did not…I did not suggest that idea, did I?
I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to remember last night.
The shots.
The pretzel.
Reginald’s constant badgering for me to drink.
Drink more.
And more.
And then…it fucking hits me.
My eyes flash open, my heart sinks to the floor. The proposal. The arguing about Deanna, and then the pocket wedding suggestion.
Holy fucking shit.
I…I sold Maggie’s idea. I gave it to Reginald without even thinking about it. How could I have done that? And she must have found out. That’s why she disappeared, why she’s not talking to me.
I feel the color drain from my cheeks as I cup my forehead in shock.
You utter fucking moron.
Here’s Maggie, working her ass off to make something of her business, to open that storefront she so desperately wants, and I just offered up one of her unique, career-making ideas to her biggest competitor.
Yup, I would tell myself to fuck off too.
“Fuck,” I mutter as I lean back in my chair.
She has to hate me. No wonder she spent the night in Hardy’s bungalow. She probably couldn’t even look at me. I don’t blame her. I can barely stand to be myself in this very moment because I broke her trust. I hurt her like I promised I wouldn’t. And now, as she’s standing there, helping out the Hoppers, in the back of her head, she’s thinking about how they’re about to use her idea, pass it off as their own…because of me.
You are such a fucking idiot.
I shake my head. I need to make this right. I need to fix this.
But how?
I’m not about to charge into the wedding and demand justice for Maggie. That would only embarrass her and make the situation even worse. No, I need to figure out something behind the scenes. I take a shaky sip of water, my hungover mind lurching to life. I need to make this right, even if she never trusts me again, never gives me another chance. I need to protect her and her intellectual property. I need to protect her business and make sure she earns the recognition she deserves.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
MAGGIE
THE SUN IS BRIMMING JUSTABOVE THE HORIZONas local musicians start playing a beautiful acoustic remake of “My Girl.” The guests are seated in white chairs, facing the glittering blue lagoon. Banana leaves are lined up and have been strung together, forming a unique but stunning garland draped all around the ceremony space and along the inner aisle.
I stand at the end of the aisle, waiting for my cue to start walking, and I take it all in.
The resort was able to scrape together some flowers for the wedding, but they only dotted the ceremony space with them since Haisley truly wanted to stick with the more natural feel. But I will say, the light pops of white Tahitian flowers against the garland’s mix of greens is even prettier than I expected it to be.
My bouquet is beautifully wrapped and weaved together to look like a bundle of roses, when in fact, they’re leaves. It may have been my idea, but I’ve never seen anything like it. So stunning.
Speaking of stunning. Haisley has to be the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen.
She chose an unstructured, gauzy dress with flowers decorating the bodice. It clings to her torso, showing off her shapely figure, while the bottom flows in an effortless way. She left her hair down with beach waves and clipped one side back with an antique hair clip—a family heirloom that her mother brought for her.
She has no inkling of the nightmare that was yesterday. She’s been happy, excited, and well taken care of all day.
