Page 115 of Bridesmaid Undercover
“I never would have guessedthat you’re a big chocolate fan,” I say to Hardy, who’s taking slow bites of the chocolate cake he ordered. It’s chocolate on chocolate and covered in peanuts.
“Oh, I’m a huge fan. Can’t get enough of it.”
I slice off a piece of his cake that he ordered for the table since it’s so big, like nearly half the cake, four layers of ooey gooey goodness. Unfortunately, Timothy and Maple don’t want any. We even offered the inside of the cake to Timothy so he didn’t have to deal with the nuts, but it’s a no go.
All the more for us is what I say.
“Me too. I think chocolate has to be the best flavor. Out of the original three—vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate—chocolate takes it by a landslide.”
“There really isn’t much competition,” Hardy says. “Vanilla is so bland, and strawberry is more like a kid’s flavor. Chocolate has a robust taste that complements pretty much everything. Strawberry, not so much. Vanilla, well, it just takes on the flavor of anything that it’s paired with. Chocolate can complement and stand on its own.”
“Sounds like you need to be the face of chocolate,” I say.
“I would proudly do that.”
“Ooo, you could wear your pink suit while boasting about the deliciousness that is chocolate, throw people off, make them think you’re about to praise strawberry, but then bam, chocolate.”
“I like the way you think, Plum,” he says. “Maybe even wear a shirt under the suit that sayschocolate loverand when I go to surprise everyone, I tear open the suit jacket and reveal my shirt.”
“Slightly tacky, but entertaining. I approve.”
With a smile, he digs his fork into the cake and asks Maple and Timothy who are just sitting there, staring at us, “You sure you don’t want any? It’s really good.”
“Positive,” Maple says. “I was actually thinking about taking off. I have a bit of a headache from a long day in the sun, and I want to rest my head.”
“Oh no,” I say. “I’m sorry. I hate work headaches; they’re the worst.”
“They really are,” Maple says. “Um, just tell me what I owe for the bill?—”
“It’s on me,” Hardy says. “The whole meal. I really enjoyed the company tonight.”
“Me too,” I say. “I’ve had a lot of fun.”
Maple softly smiles. “It was nice.” She slings her purse over her shoulder as she stands. “Thanks for dinner.” She waves and takes off.Weird. That headache must really be bugging her.
“I, uh, I think I might head out too,” Timothy says.
“Oh no, really?” I ask. “Do you have a headache too?”
“Early morning,” he says.
“Well, let me walk you out,” I say. I shove at Hardy. “Move, you ogre.”
“Ogre?” he says on a laugh. “I’m anything but an ogre.” He moves out of the booth, and then I shuffle out as well, leaving my stuff behind.
I look Hardy in the eyes. “There’d better be cake when I return.”
“Can’t make any promises.”
I roll my eyes and then follow Timothy to the front of the restaurant. He doesn’t exit though, sparing me from the chilly night air.
“Well, I hope you had fun,” I say to him. “Maybe a good meal?”
“It was a good meal,” he says, putting his hands in his pockets and not looking me in the eye.
“Is there something wrong?”
When he looks up and our eyes meet, he says, “You like him.”
