Page 123 of Bridesmaid Undercover
He lifts up his hat and pushes his hand through his hair. “Fuck, when you put it like that, I feel like the older brother whose parents had an accidental pregnancy later on in life.”
“Oh God, don’t refer to yourself as my brother,” I say before I can stop myself.
“Why not?” he asks.
Because that would mean I have a crush on my brother and that’s frowned upon in our society.
Because I’ve had naughty thoughts about you.
Because this whole time, I wish you were kissing me like Breaker did with Lia.
Those aren’t brotherly things.
“Uh, because I think sharing a cake like we did tonight is sacred…not something you do with your sibling,” I say, wincing internally. It’s not a good excuse, but I needed to say something.
“You know,” he says, “that was a sacred moment tonight, wasn’t it?”
“It was,” I say, grateful that he’s going along with the idiotic narrative I’ve created.
“One might say the kind of sacred moment you celebrate with matching hats and shirts.”
“I could not agree more.” I hold up my hat on my head. “I think this is the winner.”
He taps his chin. “You know, I think it is, the only question now is…do we get matching mugs too?”
I glance over at the kitschy display of San Francisco mugs. “I think it’s necessary.”
“Agreed.”
He smirks and then pulls me over to the mugs. I steal glances of him, committing this small moment to memory. I might not be able to have him, but I do have these moments, and these are the ones I’ll hold close to my heart.
Chapter Seventeen
HARDY
To: Everly Plum
From: Hardy Hopper
Subject: Almond Bay
Professor,
So I’m up in Almond Bay today, talking with the Rowley sisters, Aubree and Hattie, about a partnership. Have you ever been up here? They sell almond extract and these amazing cherry almond cookies…I grabbed a dozen to bring back to San Francisco because, Jesus fuck, they’re good. I’m going to have some sent to your office when I get back.
Also, Aubree and her husband, Wyatt, showed me around the farm…a potato farm. They take the potatoes and make vodka, then they take the vodka and infuse it with almonds to make almond extract. The entire process was fascinating. You probably know all of this through Maggie, but I got to see it firsthand, and it was pretty fucking cool.
And I know you didn’t ask for this trivial update, but I thought it was interesting. Not to mention, I wanted to tellyou that I’m available any time this week, pending my return tomorrow, to go over any bach party stuff, since that’s coming up next week.
I can’t comprehend how quickly this wedding is coming together. I got fitted for my suit the other day with Ken and he was practically bouncing off the walls he’s so thrilled—and might I add, very excited for the dips.
Anyway, expect cookies soon and I’d enjoy a full review. Thanks.
Henrietta
To:Hardy Hopper
From: Everly Plum
