Page 38 of Bridesmaid Undercover
JP Cane
Chapter Seven
EVERLY
“What is that in your hand?” Ember asks as she walks up to me, cutting through the crowd in the swanky restaurant.
My eyes snap up to hers. “Oh, nothing.”
I attempt to slip the Professor Plum token into my purse, but Ember stops me and opens my fist, revealing the game piece.
Clearly confused, she looks up at me with a crease in her brow. “Why do you have a game piece in your hand?”
“Uh, long story,” I say while I watch Trevor slip some money to the host, probably looking to get us a better table.
When Ember said she would hook me up with Trevor’s friend from work, I told her I didn’t think I could do a blind date, so she asked if I would go out with him if it was a foursome. That seemed less intimidating, so I said yes. But now that I’m here, I’m regretting that decision immensely.
I’m nervous.
I feel sweaty.
And I can’t stop thinking about the one man I shouldn’t be thinking about: Hardy Hopper.
At first, I was genuinely trying to catch him up on what was going on with Maple via email, but with every ding of my inbox, I fell into this easy rapport with him.
The joking, the teasing, the codenames. It was all so…addictive.
Then when he told me to meet him at the zoo in disguise, I was all in. Spending extra time with Hardy Hopper? Yes, please. I jumped on that opportunity so quickly, which only made this insatiable appetite I have for the man even worse.
Despite the skewering of the fake nose, the man pony, and the shirt, I can’t stop thinking about our zoo trip, how it felt to be close to him. The way he makes me feel so comfortable, how he makes me laugh, the easygoing conversations. Ugh…he was charming, fun, and sweet, someone I could see myself dating. And now I’m carrying around a freaking Professor Plum token like a freaking lovesick teenager, wanting to hold it up to my cheek and make kissing noises because it reminds me of him.
Something is seriously wrong with me.
Ember studies me while folding her arms across her chest. “Why are your eyes shifting?”
“What are you talking about?” I ask, not daring to meet my sister’s gaze. “They’re not shifting.”
“Then look at me.”
“I am looking at you,” I say, staring at her shoulder.
“Look me in the eyes, Everly.”
God, she’s annoying.
I bring my gaze to hers and under the glare of her pupils, I feel myself shrinking…and shrinking…
And shrinking.
Until… “Fine,” I surrender. “The token was from Hardy. He had it delivered to me because he calls me Professor, because, you know…Professor Plum from Clue.”
Her lips purse.
Her eyes search mine.
My metaphorical tail tucks between my legs because I know what’s coming.
The lecture.
