Page 76 of Bridesmaid Undercover
Ember:Ooo, good luck with that. Remember the time we took you to Trevor’s work party and you were talking to a guy and tried to drink your soda, but didn’t have your lips lined up with the hole, resulting in you pouring orange soda all over your face?
Everly:How is this helping?
Ember:It’s not but the memory made me laugh.
Everly:Glad I could entertain, but I’m going to have to go because I see Maple. Wish me luck.
Ember:Good luck! Text me later. I want to know all about Timothy.
I’m sure she does.
I stick my phone and keys in my purse and climb out of my car. “Hey, Maple,” I call out as she’s about to grab the door to the bowling alley. She glances over her shoulder and when she spots me, a relieved smile crosses her expression.
“You came,” she says as I close the space between us, and then to my surprise she gives me a hug.
“Did you think I wasn’t going to show up?” I ask.
“I was slightly worried that you might not, but I’m glad you did because I didn’t want to do this alone.”
“Have no fear—I’m here and I’m ready to grab a drink, so when I suck at bowling, I can blame the booze.”
She chuckles. “Very smart idea.”
“Stick with me, Maple, I have all the smart ideas.”
Together we walk into the incredibly crowded and boisterous bowling alley. This is not what I was anticipating. I thought maybe a few people milling about, fellow comrades talking about their latest night out, maybe a roll of a ball here and there. But this…wow. We’re talking full lanes, people in matching shirts and wrist guards analyzing bowling balls while polishing them with rags. Pints of beers crowd around plates of nachos and pizza, and the interesting scent of food mixed with stale feet floats through the air, despite the newer, renovated bowling alley.
It’s loud.
It’s overpopulated.
And there isn’t a chance in hell I’d stay if Maple wasn’t here with me.
“Uh, wow, this is intimidating,” I say while taking in the scene.
Maple steps closer. “Yeah, incredibly intimidating—what were we thinking?”
“We must have had a wild hair in us because my introvert is trying to crawl out of my skin at the moment,” I say.
“Yeah, this is more intense than I expected,” Maple replies.
“Maple,” a man says, walking up to her.
Tall with blond hair, he has the body of a swimmer, broad shoulders and a narrow waist, and perched on his nose is a pair of dark-rimmed glasses. Well, he’s a nice man to look at.
“Timothy,” Maple says with a smile. “Thank God. I don’t think I would’ve been able to find you in this crowd.”
“It’s why I headed toward the front. We’re over on lane twelve. I grabbed your shoes already—thanks for sending me the sizes in advance. And I’m about to run to the bar, so what can I get you to drink?”
“Well, first of all, this is Everly,” Maple says.
“Oh shit, I’m sorry,” Timothy says. “Where are my manners?” He holds his hand out to me, and I take it. “Everly, it’s really nice to meet you. Thank you for joining the team. We needed at least two girls, so you two being here allows us to play.”
“Not a problem. It’s always fun to do new things,” I say awkwardly because Timothy is an attractive man. A very attractive man. And apparently, I’ve lost all ability to function as a normal human.
He smiles kindly. “Well, can I get you anything to drink? We have two pizzas already and some buffalo wings. But I’m loading up on beer.”
“Could I get a seltzer?” Maple asks.
