Page 116 of Bridesmaid Undercover
“Huh?”
“Hardy,” he says. “You like him.”
“What?” I say, as my lower back starts to sweat. “No, I don’t.”
“Come on, Everly,” he says. “Don’t lie to me. If you’re worried I’m going to say something to Maple, don’t. I think she witnessed the same thing I did at dinner.”
“What did you witness?” I ask.
“That there’s a connection between you two. I saw it at bowling, though I wasn’t sure if it was just because you’re friends, but tonight…it was evident.”
I shake my head. “There’s nothing going on there.”
“Maybe not,” he says. “But there probably should be, and I’m not mad about it, Everly. I’m really not. I think it might be in your best interest to pursue something with him.”
“There’s nothing there,” I say.
“There is,” he replies. “And I think you’re too blind to see it at the moment.”
“Trust me, Timothy. There’s nothing going on…on his side.” I look away, feeling the weight of that sentence heavy on my shoulders.
“I think you’re wrong,” he says. “I saw the way he was looking at you tonight, the ease he has around you. There’s something there.” He tilts my chin up, looking me in the eyes. “You just need to find a way to pull it out of him.”
I bite on my bottom lip, guilt consuming me. “I…I don’t want to like him, Timothy.”
“But you do.”
“I’m trying not to,” I say.
“And how’s that going for you?” he asks.
“Clearly not well.” I twist my hands together. “Was I that obvious?”
“It was pretty clear that we were on a date with the wrong people.”
“I’m sorry,” I say. “I…I didn’t mean to exclude you.”
“I know,” he says. “And at one point, it was kind of comical, watching you two go back and forth, especially when you were fighting about dessert and if you should get the giant cake or two small desserts to share. It was really fucking obvious then that you two should be together.”
“I thought everyone would eat the giant cake. You proved me wrong.”
He chuckles and then sighs. “You know, Everly, I think under other circumstances, we could have had some fun together, but I know when to step down.”
“I…I wish I wasn’t feeling this way.”
“It’s okay,” he says. “But now you can go for it.”
I shake my head. “No, I can’t. He’s all in with his feelings for Maple. I don’t…I don’t want to try to be with someone who likes someone else.” The minute my words fall out of my mouth, I realize that’s exactly what was happening with Timothy.
He realizes it too because he kindly smiles and then takes a step forward.
“Can I give you a hug?”
“Yes,” I say before he wraps his arms around me and squeezes me tight.
“You’ll never know until you try,” he says into my ear. “I think there’s something there, but you just need to make him see it.” When he pulls away, he places his hands on my shoulders. “It was really nice meeting you, Everly. If you ever get over your feelings for Hardy or things just don’t work out, give me a call.” The corners of his mouth tilt up.
“I will,” I say. “And I’m sorry, Timothy.”
