Page 121 of Bridesmaid Undercover
“Figured he’d be the topic of conversation. I told you if we went to dinner with them down here, he was going to talk about pigeons nonstop.”
“I know,” Breaker groans. “He was adamant about the restaurant location and now I know why.” Turning to us, Breaker says, “Sorry, this is my wife, Lia. Lia, this is Hardy Hopper—not sure you two have met yet—and this is Everly Plum. She works with Maggie under Magical Moments by Maggie.”
“Oh, how nice to meet you,” Lia says with a bright smile. “I’m so excited that you guys have teamed up with the Canes. I’ve enjoyed visiting San Francisco more since you’ve created the co-op.”
“Oh, do you not live here?” I ask, clearly not in the know. Maybe I should do my research.
She shakes her head. “No, we live in Los Angeles, but since the Hoppers and Canes have merged, we’ve been spending a little bit more time up here.”
“Do you ever go down to Los Angeles?” I ask Hardy.
“Not often,” he says. “Maybe once or twice. Mainly JP comes up here to talk with us. Surprised you’re here, Breaker.”
“Yeah, JP wanted to talk about another building he thinks we can turn into low-income housing, and I came up to look at it, see if it was feasible. I think your brother was talking about having a meetup this week while I’m here.”
“That would be great,” Hardy says. “Well, I don’t want to keep you guys. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”
“You too,” Breaker says. “And if you happen to hear wailing down on the pier, you know who it is.”
“We won’t even go near him—we’ll give him some privacy,” Hardy says, making me chuckle.
“If he wanted privacy, he wouldn’t be sobbing in public.” Breaker offers us a smile and a wave. “Have a good evening.”
“You too,” Hardy says and then they take off.
“He’s really nice,” I say. “And Lia seems very sweet.”
“She is. They’re actually college friends.”
“Oh, really?” I ask as we walk into a souvenir shop full of kitschy shirts, hats, and mugs. You name it, they have it.
“Yeah, they bonded over Scrabble and were friends for a really long time, although they never dated in college. Breaker was telling me that it wasn’t until Lia was engaged to someone else that he realized he was in love with her all these years.”
Why does this feel like my current situation?
“Wow,” I say as we move around the shop. “I’m assuming she didn’t marry the other guy.”
Hardy shakes his head. “No, the other guy was completely wrong for her, and Breaker pointed it out. He told me the best thing he ever did was open his eyes to see that their friendship was so much more.” We walk toward a table of shirts that seems promising. “I feel like that’s what I want for Maple, you know? Open her eyes, let her see me for the man I am now, not the man I was back then.”
God, just the mention of her name makes me feel ill. Not because I don’t like her—because I do, I think Maple is amazing—but because I’m jealous.
I’m so freaking jealous of her.
Because I see you for the man you are today, Hardy.
I’m right here.
Waiting.
Hoping.
Wishing you would give me a chance. Even look my way.
Open your eyes…
“What’s so wrong with the guy you were back then?” I ask.
He picks up a navy-blue shirt with a simple font scrolled across the front that readsSan Francisco. “I wasn’t sure of myself in college. Wasn’t quite in tune with what I wanted, what I wanted to accomplish. I have a set idea now, and I have a passion—two things that she had in college.”
