Page 122 of Bridesmaid Undercover
“Just because you were unsure of who you wanted to be and what you wanted to do in college doesn’t mean you were any less worthy than who you are now,” I say as he folds the blue shirt back up and puts it on the table. “A lot of people don’t figure out what they want until they’re older.”
“You had it figured out,” he says.
“I’m different. I was set in my ways from an early age, and frankly, I’m very lucky I was able to interview with Maggie and she took a chance on me, because my industry is very hard to break into. If it weren’t for Maggie, I’d probably be working a corporate job that has very little in common with what I really want to do. And I sure as hell wouldn’t be heading up fun and innovative projects like Bridesmaid for Hire.”
He picks up a green shirt and examines the front. “Nonetheless, you had it figured out and I wonder if that bothered Maple. That my life was always undecided.”
“I don’t see how that could bother her,” I say while he holds a T-shirt up to his chest, checking out the size. This design is better, with a vintage inspired font. “I like that one.”
“Enough to wear it?” he asks.
“Easily,” I say.
“What’s your size?”
“Um, I would probably want it bigger, so…a large.”
He plucks a large for me and an extra large for himself. “I think we need hats too.” He moves over toward the baseball caps, and I follow him.
Bringing him back to our conversation, I say, “I don’t think you should put down the guy you were back in college, Hardy. Clearly, he has shaped you into the man you are today, and that man is wonderful.”
He looks over his shoulder at me with a raised brow, curios. “You think I’m wonderful?”
I roll my eyes and move past him. “You know, I told myself not to offer you any compliments because I knew you were going to make a big deal about it. I was right.”
“Of course, I’m going to make a big deal about it,” Hardy says. “The professor said I’m wonderful. I think my job here is done.”
“What job?” I ask.
“Convincing you that I’m the most amazing man to walk the Earth.”
I knew that months ago.
“And why would you need to convince me of that?” I ask while I pick up a baseball hat and place it on my head.
He tugs on the bill. “So you can speak highly of me to Maple instead of telling her that spicy food gives me gas.”
My smile barely reaches my cheeks.Of course, this always comes back to Maple.Every single time this comes back to Maple.
“This one works.” He picks up the same hat and places it on his head. “You know, we could be twins.”
I look up at him, his tall stature eclipsing me easily. “Twins?” I ask, not wanting to be twins with the guy I adore. “Pretty sure we’re far from being twins.”
“Not according to Danny DeVito and Arnold Schwarzenegger.”
“Are you really referencing a movie from the 1800s?”
“1800s?” he says on a gasp. “Try the eighties.”
“Ooof, sorry, I was born in the two thousands.”
His mouth falls open and he stares at me blankly, his expression making me laugh. “No, that’s not fucking right.”
I nod. “It is. Sorry your old man brain can’t comprehend.”
“I don’t have an old man brain, you have…you are…fuck…two thousands?”
I chuckle. “Yup.”
