Page 159 of Bridesmaid Undercover
“I already did. Let’s just say I’m not marrying him for that reason. He’s lucky I didn’t break the engagement off after that comment.” Polly tugs on my hand. “Seriously, come play. You didn’t set this whole thing up not to play, did you?”
No.
I set this whole thing up because I’m a needy fucker, it seems. And now that I’ve woken up these intense feelings for one particular woman, I can’t seem to think straight.
“Well, if you need a partner, I can be that person for you,” Everly says. “I’m just going to apologize in advance.”
“She sounds like she’s not great, which makes her a great partner,” Polly says. “Come on, watch me and Ken beat you two.”
I let out a sigh. “Sure, but let me warm up with Everly for a bit first.”
“Not a problem—Ken will be doing the same.” With that, Polly walks away, leaving me alone with Everly.
I turn toward her, deciding to push down my emotions and focus on the task at hand: beer pong victory. “Time to practice. Let’s get you a drink, because you need to loosen up.”
“I need to loosen up?” she asks, pointing to herself. “You’re the one who didn’t say hi to me.”
“No time to argue,” I say, taking her hand in mine. “We have a tournament to win.”
“That’s it,”I say, feeling so much pride as Everly sinks another ball into a cup. “You’re doing amazing.”
She smiles brightly up at me. “Thank you. I really think the two fingers on the ball is better for me, rather than the three…even though I prefer three, if you know what I mean.” She waggles her brows and jabs me with her elbow.
Yeah, I know exactly what she means.
And talk about making me sweat from the thought of it.
She picks up her drink and downs the rest of it before setting it on the table. “So, I don’t have to drink beer, and we can set our cups up with our drink of choice?”
“Yes,” I say.
“Perfect, because I’m not much of a beer girl.”
“You’re not?” I ask as I finish off my beer.
“No, never been a huge fan.”
I set my empty glass down. “Back in my day, we didn’t have fancy seltzers or Moscow mules to drink for cheap. It was beer or inexpensive vodka that gave you the worst hangover ever.”
She smirks. “Back in your day.”
“I beat you to it before you could say it.”
“Who’s to say I would have mentioned your youthful years?” She leans against the table, looking so fucking good with her hair flowing over her shoulders. I’ve never been a hair man, but hell, Everly’s hair does something to me.
“Please, you take any opportunity to mention them,” I say.
“You’re right.” She winks. “I probably would have.” She glances over my shoulder where the tournament is happening, almost the entire party gathered around the beer pong table that is covered in another plaid tablecloth. Polly has a pink featherboa that she stole from one of the garlands draped over her shoulder and is casually tickling Ken with it every few seconds. “So when do we have our first game?”
“Polly told me they have us on the board, and when it’s our turn, we’ll be called up.”
“So what do we do until then? Practice more?”
I shake my head. “No, I don’t want to wear you out. There is a certain point when you practice too much and lose that newcomer magic.”
She chuckles. “Is that really a thing?”
“Oh, for sure it is,” I say just as Maple walks up to us.
