Page 158 of Bridesmaid Undercover
“Right.” I fill up my plate as well, and then together, we step off to the side, finding an open high-top.
“You had these dips in college?” she asks.
“Yeah, they were the three classic ones at every party,” I say.
“Seems fancy, especially this dill one.”
“Well, we were fancy back then,” I reply.
“Oh…so fancy. You guys were partying with your pinkies up,” she teases.
“We were. The fanciest college kids you probably ever met.”
She smirks and then takes a bite of the buffalo dip. I do as well and it’s fucking good. Brings back a wave of memories.
She chews for a moment and then swallows. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she says. “That’s good.”
“You know, I think you’re right. Maybe I got a weird bite at first.”
Her eyes narrow. “Hardy?”
“Hmm?” I ask.
“If I take a bite of the rest of these, are they going to taste just as good and you’re going to agree?”
“Probably,” I say, attempting not to wince.
“Uh-huh. Care to explain to me why Maple is lying about the dips?”
“You know, I can’t really be sure. I think living among the flamingos has made her a little kooky.”
Everly sets her plate down. “This has nothing to do with the fact that you’ve ignored me since you’ve arrived?”
“What? Ignored you?” I nervously laugh. “Who said I was ignoring you?”
“Hardy, you haven’t even muttered a word to me. And I get it, okay? You don’t want me to be your partner for beer pong.” She touches my arm, and fuck me I want her to move it up and to my chest so I can pull her in even closer. “It’s okay. I’m not offended. I know I didn’t do a good job last night, and if I were you, I’d be avoiding me as well. So let me put you out of your misery and tell you I won’t be participating today.”
Christ, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
“Everly, you?—”
“There he is,” Polly says as she walks up to us. “Maple said you’re partnering up with Everly to try to take me and Ken down. Is that true?”
Uhhh…
“Oh, no,” Everly says with a shake of her head. I watch as her soft hair floats across her face. “He’s not partnering up with me.”
“He’s not?” Polly asks. “Then are you not playing?” she asks. “Everyone else is partnered up.”
“Maple is?” Everly asks.
“Yes, she’s with Jerry.” I glance over at Maple who is standing next to one of our old college friends, chatting it up. How long has she been planning this out?
“So, are you really going to chicken out and not play us?” Polly asks. She thumbs behind her to Ken who is stretching his wrist. “He’s been practicing, dusting off the rust. He’s ready to, in his words, ‘take you down, all the way downtown.’”
A snort pops out of Everly before she covers her mouth.
“Tell him, his trash talk is shit,” I say.
