Page 167 of Bridesmaid Undercover
“I’ve never felt clearer,” I say. “Oh my God, Ember, I think he likes me.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on, before you get ahead of yourself and do something like…grab his penis, can you just take a few deep breaths and remind yourself where your head was at a few weeks ago? You’re crazy about him. I don’t want you dreaming up fallacies in your head, when in reality, he’s just being a nice guy.”
I pause because, wait…is he just being a nice guy?
His niceness can be considered flirting when he doesn’t mean to flirt.
Which means…has this entire night just been one of those instances? Where he’s just being a nice guy?
“Are you there?” Ember asks.
“Yes, sorry, just thinking.”
“I know you’re not in a clear state right now, but I just want you to be careful, okay? Before you make a move, before you jump right into head over heels in love with the man, remember to just…look for signs. And signs that aren’t just him being nice.”
“Right, okay, and what are the signs again?”
“Well, if he touches you in more intimate places.”
Keeping my voice low, I say, “Like…between my legs?”
“Dear God, no, Everly. Like, on your thigh.”
“Oh.” I giggle. “Right.”
“And read his body language, watch him watch you. Listen to his words and if you think it’s all there, then just go for it.”
“Sooo,” I drag out “you’re giving me permission to proceed?”
“You don’t need my permission.”
“You were against this,” I counter.
“Because he was interested in someone else,” she says. “But now that being with that other person is not an option, and he’s available, then yes, go for it.”
“Wow, okay.” I prop my shoulders back. “So I’ll just go for it.”
“If he likes you.”
“Right, if he likes me,” I repeat. “An important factor.” I let out a deep breath. “I can’t believe I’m falling in love tonight.”
“Jesus Christ,” Ember mutters. “Please, Everly?—”
“Ooop, I got to go, he’s looking around, and I don’t want him thinking I got stuck in the toilet. Love you, sis. Thanks for the advice.”
“Everly, wait?—”
But I don’t wait, instead I hang up the phone, stick it in my back pocket, and stare out the window one more time, watching him interact with Maple.
There’s distance between them. She’s not leaning toward him, and from here it seems like he’s not leaning toward her. But then again, I could be wrong.
Ugh, am I reading him wrong? Is he into me? Is he into her?
I twist my lips to the side. If only it was as easy as walking up to him, tapping him on the shoulder, and point blank asking, “Dear sir, are you into me?”
But I would never.
No, I have to go about this a different way.
