Page 190 of Bridesmaid Undercover
All that trust we built, the friendship we created, it’s all shot to hell now.
Torn down.
Buried.
And as I sit here, the feel of his beard burn still prickling between my legs, I stare up at him, lifeless. “Okay, well, see you.”
He pauses, and for a split second, I think that maybe he’s going to take back everything he said, that he’s going to tell me that this is some cruel joke he was put up to, but instead, he raises his hand in a wave and says, “See ya,” before exiting my apartment.
The click of the door shutting behind him rings through my small space, indicating his departure. I can finally let go of the tight hold I have on my emotions.
I slide down to my pillow, curl into the scent of him, and I cry.
Chapter Twenty-Four
HARDY
Fuck, I have to go back in.
What the hell was I thinking?
I don’t want to get back together with Maple, and I definitely don’t want Everly thinking she needs to try to mend the bridge between me and my ex either. That ship has sailed.
I want Everly for myself.
Ever since I spoke with Maple, and she’s opened my eyes to what I’ve really been feeling, I know for certain that Everly is the one for me. And after last night, that thought was solidified.
But…fuck, Hudson is right.
I can’t possibly be with her.
Not when she works with Haisley.
Not when things are rocky with our dad.
Anything, and I mean anything, he finds out about us that is less than pristine, he’ll find a way to expose it. Sleeping with one of our employees is definitely one of those things, and beyond that, sleeping with my sister’s partner is just a terrible idea.
But I can’t stand here and let her think that last night didn’t have the impact on me that it so clearly had.
No fucking way.
She deserves to know the truth. And at least with that, maybe there’s a chance we can still be friends—hell, do I even want to be friends? Trying to act like I don’t have feelings for this girl, that we’re just buddies? Not sure I want that either.
But either way, she deserves to know the truth.
On a deep breath, I walk back to her door and without even thinking about knocking, I let myself in—only to find Everly curled on her bed…crying.
I feel all the color drain from my face as she looks up at me, tear-stained cheeks, a wobbly lip, and watery eyes staring back at me.
Fuck.
Me.
She quickly wipes at her eyes. “Did you…did you forget something.”
Yeah…you.
I forgot you.
