Page 196 of Bridesmaid Undercover
Just like Hudson, always getting right down to business.
“Well, I want to preface this by saying, I need you, and I’m going to emphasize,needyou to be upfront and honest with me. I don’t want you bypassing your thoughts and feelings to accommodate me, okay?”
“Wow, that’s not loaded or anything.” Her brow creases. “Is this about Dad?”
“No.”
“Because Hudson was telling me about the possible lawsuit. Is that still happening?”
“I have no idea. He’s made threats, said a lawsuit is coming, but he hasn’t cashed in on them yet. I wouldn’t put it past him to move forward on the threats though.”
Haisley shakes her head in disappointment. “I don’t get him,” she says. “I know there was a point in our lives where he was proud of us, but what happened? It’s like all of a sudden, he became this overbearing monster. I still don’t think he likes Jude. I think he just accepts the fact that we’re in love.”
“Good thing you don’t need his approval,” I say. “You only need Hudson’s and mine.” I wink, which makes her laugh.
She takes a sip of her drink. “So, is that why you’re here? For approval?”
“What makes you think that?” I ask.
She gives me a look. “Come on, Hardy. When do you ever want to meet up to ask me a question? And then tell me to be honest about my feelings and not accommodate you?”
“When I think our siblingship needs a little shake-up.”
She nudges my leg with her foot. “Be serious. Why are you here?”
I shift uncomfortably. “I wanted to talk to you about something that has happened, and before I get into it, I want to apologize first, because when everything was happening, I didn’t have you in mind—but, well, this affects you.”
“Okay,” she draws out. “What is it?”
I run my hands over my thighs, feeling really fucking nervous. “So, I’ve developed feelings for someone.”
“Feelings?” she asks. “Like, real feelings?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay, how does this affect me?”
“Because it’s Everly,” I say, letting her name just hang out there in the open.
“Oh,” Haisley says as she sets her drink down on the table.
“And I want you to know that I wasn’t pursuing her at all. She was actually trying to help me get back together with Maple and, well, we got really close, and…I sort of fell for her.” I let out a deep breath. “Not that you really need to know this, but the other night, we slept together.”
Her eyes widen, and I can see this is all a shock to her, so I just keep going. I’m not sure she’s going to respond any time soon.
“Hudson found out and lectured me about how we shouldn’t get involved with anyone who works with you. For the record, Everly had no idea you felt that way. And, well, I fucked up theentire situation with Everly. I hurt her, and now I’m trying to create a situation where we can go back to being friends—but in all honestly, Haisley, I don’t want that. I don’t want to be friends. I want so much more than that with her. I realized very quickly how much she’s become my best friend. How much I want her in my life. How much I depend on her. And on top of that, how much…well, how much I enjoyed the romantic side of things, without getting into details and freaking you out. When I spoke to Hudson about it, he said to talk to you. And that’s why I’m here, to feel you out. And like I said, if this is a no-go for you, I completely understand. I fucked up, and I take responsibility for that, but if there is the slightest chance that maybe you’re okay with me pursuing her, please let me know because I want nothing more than the opportunity to make things right and maybe even have a future with her.”
Haisley pulls her legs into her chest and hugs them as she looks off to the side, her face unreadable.
I can feel my hope draining with every silent second that goes by.
I’m on the verge of telling her to forget I even said anything when she finally looks up at me. “Do you know what happened when I told Dad about Jude?”
“He didn’t want you being with him, right?”
She nods. “He didn’t think Jude was good enough. He thought Jude was just a construction worker with no ability to make anything of himself. But I saw it completely differently. It wasn’t about what Jude could offer me monetarily—it was what Jude could offer me emotionally and physically. It was the love and protection, the undying support he gave me. When I turned my back on Dad’s wishes, I know that was the start of the feud that we’re living through now. I know it. Because we were alwaysyes kids. And do you know what I learned from that?”
I shake my head. “No.”
