Page 48 of Bridesmaid Undercover
“Yes, he’ll be there.”
Her shoulders sag as she glances off to the right.
“Is that going to be okay?” I ask.
She bites her lip and then looks shyly at me. “This is going to be really awkward, and I’m sorry that I’m dragging you into this, but the best man and I used to date.”
“Ah, I see,” I say, my ears on full alert for anything she might say. “And from the look in your eyes, I’m going to assume things didn’t end so well?”
“No, they did,” she says. “I mean, I was kind of angry at the time, but I understood why we had to go our separate ways. That doesn’t mean I was happy with it.”
“I can understand that,” I say. “Relationships can be very complicated, especially when there’s a friend group involved.”
“Yeah, this one was very complicated.” Her eyes meet mine. “Have you met Hardy?”
Yes.
And I think he’s perfect.
And wonderful.
And I’m so jealous that he wants you.
“I have,” I say. “He was the one who introduced me to Polly. He and Hudson invested in Magical Moments by Maggie. That’s one of the reasons we’ll be able to meet at a storefront next time, and not a coffee house.”
“I see,” Maple says. “I haven’t really been in touch, and whenever Polly talks about him, I tell her to stop. I don’t want to hear it. So I guess I’m out of the loop on what he’s been doing on the business side.”
I nod and consider telling her what he’s done. How he’s left his dad’s company and started a new one with his brother, Jude, and the Cane brothers. How he’s focused on helping, on what he loves best, rather than how he can make his father the next buck. But it doesn’t feel like it’s my business. That seems like something he needs to tell her, which will inevitably make her fall for him all over again, because how could she not?
Sigh.
“Well, perhaps you should catch up,” I suggest, hating the thought.
She shakes her head. “Oh no, I don’t want to be doing that. I just want to get through these wedding activities and then move on with my life.” Her eyes meet mine again. “I hope that doesn’t sound too cruel.”
“Not at all,” I say. “I can understand not wanting to be around someone you used to date, especially if it was serious. Was it?”
It lasted three years, Everly, of course it was serious.
“Um, I don’t know,” she says, which surprises me.
I half expected her to say that there was a ring involved but she never accepted. Going into this, I was thinking that to each other, they were the ones that got away. The timing was off, but the love was right.
But not knowing if it was serious, that’s…that’s new information.
“I know that might sound weird,” she says. “But with Hardy, it was just…fun. You know? We had a conversation our senior year about our plans and what we were going to do about continuing our relationship, but before that conversation, we were just enjoying life. Studying, partying with our friends, it was simple…very simple before it got complicated.”
“I see,” I say. “I’m sorry if that was too much of a personal question—I just want to make sure I completely understand the situation.”
“No, not too personal at all. I’m open to talking about it.” She shrugs. “I just think I’m a different person now than I was then. What I might have thought was serious back then is probably not serious at all in the grand scheme of things.”
“I totally get that. I’ve had some of those moments and I’ve seen them play out at events too. Sure, you want the event to be amazing, but when you look at the bigger picture, if the centerpieces were off, is that really going to dampen your outlook on life? Not really.”
She chuckles. “I don’t know, Polly’s mom might think differently.”
“Ooo, well, I’m glad I’m not a part of the wedding planning. I think working with you will be fun.”
“I agree,” Maple says with a smile. “I think this will be a great partnership.”
