Page 7 of Bridesmaid Undercover
“Who’s Maggie?” Ken asks, elbowing me like an idiot.
“Nothing like that, dude. She’s engaged to Brody, one of our investors, who used to work for my dad. Maggie was a savior at Haisley’s wedding. Haisley’s maid of honor couldn’t be there because of her pregnancy, and during the welcome reception, Brody introduced Maggie to us. We quickly found out she’s a wedding planner, and, well, long story short, she filled in as a bridesmaid and helped out with the wedding. In the end, we wanted to help her expand her business, and we needed an event planner on staff for the charity and partner events we’re planning, so it all worked out.”
“Huh, interesting. She filled in as a bridesmaid?”
“Yeah. Maggie and her assistant Everly expanded on that idea and started a ‘Bridesmaid for Hire’ service that falls under the umbrella of their business.”
“Bridesmaid for hire?” I hear Polly say as she comes up next to Ken. “What’s that?”
Strapped into a flowy, sparkly gold dress, Polly, another one of my best friends from college, looks breathtaking and just as uncomfortable as Ken and me. There is no doubt in my mind that her mom picked out the dress and forced her to wear it since Polly is more of a casual girl. Either way, she looks stunning.
We hug, and when I step away, I say, “Congrats, Polly. I’m really happy for the both of you.”
She rubs my arm. “Thanks, Hardy. We’re pretty excited. Only took a decade, but hey, sometimes the best things are worth waiting for.”
“Didn’t help that you broke up with me two years ago,” Ken says in a teasing tone.
“Maybe because you weren’t proposing, you moron,” I say, which causes Polly to laugh.
“And this is why you should always listen to your best friend.” Polly presses a kiss to Ken’s lips and for a moment, a strong moment, a bout of jealousy strikes me.
Fresh from witnessing my madly in love sister marry, to hearing about the romantic proposal between two of my best friends, and struggling with feelings of loneliness when I finish work and get home to my apartment every night…my mind has been swirling with thoughts recently.
Romantic thoughts.
Like maybe it’s about damn time I start thinking about the future of my personal life and not just my career.
The business is running well—I’m almost redundant if I’m honest—my bank account looks extremely healthy, and yet I have no one to share it with. Haisley and Hudson are both the epitome of success, and I’ve been feeling that familiar sense ofunsettledagain as of late. As if I don’t have a grand purpose.
Back in college, I enjoyed being in a relationship. But that relationship ran its course, and once Hudson and I started taking over certain aspects of Dad’s business—long before weparted ways with him—I just never found time to even consider dating someone else.
Now that I feel solid in my schedule and my job—despite the possible looming lawsuit—I feel the need to perhaps find a relationship of my own, especially now, being surrounded by couples.
Haisley and Jude.
Maggie and Brody.
Ken and Polly.
Fuck, if Hudson finds someone, I’m screwed.
“You okay over there, big man?” Ken asks. “You’re staring.”
“Oh, sorry,” I say, shaking my head. “Just, caught up in the love.”
Polly links her arm through Ken’s. “Wishing you had someone standing next to you?” she asks playfully. “Possibly a date?”
“Maybe,” I say as I sip my drink.
Polly chuckles. “You’ve always loved being in a relationship.”
“I have,” I say as I look around the room, my thoughts falling to the one person who I shared a relationship with in college. It was sweet, stable. She has to be here—she’s Polly’s best friend.
“She’s not here,” Polly says, seeing right through me.
“What? Who? I wasn’t looking for anyone,” I say, feigning ignorance.
“Liar,” Ken says on a boisterous laugh.
