Page 89 of Bridesmaid Undercover
“Believe what you want,” Dad says, “but you’ve made decisions just like I have. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, Hardy, as much as you wish to believe it does.”
We’re out the door before I can respond. With his mouth close to my ear, Hudson whispers, “Say nothing.”
So in silence, we make our way past Dad’s assistant and press the button to the elevator. It dings immediately, and we get in. When we turn around to watch the doors close, Dad is standing outside his office, a smile on his face.
And the sight of him, so pleased with himself, feels like a knife twisting in my gut.Thisis how it’s always been with him. For as long as I can remember. His deliberate attempt to grate on my nerves, getting under my skin, trying to tear me down while lifting Hudson up. Luckily for me, Hudson has a good head on his shoulders and has never let our dad drive a wedge between us, even though he’s tried many, many times.
Hudson is smarter.
Hudson is more clever.
Hudson is top of his class.
Hudson knows what he wants with his life…what the hell do you plan on doing?
With every comment, every backhanded insult, Dad tried his damnedest to make it a competition between me and Hudson, but we didn’t let him. Hudson led the charge, always lifting meup, always being there for me, always making sure I’m part of the conversation, not the one taking the orders.
And even now, with the pressure of the new business, Hudson includes me. He helps me find my best assets of what I can offer and highlights those assets, letting me take the lead.
The doors to the elevator close, and Hudson turns to me. “Don’t,” he says. “Don’t let him play fucking mind games with you.”
I lean against the elevator wall. “I know.” I let out a deep breath, even though his words ring true— well, somewhat true.
“Do you? Because I can see the wheels in your head turning,” Hudson says. “Don’t spiral on me, Hardy. This is what he wanted—he wanted to get in your head.”
I push my hand through my hair. “Hard not to let him when…” I look up at Hudson. “Fuck, there’s truth to what he said.”
“There’s no truth in it,” Hudson says. “You knew you wanted to be a part of the family business. We spoke about it back when you were a senior. I talked to you about helping out, about Dad’s impossible standards and his wayward business practices. We had the conversation of what would happen if we joined forces, if we could help make a change. Do you remember that conversation?”
I nod. “I do.”
“That was the reason you stayed here in San Francisco. That was the reason you didn’t follow Maple. You didn’t choose success over her—you chose a relationship with your father, with your brother. You wanted to make a difference.”
“Yeah, look how well that went,” I say on a huff.
“I think we both know we can’t change him if he doesn’t want to change. We tried, Hardy. We attempted to reform him, to make him better, but as time went on, we realized he was stuckin his ways. Was the effort worth it? Yes, because we gave it a shot. We’ll know we tried.”
“And now what?” I ask. “I hurt someone else for nothing.”
“But did you?” he asks. “Is Maple hurting?”
“She can barely talk to me,” I say.
“Because of how you ended things? You’re assuming you hurt her, but maybe you had nothing in common in the first place, and maybe…maybe she’s realizing it.”
The elevator doors open, and Hudson leads the way, me following close behind him, my mind reeling.
We had things in common.
We did…
Right?
Chapter Fourteen
EVERLY
Maple:I’m so sorry, Everly, but I can’t make it tonight. I feel sick about it. I know the shower is in two days and I should be there, finishing all the decorations, but without getting into any details, we’re having a flamingo emergency.
