Chapter 4
FOUR
Ledger
“How’s the new place?” Koa asks as I slide into the booth across from him at Nosh Diner.
“It’s good.”
“Yeah?” He eyes me carefully.
“Yeah.”
“You’re being weird.”
“No, you’re being weird.”
“Hey, Ledger,” Lula greets, leaning in to kiss my cheek before she slides in next to Koa.
He wraps his arm around her like it’s the most natural thing in the world. I look away when he kisses her forehead.
“Gross,” I grumble.
They both chuckle.
“What are we talking about?” Lula asks.
“Ledger’s new place.”
Lula frowns. “You could have stayed with me.”
“No, I can’t. Not after what happened last time,” I say with a shudder.
“Oh, my gosh! We weren’t that loud!”
“We were.” Koa smirks.
I give her an I told you so look.
“Well, he’s going back to Virginia in a few days. You could stay with me then,” she offers.
“Nah, I’ll stay at my place.”
“Interesting,” Koa says.
“It’s not.”
“Liar,” he retorts.
“What’s going on?” Lula asks.
“Ledger is being weird.”
“Koa is being weird.”
“Boys!” Lula huffs as we both speak at the same time.
The server arrives, saving me from a Koa interrogation.
“Ready to order?”
I nod. “Yep. I’ll take a Coke and the burger.”
“Same,” Koa adds.
“I’ll do the BLT and a chocolate milkshake,” Lula says.
“Coming right up!” the server says, returning to the kitchen.
I slowly look at Koa. He’s staring me down, and I know I need to tell him.
He’ll get it out of me sooner or later. The guy can read me like a book.
To be fair, I can read him like one, too.
I guess that’s what boot camp, BUDs, and multiple deployments do to a friendship—make it so we know what the other is thinking with just a look.
“How’s your new roommate?” Koa asks, getting straight to the point.
“She’s good.”
“She?” Lula asks, perking up.
“Yep.”
“What’s her name? Do I know her? What’s she like? Is she pretty?” Lula rattles off questions like gunshots.
“Her name’s Daisy. She’s friendly, and she runs the hair salon in town, so you might know her,” I reply, purposefully not answering her last question.
“And she’s gorgeous,” Koa says, studying me.
“How do you know?” I mutter.
He smirks. “Because you didn’t answer the question. And because of the way you reacted.”
“She’s pretty?” Lula looks hopeful at the prospect of me meeting someone and falling in love. She and Koa are in a love bubble and want the same for everyone. It’s always been annoying, but I get the appeal now I’ve met Daisy.
“Yes, she’s pretty,” I admit.
“And?” Koa kicks me under the table.
“And I like her,” I mumble.
“We should double date!” Lula exclaims.
I drop my head back and groan at the ceiling. “I just moved in. We’re not dating or anything.”
“Not yet!” she says, eyes sparkling. “You should ask her out. You can take her to Palmer’s! It’s the best restaurant in town.”
“Maybe,” I say as the server drops off our drinks.
“Oh, this is so exciting!” my sister announces, practically bouncing in her seat. “We’ll plan your date when I get back. I want to wash my hands before the food comes out,” she adds before heading to the bathroom.
“So?” Koa asks once she’s gone.
“So, I’m screwed,” I admit. “As soon as she opened the door, I just… I don’t know, man. I’ve never felt that before.”
“That’s how it happened with Lula and me,” he says, taking a sip of his Coke. “You’re a goner.”
I glare at him. “Thanks for that advice, man.”
“Anytime.” He grins. “But honestly? There’s no point in fighting it. That just causes heartbreak and more pain. If you think this girl is the one, then she probably is. Go for it.”
“Isn’t it weird to date someone when I’ll be leaving again soon?”
Koa shrugs. “If it’s worth it, you’ll make it work. Long distance is hard work.”
My gaze drifts out the front window to scan the street. It takes me a moment to realize that I’m looking for her, wondering if her shop is nearby.
“Is your roommate worth the effort of dating long distance?”
I clear my throat. “Yeah, I think she is. I mean, I just met her today, and this all feels kind of crazy, but I can’t shake this feeling. It’s like as soon as I saw her, something critical inside me shifted.”
“Welcome to the club, buddy.”
Lula comes back, and I try to steer the conversation away from Daisy and our upcoming date. It doesn’t work, and by the time we’re done eating, Lula has not only planned our first date but also our wedding.
“Want to come over for a bit?” Koa asks.
I shake my head. “Nah, I’m going to go finish unpacking. Maybe hang out with Daisy if she’s around.”
“And ask her out,” Lula instructs.
“Yeah, maybe.”
Lula squeals and claps her hands.
I stand, taking that as my cue to leave, and toss some bills onto the table. “I’ll see you guys later.”
“See you,” Koa calls.
“Call us if anything happens!” Lula adds.
I wave as I leave. Shaking my head, I climb into my truck and search for the hair salon in town. I know it’s crazy to drive by, but I want to check it out. I want to see if Daisy is still there or if maybe she’s headed home.
There’s only one salon in town, and I drive by slowly. All the lights are off, so I know she must have gone home. I smile as I turn the car around and head back toward her place.
Our place, I correct, grinning to myself. Damn, I have it bad.
I pass Mancini’s Pizzeria. I wonder if she’s hungry.
Pulling over, I hop out, deciding to get a cheese and pepperoni pizza for us to share.
Twenty minutes later, I’m back on the road.
When I park in the drive next to her car, I take a deep breath to calm my racing heart.
I’m not asking her out tonight, I remind myself. We’re just going to get to know each other a bit better. Be cool. I’ve got this.
My little pep talk doesn’t help, but I think fuck it and climb out. Grabbing the pizza boxes, I walk to the door. I can hear Beans barking happily as I hit the first porch step. I grin, shifting the pizzas to pull open the door.
“Hey, boy,” I greet.
He licks my hand as I pet him.
I relax as I close the door behind me. This is nuts. I like order and control, and I have none of that here. I wanted to spend my leave enjoying some peace and quiet, and instead, I’m here in this old house with my messy, distracting, beautiful roommate and her crazy dog.
So why am I so damn happy?
Daisy comes out of her room a minute later; her dark hair still damp from her shower. She’s wearing fuzzy pajama pants with dogs all over them and an oversized t-shirt. A man's shirt.
Every muscle in my body tenses, and I glare at the garment.
“Whose shirt is that?” The question comes out harsher than I intended.
“Uh, mine,” she says, looking confused. “Why?”
“It looks like a man’s shirt.”
“Oh.”
Daisy looks down at the shirt and blushes, looking suddenly uncomfortable. I wrestle with the need to rip the shirt off her and burn it with the desire to put her at ease. The latter wins. For now.
“Are you hungry? I grabbed us some pizza.”
“Oh, you didn’t have to do that,” she protests.
I smile. “I know. I wanted to.”
Daisy follows me into the kitchen. I’m not that hungry after eating with Lula and Koa, but I still grab a slice and sit across from her at the kitchen table.
“Thanks,” she says.
“How was work?”
“Good. We’re closed today, so I went in to handle inventory and prepare for my clients tomorrow.”
“That place keeps you busy. Is it just you working there, or are there other hairstylists?”
“Just me for right now. I’m hoping to get some new people in soon.”
“Must be a lot to handle.”
She shrugs. “I love it. I know everyone in town, and it’s fun to catch up on the gossip or read in my downtime.”
“You read a lot,” I observe, looking at all the books.
“Yeah, all the time.”
I spy some of the titles on the books closest to me. “Romance?”
“Yeah, that’s my favorite genre. What about you? Do you like to read?”
“When I can. Mostly thrillers, though. I’ll have to try some of your romance books.”
“Go ahead. You can borrow any you like.”
Daisy finishes her slice of pizza, and I stand to grab her another.
“Thanks,” she says, tucking in.
“Do you have any family in town?”
She pauses, looking sad for a moment.
Shit. I want to reach out and take her hand in mine, but I’m not sure how she’ll react.
“No, it’s just me. Well, and Alexi, but we’re not blood-related.”
“She seems like a good friend,” I say gently.
“Yeah, she’s the best,” she says with a soft smile. “What about you? Besides your sister, I mean. Do you have a big family?”
“No, it’s just the two of us left now. And Koa.” I pause, realizing that she chose the cheese pizza. “Are you a vegetarian?”
“No, I just don’t like pepperoni.”
“What do you usually get on your pizza?”
“Ham and extra mushrooms.”
“No pineapple?”
“Sometimes.” She smiles sweetly. “What about you? You strike me as a meat-loving guy.”
“Yeah, that or pepperoni is good. I’m not picky.”
“What’s your favorite food?”
“Lasagna.”
She quirks an eyebrow. “Really?”
“Yeah, what about you?”
“Tacos. The place in town has the best ones.”
“I’ll have to check it out,” I say casually.
I watch her for any signs that she’d want to go with me, but she just pops the last bite of her pizza into her mouth and smiles.
“I’d better get ready for bed,” she says, standing to clear away her plate. “Thanks for dinner.”
“Anytime.”
I follow her to the bedrooms, working up the nerve to ask her out. She’s still wearing that damn shirt, and it has me on edge. I need to figure something else out before I can ask her on a date.
I take a deep breath and stop her before she can say goodnight. “One more question.”
Daisy looks up at me. “What’s that?”
“Are you seeing anyone?”
She blushes again.
I would give everything I own to know what she’s thinking right now, I think as I wait for her answer.
“Uh, no, I’m not.”
Relief fills me, and I smile.
“Goodnight, Ledger.” She bolts into her room before I can stop her or say goodnight.
I sigh as she closes the door, then turn to my room to get ready for bed. She left sheets and a blanket on the bed for me, and I lift them to my nose, inhaling her sweet scent. I smile as I make the bed and devise my game plan.
Operation: Get the Girl is a go.
And this is one mission I’m not going to fail.