21. Daisy
CHAPTER 21
daisy
Boom-boom-boom.
A series of loud taps on the microphone and a short screech from the feedback grabs the attention of most of the guests at the wedding reception.
“Hey, everyone,” a deep voice slurs. “I’ve got something to say.”
The music trails off as we all turn to stare at Landry, watching as he chokes on a swig from a champagne bottle. “You already got the good toast from the Golden Boy over there, but it’s my turn to speak,” he says, gesturing to the side where JD stands beside Blake and Loren.
I cringe. Something tells me this isn’t going to end well.
“I’m sure you’re all aware that I’m not the easiest person in the world to get along with, but …” he shrugs before he continues, “neither is my sister. I mean, I love you, Lo-Lo. I’d die for you and everything, but gah, you can be an ungrateful brat.”
Everyone turns to see Loren’s reaction. She’s observing Landry with a blank expression while Blake clenches his jaw and tightens his grip around her as if he’s preparing for the worst. And now I’m wondering whether I should cut in and stop this before he goes too far.
Landry laughs sardonically over the mic and sways a little as he turns to address the guests directly. “But she’s my baby sister, you know? I have to take care of her. So when I found out that she and Blake the Snake were an item, well … y’all can only imagine what went through my mind.”
We all fidget uncomfortably. “I mean, this is the same guy who’s famous for screwing his way through one of the biggest college campuses in the country, right?” He gestures in Blake’s direction as he says it, and now Loren’s emotionless stare shifts into an angry glare.
“But, I mean, he gave all that up for you, Lo-Lo, so he must really love you.”
My stomach turns when Loren’s eyes drop to her feet and Blake runs a hand through his hair, looking mortified. If only Rowan was here, he’d know what to do right now. I glance around the crowd, looking for someone else to help, but they all just look on in a combination of horror and secondary embarrassment.
“And even though this son of a bitch almost got my sister killed when he knocked her up, at least he had the courtesy to marry her, right?” Landry says, waving the hand holding the empty bottle.
That’s when JD steps forward, and so do I. He may be a nice guy, but I don’t know anyone with that much self-control. And even though I know it’s not my place to butt in, I imagine the situation will only escalate unless I put a stop to it now.
“All right, Landry,” I croon when I reach his side and tug on his arm. “I think you’ve said enough.”
He lets me take the bottle, but he yanks his arm back. “No, I’m not finished. I need them all to know I’m okay with this,” he tells me, gesturing at the bride and groom again. “That I’m happy for them. Because I know he loves her. Blake’s always had a thing for Lo. I knew it when I caught them together in middle school, and then again in high school. They tried to pretend nothing was going on every time, but I’m not an idiot, okay?” He pokes himself in the chest. “This was inevitable.”
“Come on, Lan. I think they get it,” I plead again.
“I’m trying to be loving and supportive though,” he whines, then he turns and addresses the crowd again. “This is what you all wanted, right, for me to play nice?”
“The young lady’s right, son. You’ve said enough.”
I glance up to find Landry’s father on the other side of him. He holds out a hand expectantly, and Landry reluctantly drops the mic into his palm. Then Landry turns to face Loren, blinking away the moisture in his eyes.
“I’m sorry,” he says, even though she probably can’t hear him anymore. “I tried.”
My chin quivers when I read the sadness and regret in his expression, and I struggle to hide the way my voice cracks when I urge him on again.
“Let’s go, buddy. I think it’s past your bedtime.” I wrap my arm around his waist, and he surprises me by draping his arm over my shoulders and leaning into me. Then he looks down and furrows his brow.
“I’m sorry, Daze,” he tells me, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like the way he shortens my name. “I don’t mean to be such an ass, you know.”
Loren shoots me an anguished look as I struggle to turn Landry around. “I know,” I say, trying to coax him toward the door.
JD nudges my arm a second later. “Why don’t you bring the car around?” he asks as Ethan comes to take my place as Landry’s crutch.
“Oh, well, I actually … I guess I’ll need to find his keys,” I reply awkwardly.
“Think they’re still in one of his pockets?” JD asks.
“Nuh-unh. You can keep those big ole paws to yourself, Golden Boy,” Landry mutters, making JD snort. “If anyone’s shoving a hand down my pants, it’d better be Blondie.”
“For the first time, we’re in complete agreement, Doc,” JD retorts dryly.
“I guess that means I’m conducting this search, then,” I say to myself, and they stop at the door for me to reach gingerly into Landry’s right pocket.
“Who says I wasn’t talking ‘bout Tenley?” Landry chimes in, making JD’s nostrils flare and Ethan snicker quietly. “S’okay if you wanna hit me, man,” he continues. “I was kinda hoping you’d just do us all a solid and knock me out this time. We both know you’ve always wanted to, and I bet you haven’t had a reason to make those ridiculous pythons look useful in a while.”
I watch the muscles in JD’s jaw tick as I continue digging around, but I come up empty. “I’d rather leave you conscious so you can lie awake and wallow in self-pity once you realize how much you’ve hurt your sister tonight,” he replies after a second.
“Hmm. You might be smarter than you look,” Landry mutters.
“I do get more use out of my muscles than my brain, though, since my wife likes being lifted so much,” JD adds. Ethan makes a loud gagging sound, and I bite my lip to keep myself from smiling too hard. But Landry’s apparently too preoccupied with keeping his balance to catch it, and he stumbles when I go to slip my hand into his left pocket.
He catches his footing again and cocks an eyebrow while I sift through the empty space. “This is taking you a while. Find anything you like down there, sugar?”
I sigh. His nicknames are becoming less endearing by the minute.
“Hey, now,” he squirms. “Be careful before you start the wrong engine.”
I glare at him angrily as I pull my hand back. “Both pockets are empty.”
“Oh, yeah,” Landry starts with a laugh. “Left my keys in the Jeep. Guess I forgot.”
I growl, and his expression transforms into something more remorseful again.
But then I remember our predicament. I need to come up with something fast if I want to make it home without having to drive us there myself.
“I, uh, I’m actually not sure it’s a good idea for me to get behind the wheel, either, now that I think about it …” I say slowly, hoping they’ll assume I’ve also had too much to drink.
“I only had a sip of champagne during the toast. I could drive you both home in Doc’s Jeep and have Mawmaw pick me up on her way out,” Ethan volunteers after a second. I turn to study him, thinking it’s a suspiciously generous offer, but he shrugs and admits he’s been dying to check out Landry’s ride. JD eyeballs him along with me. “I’ll be careful, I promise.”
“And you’re sure you only drank that one sip of champagne all night?” JD grills him.
“One small sip, I swear,” Ethan replies, smirking. “After that, I switched to Jack and Coke.”
Landry chuckles as JD reaches around him to knock Ethan in the back of his head.
“Ow!” Ethan objects. “Okay, I know this dude’s getting under your skin, but touch grass, bro. He’s not really trying to get with Aunt Ten. He just wants to make someone else feel as lame as he does.”
JD grunts as we approach the Jeep.
“He’s right,” Landry slurs. “Don’t worry. I know Tenley would never stoop to my level again, even if she weren’t happily married.”
“Again?” Ethan asks, perking up.
JD pretends it’s an accident when he bumps into Landry, crushing Ethan against a car. The kid groans and promptly drops the subject.
“Either way, I’m not brave enough to hit on her now,” Landry continues, squinting his eyes and pointing a finger at JD. “Not because you scare me though. It’s her I’m afraid of.”
I can’t help but giggle softly at that one, and JD even bites back a smile while he lowers Landry into the backseat. Then I go around the other side and slide in next to him.