Chapter 24 Daisy
TWENTY-FOUR
DAISY
SEVENTEEN YEARS OLD
Daisy slipped out her bedroom window and into the night. It was still warm out, summer just giving way to fall.
A buzz ran through her veins as she looked around to make sure she was in the clear before she hurried down the drive to the road.
She kept just off to the side of it the way she always did, concealed in the shadows of the trees as she basically skipped the quarter of a mile to the fourth house down the street.
Two stories and white and set back from the road. It might as well have a big neon welcome sign hanging from the rafters with the way the sight of it made her feel.
With the way it made her glow.
She attempted to suck down the butterflies that fluttered frantically in her belly, to school the excitement she was pretty sure was plastered on her face, though she figured that was the way Cash was used to seeing her, anyway.
Smitten, even though he seemed oblivious to it.
Hadley teased her that she was basically a puppy dog following the popular boy around school, but it wasn’t like Daisy was going to stop.
No matter what, he was her best friend.
After their mother died, she thought Hadley would take that spot. Thought they’d come to rely on each other. Take care of each other. But Hadley had lost herself in the grief.
Daisy had barely seen her last year during Hadley’s senior year, her sister sneaking out most nights, not that Daisy hadn’t done the same thing.
But in it, Hadley had spiraled, had moved out the second she turned eighteen and was living with some guy she claimed to be in love with. A guy Daisy was sure was nothing but trouble. Luring her sister into a lurid world that would only cause her harm.
Daisy shoved the sadness off as she tiptoed along the side of Cash’s house. Tucked down the constant worry she had for her sister because as hard as she tried, she didn’t know how to fix it.
Taking in a deep breath, Daisy began to scale what had become her favorite tree.
A whole lot more adept than the first time she did it. Her toes finding all the perfect notches as she climbed up the strong branches that easily lifted her to her destination.
The window was already open wide, and the blue curtains flapped in the breeze.
She came to a crouch in the sill.
Cash was across the room at the closet, facing away, already dressed in jeans and pulling a fresh tee over his head.
Heat spread through her body and crawled up to her cheeks, and she swallowed around the reaction as he turned and found her in the window.
“Hey, you,” he said with a soft smile that tweaked one side of his plush mouth. His hair was damp from a shower and his feet were bare.
Those butterflies in her belly scattered.
Soared to the greatest heights.
“Hi.” It was breathy and light.
“Are you going to come in or sit there staring all night?” It was an easy tease.
“Oh, um, yeah, of course.” She fumbled the rest of the way into his room. Her feet landed with a light thud on the floor, but she doubted it was loud enough to alert anyone to her presence.
“What’s been going on tonight, Little Wallflower?” He plopped down on his bed. Laid out on it casually the way he always did.
Ease in his demeanor and playfulness ridging his obscenely handsome face.
He was kind of ridiculous, how perfect he was.
She chewed at the inside of her cheek, contemplating, before she moved to his bed and tentatively sat down on her spot. She definitely shouldn’t be thinking of it that way, but sometimes she couldn’t help it.
“Not a lot. Ms. Lopez made lasagna, then I studied for a bit.”
He arched a brow. “For our Algebra 2 test? And you needed to study why, Miss Freaking Smarty Pants?”
“Why do you think I have an A in that class? Because I actually study.” Soft laughter came out with it.
Cash narrowed his eyes. “Are you implying something here?”
Her heart pattered.
“Well, you probably could spend a little extra time studying rather than playing football every extra second of your life.” That time it was her turn to arch her brow.
A low chuckle rolled out of him. “Now which do you think is going to take me further in life? Football or algebra?”
He was only a junior and already their team’s star quarterback, sliding right in to take his brother’s place after he graduated. He and Matthew had had plans to play together in college, but after Matthew’s injury last month, that was unlikely to happen.
Another bout of sadness twisted through her. She hated it for Matthew, even though he’d always given her crap for hanging out with Cash. He might have been a bit of a jerk, but he was still Cash’s brother. A human. And she wouldn’t wish any harm on him.
“Fair point, but if you aren’t passing your classes, you know you can’t play.”
“Hey, man, that C is solid. But if I fall below that, then I know who to come to.” With a grin, he tugged at a lock of her hair.
“Is that all you want me for? So I can tutor you?” She shoved his shoulder.
It was strange that every nerve ending in her body sizzled and snapped when she was around him, yet still, she felt wholly comfortable. He was the only person in the world she could tease and play with.
Chuckling, he clutched his shoulder like she’d hurt him. “Watch it, Daisy, that’s my throwing arm.”
“Your prized possession.”
“Not my only prized possession.” He wagged his brows.
“Eww.” She didn’t know how she managed to keep it together enough to play along. “In your dreams.”
In feigned offense, his mouth dropped open, and he raised his arms out to the sides. “Dreams? This is straight reality.”
Okay, he was right. Every girl in school wanted to be wearing his letterman jacket.
“Such a heartbreaker.”
“I’ll have you know, my heartbreaking days are over.”
Her brow curled in question.
The easiness he’d been wearing slipped before he pinned a bright smile on his face. “I…have a girlfriend.”
A rush of sickness swept through her being, and she struggled to focus through the haze of shock.
“Brandy Lemons,” he continued, his voice twisting in a prodding, like he wasn’t sure Daisy had heard him.
“Oh.” She didn’t mean for it to gush out of her, but Daisy felt like she’d been kicked in the gut.
He was all wrong.
He was absolutely a heartbreaker. He just didn’t know it.
At her reaction, he sat forward and fully shifted in her direction. “I mean, she’s cool, right?”
Daisy fumbled a nod. “Uh…yeah…yes, she’s great.”
Blonde with actual boobs and a fantastic cheerleader since she didn’t have the curse of tripping over her own feet.
Daisy forced a bright smile, so brittle she was sure her cheeks would crack.
Cash frowned, uncertainty pouring out of him. “Are you sure you’re okay with this?”
Was she okay with this? Was he serious? Didn’t he get it?
“Oh, no, I think it’s great. I’m happy for you.”
There was that word again.
Great.
No. It was not, in fact, great.
But what the heck else was she supposed to say? That she loved him and she always would and she hoped that maybe he would feel the same?
Pathetic much?
“Good,” Cash said, though he was still looking at her strangely. As if he were waiting on her to say something. Almost begging her to.
Then he cleared the roughness from his throat as he dragged his fingers through his hair. “Good. Yeah. Because I’m going to need to get your seal of approval since mine is going to be required when some asshole comes around thinking he’s good enough for you.”
He choked a weird laugh.
Right.
Like that was going to happen.
That stupid fake smile she wore just kept getting bigger and bigger.
Cash’s door suddenly burst open.
Daisy screamed, and her hands flew up to cover her face, though she peeked out through her fingers.
Laughter rolled from Matthew, who stood in the doorway, still holding onto the knob. His expression twisted into a smirk, and she could almost smell the alcohol radiating from him.
“I fucking knew it. My baby bro is getting some from the weird girl down the street.”
“Fuck off, Matthew. Told you we’re just friends.”
Matthew’s laughter only grew. “Doesn’t mean you’re not dipping your dick in the goods.”
“I have a girlfriend,” Cash shot out.
Mischief played through Matthew’s features. “Still doesn’t mean you’re not dipping your dick in the goods.”
Daisy pressed her hands tighter to her face.
Could this get any worse?
Any more mortifying?
Oh, but it could.
“What’s going on in here?”
Daisy peeked out when she heard the voice to find Cash’s mom poking her head around the side of Matthew.
Disappointment flashed through her expression when she saw Daisy.
“Cash,” she chastised. “You know you’re not supposed to have girls in your room.”
“Don’t worry, Mom, Cash is only fucking his girlfriend, not Daisy.” Matthew howled when he said it.
Cash’s mom scowled at him. “Watch your mouth, Matthew. I know you’re just getting accustomed to living back at home, but I’d appreciate you keep a check on the language.” Then concern filled her face and she tipped her head to the side. “And the booze. It’s a Wednesday night.”
“Only had one beer.” Matthew gave her a Scout’s Honor lift of his hand.
More concern, but she seemed to swallow it down for later before she turned her attention back into the room.
“I’m so sorry, Mrs. Cunningham,” Daisy whispered as she lowered her hands.
“Mom, it was nothing. Daisy’s my best friend. You know that. I don’t get why she’s not allowed up here.”
Mrs. Cunningham softly shook her head. “Because it’s a rule your father and I decided on a long time ago.”
“A dumb one,” Cash argued.
Her expression softened. “Well, maybe. But I’d prefer it if when Daisy comes over, she comes through the front door. Or at least maybe not scream when she gets startled so I don’t know she’s here.”
She sent Daisy a wink, her smile kind and understanding.
“I don’t want to get Cash into trouble,” Daisy mumbled, her focus on her fingers that she nervously wound together, struggling not to break down and cry in front of them.
This was humiliating enough. The last thing she needed was for them to see how pathetic she really was.
“Well, I doubt very much you were causing any trouble. You’re the best influence he has.”
“What, not me, his amazing big brother?” Matthew slurred it.
“Certainly Daisy is a whole lot better influence than his big brother.” She gently elbowed Matthew in the ribs.
“Yeah, guess she keeps him on the straight and narrow. And now he’s almost as good as I was. Guess he had to show me up. As long as he gets into WVU to play, then I’m good with it.”
“That’s the plan,” Cash uneasily agreed, watching his brother with concern.
Things had been weird between them, but not nearly as weird as Daisy was feeling right then.
“First, you have to slay in Friday’s game. Both me and a couple of my friends have five hundred bucks on you. Don’t fuck it up.”
“Five hundred?” Mrs. Cunningham gasped.
Matthew squeezed her shoulder with a laugh. “I’m going to have to make money somehow, and as long as I’m betting on my baby brother, I’m golden.”
Matthew turned with a limp before he disappeared.
Mrs. Cunningham softly shook her head, worry on her lips as she watched him go, before she turned her attention back into the room. “Just friends?”
“Yeah, Mom. You know that,” Cash said, driving another stake into Daisy’s heart.
“All right, but leave the door open.” She shouted the last word as she turned and walked down the hall.
In silence, they listened until his mom’s footsteps disappeared down the stairs, then Cash turned to her and cracked up, his face full of a smile and his hazel eyes glinting as he grinned at her. “Well, that might have been painful, but I call it a win.”
She could only laugh uncontrollably.
Because no, she definitely didn’t feel like she was winning.