Chapter 21 #2
“Hello, Mackenzie. You’re looking lovely. Fallon, always a pleasure. Please keep your wife in check.” I brought Fallon in for a hug, followed by Mackenzie.
Fallon snorted a laugh and snuggled closer to her wife. “Yeah right. Are you new here? Unless we’re in the bedroom—” She squealed when Mackenzie did something behind her back, breaking off her sentence.
“Choose your next words carefully, sunshine. Do you not remember the shower this morning?” Fallon blushed, and I was terrified to know what happened in the shower.
Mackenzie kissed the top of Fallon’s head and they turned to Daisy. “Sorry,” she signed before talking aloud. “We get a little carried away sometimes. We’re still in the honeymoon phase.”
Smiling, I interpreted our conversation. “You were in that phase when you were ‘just friends’ making out in the bookstore. You know she was there that day, right?”
Mackenzie laughed. “Thank you, and you’re welcome, Daisy.” She winked and I narrowed my eyes.
Daisy laughed, and I relayed her message. “You need to spend less time fornicating in the bookstore and more time at sign class if all you know how to say is ‘sorry.’”
I let out a loud and embarrassing laugh at Fallon’s blushing. We were both so easy to read, and I was glad it wasn’t my turn this time.
“I’m sorry I like to use my hands for other things.” Fallon hit her wife’s arm, and I tried not to gag.
“I’m definitely not signing that!” I groaned when Daisy nudged me. Dammit, I was going to sign it, wasn’t I? I sighed and turned to her. “I’m sorry I like to use my hands for other things.”
Daisy smiled. “If I had the option, I would, too, trust me.”
If I’d been drinking something, it would’ve been sprayed all over the floor.
There was no way she really just said that.
I gaped at her, hating myself for having to repeat any of that.
I turned to Mackenzie and didn’t miss the smirk she gave me at my flushed face.
I couldn’t help it. Seeing Daisy talk about doing other things with her hands sent images to my mind.
It wasn’t my fault. It was my stupid brain!
“If I had the option, I would too.”
Mackenzie’s grin grew mischievously large. “Don’t you, though?”
“Drea! Thank you so much for taking our coats.” I was thankful Drea and Blair came back at the perfect time to cut off whatever Mackenzie was going to add. You never knew with her.
“Of course, love. I’m glad you’re all together, actually. We sort of have an announcement, but we wanted to wait until everyone arrived.” Drea’s smile was filled with love as she turned to Blair. “Darling, shall we?”
Blair’s returning smile wasn’t short of affection. “Of course. Take the lead, my love.” Drea took Blair’s hand and led her to the top of the stairs where someone handed her something that she tapped the glass with, causing all the chatter around the room to stop.
Daisy looked at me and signed, “What’s going on?” I only shrugged in response. I had no clue what Drea was doing.
“Hello, everyone. Welcome to our annual holiday party. We hope you’re all having a wonderful time tonight! We won’t take up too much of your time, but we have a little announcement. We wanted to tell everyone together, and what better opportunity than tonight? We’re engaged!”
I gasped, and Blair held up her hand, showing off her gorgeous ring. I couldn’t see that far away, but knowing Drea, it had to be flawless. She would’ve sold her entire house if it meant Blair had everything she wanted. Those two were perfect together, and I loved them both.
Cheers erupted around the room, and tears were wiped away, especially from me and Fallon.
Daisy tapped me on the shoulder again, frantically this time, and I felt bad she was out of the loop. I turned to her and told her what the announcement was. She gasped and started clapping along with everyone else.
Drea and Blair descended the staircase, and Fallon was the first one to congratulate them. They were all crying, and it was sweet to watch.
Daisy and I stood back, waiting for our turn. The best friend got first dibs, of course, and I was happy to let her.
When they finally made it over to us I hugged Blair first. Although I had technically known Drea the longest, I felt a stronger connection with Blair. It could be their breakup a few years ago, along with my temporary rage quitting that connected us more.
“Congratulations you two! I cannot believe someone tied you down, Drea!” I laughed when she rolled her eyes.
“Me either, to be honest.”
“See, I told you she wouldn’t say no.” I grinned.
“Yes, congratulations. We’re so happy for you both!” Daisy added. Whenever we were in public, even if I was speaking, if she was around, I was always signing too. I wanted her to be included in the conversation and not feel left out.
Drea snuggled closer to Blair and kissed the top of her head. “It’s still wild to think about. I guess it takes almost dying to realize what you had was right there all along, huh?” Blair scowled at the mention of her accident, and so did I. We didn’t like when she brought it up.
“Sorry, love.” Drea gave Blair a sheepish look, and Blair softened again.
They really were adorable. It made something in my chest tighten, and I had to excuse myself.
I was happy for my friends, I really was.
Everyone had their person and were living their lives.
I wasn’t unhappy, not really. I had the store, and I had Daisy.
Not in the way I wanted, but I was happy with being in her life at all.
“I’m going to get a refill. Congrats again, guys. I’m so happy for you.” I hugged them again and turned to Daisy. “Do you want another drink?”
She smiled and nodded, handing me her cup. Rylee was coming up as I was leaving, but I managed to say a quick hello before I went to the bar. Of course Drea had a bar in her house. Shockingly, Rylee wasn’t the bartender for the night.
Rylee bartended at our favorite queer bar on the weekends, and she was a barista during the day.
She used to work at our favorite coffee shop down the street from the store, but after the renovations, Drea offered her the chance to take over the cafe she put in the store.
With a little extra compensation offer, the rest was history.
She seemed to love it so far, more than working at Brewed Awakening.
I was just about to head back over to Daisy, when Drea walked up. I smiled at her and watched her grab a drink for herself and Blair. I opened my mouth to say something, but she beat me to it.
“Let me get this straight. Fallon and I have tried for years to get you to come to one of these parties, with no luck. But one word from Daisy, and here you are. I find that rather interesting, don’t you?”
I groaned internally. I should’ve known, after working with Drea for so long, never to be alone with her if I didn’t want to be interrogated. “I’m here. That’s all that matters.”
“Yes. That is all that matters.” I could see there was more to that.
“What is it, Drea? I know you have more to say.”
She laughed and nudged my shoulder. “Nothing, love, nothing. We’re all just really glad you’re here tonight. Both of you. Enjoy the party.”
I was actually enjoying myself more than I thought I would. Partly because I knew everyone there just about, but also because I had Daisy there. I knew if things got to be too much, she’d understand and make an excuse to leave.
I walked over to Daisy and put our drinks down on the little table she was standing next to, smiling. “Are you doing okay?”
“Doodle, quit asking me that. I’m fine. I’m having a lot of fun, but how about you? Are you doing okay?”
I smiled. I was celebrating one of my favorite holidays with my favorite people. “I am. I’m having a good time, surprisingly.” I chuckled before my expression turned sad. “I miss him, but I’m glad you got me out of the house.”
Her smile fell and she wrapped me in one of her famous Daisy hugs. She rubbed my back, and I had to force the tears away. I didn’t want to cry anymore.
I heard a throat clear and broke away from Daisy like we had been caught making out in middle school by our parents. I’d been too good of a kid to do anything like that, but if I had dated someone like Daisy, I probably would’ve been different.
Daisy looked at Drea and smiled. “Hey, Drea.”
“Hello, ladies. Are you enjoying yourselves?” Drea said. She also signed for Daisy, and I appreciated the inclusion.
“Yes, it’s a great party. Thanks again for inviting us,” Daisy answered.
“Oh, you’re welcome. Well, it looks like you’re in the perfect spot,” she said with a grin.
She looked up, and I furrowed my brow, following her gaze. Drea, you sly woman! “Ha-ha, so funny,” I replied.
She shrugged. “Come on, Kai. It’s tradition,” she said with a wink.
I knew what she was playing at. She knew I wouldn’t make the first move, so she used mistletoe to help. Granted, she couldn’t have known we would stand directly under it. If I had known it was there, we wouldn’t have come anywhere close to it.
I looked at Daisy, feeling the heat of embarrassment on my face. “Oh, come on, doodle. We have to.”
No. No, we really didn’t. I licked my lips, trying to remember all the reasons we shouldn’t.
“Daisy, it’s okay. We do not need to—” My protest died when Daisy gripped my face and pulled me in.
All the air left my lungs as our mouths pressed together.
As soon as her lips touched mine, I was done for.
They were so soft I let out a small moan.
She smiled into the kiss, and I knew she could feel the vibrations of my moan, but I didn’t care. I couldn’t care about anything else except the fact that I was kissing Daisy and I never wanted to do anything else.
It wasn’t how I had imagined our first kiss would go. I envisioned something a little more romantic than a party with all our friends watching us, but I’d take what I could get.