Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Daisy
“Here you go, ma’am,” the floppy haired teenage boy says, handing me my ice cream.
"Since when do we look like ma'ams?" I ask Mia as we walk away from The Shack, the legendary soft-serve truck in Goose Hollow Park. I’ve got Sawyer’s pudgy little hand in mine while his mama carries both of their ice creams.
“Right? What about us says, ma’am? Neither of us looks over twenty-three.” She winks at me. “Charlie is a Shack regular, and she has forbidden the kids that work there to call her anything but Charlie. She scares the crap out of them.”
“I love her,” I state, taking a lick of my vanilla bliss.
We find a spot in the grass near the splash pad so we can stick Sawyer in the water to get rid of the sticky mess that will undoubtedly remain once he finishes his cone.
Watching my best friend's little boy attack his ice cream with such intensity is adorable. I’m so mesmerized by him I don’t hear a word Mia is saying.
“Earth to Daisy.”
“Sorry, but have you watched him eat an ice-cream cone? It’s like an episode of National Geographic. Toddlers in the Wild.”
I slide my phone out of my crossbody bag to get a video of the moment.
“Yes, he loves to eat. And ice cream from The Shack is his favorite. It won’t keep him busy long enough, though. So, talk to me. What’s going on with you?”
“Not much. Just work.” I stop recording Sawyer and toss my phone onto the grass.
“No, I mean what’s really going on with you? You’ve seemed distracted since we got back from New York. Did I miss something?”
“Nope, I’m fine. Nothing to report.”
I hate lying to her. I hate not telling her everything that’s been going on between me and Owen all these years, especially what happened last weekend.
At the same time, I want to keep him all to myself for as long as I have him.
My feelings for the man are so jumbled and confused I wouldn’t even know where to start.
“You sure?”
“Yep.”
“Is something up with Mark?”
“Nope. He’s nothing serious.”
“Still, you’re usually on cloud nine after a night with him.”
“Nothing happened. I didn’t feel well.”
She eyes me suspiciously. “Nothing?”
I shake my head.
How could I sleep with him when all I thought about all night was freaking Owen!
“Interesting. You seemed fine at the bar?”
“I drank too much beer. It’s no big deal. He showed up unannounced. If he expected something and didn’t get it, that’s on him.”
“True. He shouldn’t have expected anything. I’m surprised, is all. Like I said, you seem distracted.”
I want to spill my guts and tell her everything. How Owen has my head in a whirlwind and my heart on the verge of feeling far too much.
“I think I’m still catching up on sleep and really busy with Charlie out. Nothing to worry about. How about you? Still madly in love with my brother?”
“I know you hate to hear it, but yes. Still head over heels for the guy.”
I’m a hypocrite for not telling her about Owen. A little over a year ago I wasn’t even speaking to Mia. I felt betrayed because she kept something so big from me, just like I’m doing now. It took time, but we’re back on track. Things are how they’ve been our entire lives.
Sawyer’s baby daddy aside, it took me a minute to adjust to the idea of Mia and Angus together. My initial reaction wasn’t great. I can only imagine what Cal’s reaction would be if he knew about his best friend and his baby sister. He may never speak to Owen again.
“And how are things with Knox?”
She watches her baby boy. I’m sure her eyes are glassy behind her sunglasses, but she’s holding it together.
“They’re good. Knox is great. He and Angus are doing well, considering.
I’m the problem. Every time I see Knox, I cry.
Every damn time. The guilt is overwhelming, and I feel sick when I’m around him. ”
I’m not sure what to say. We’re all still adjusting.
I’ve forgiven her, but there’s still a part of me that’s okay with her being consumed with guilt.
Keeping Sawyer from his father isn’t something I can easily forget, even if I have forgiven her.
But I hate to think of her feeling sick about it.
I rub my free hand over her back to comfort her, since I’m short on words.
“Try to look at Sawyer's sleepovers with Knox as a chance for you and Angus to have time to yourselves. You can have date nights and do all the things with my brother that I hope you never tell me about. Blech.”
She giggles and pushes her shoulder against mine. “What? You don’t want to hear what a pretty pe—”
I throw my hand over her mouth to stop the nastiness about to spew from her lips. “Absolutely not! Don’t you dare!”
Sawyer notices our silliness and wants in.
Sticky fingers are coming in our direction, and when they’re mere inches away I scoop him up.
He squeals between fits of laughter on the way to the splash pad.
The water isn’t spraying right now. So, I hold him knowing it will be any second.
He knows too, and squirms with anticipation.
As soon as the water shoots up, his little legs kick.
“Hands, mister.”
He sticks his hands over the burst of water in front of us.
I help him get all the ice cream off his fingers and then wet his face.
Once he’s ice cream free, I release him, and he turns, running after me with his fingers once again, only this time he’s trying to get me wet.
I kick off my shoes and run around the splash pad with him for a few minutes.
We don’t stop until we’re both out of breath from the laughter.
On our way back to his mom, I hold him out in front of me so his soaking wet little body doesn’t get me any wetter than I already am. When I notice Mia filming us, I whisper in his ear. “Growl for your mama.”
Sawyer holds his hand out like he has claws and roars for the camera until I place his feet on the grass. Mia puts her phone down and pulls out dry clothes for him to change into. She’s always prepared.
“I love this kid,” I say, admiring him as he changes.
“The feeling is mutual,” she confirms.
My phone buzzes, and my heart leaps when I see Owen’s name on my phone.
OWEN:
We still on for 6:45 at Mom’s barn tonight?
DAISY:
See you there.
OWEN:
Don’t forget to dress for a ride.
“What is it? You look confused.”
“Nothing.”
“You sure? You blushed and then squinted your eyes like you do when you’re trying to figure something out?”
“It’s just Owen. He made me something for my birthday, and I have to pick it up at his mom’s for some reason. And since I’m there, he wants to go for a ride.”
Mia watches me, examining my features, looking for clues. Or maybe she’s waiting for more of an explanation. When I don’t give her what she wants, a small smile tugs at the corner of her lips.
“What?”
“I don’t know. You tell me.”
“There’s nothing to tell.”
“Okay.” Her smile grows along with her disbelief.
She isn’t falling for my lies.
I’m not even sure I believe the lies I continue to tell myself.
I pick at the grass trying to come up with a subject change, but she beats me to it.
“So, I have an idea.”
“Hmm...”
“How about you, me, and Ryan go to Oktoberfest? We haven’t been in a decade. I mentioned it to Angus, and he said he and Knox would watch Sawyer. I think it’s time I trust them and get away for a night. What do ya think?”
“Um, yes, please! Have you talked to Ryan yet?”
“Not yet. I wanted to make sure it worked for you first. I know it’s too soon, but I’m going to ask Charlie too. I don’t want her to think we left her out.”
“Good idea. She likely already feels like she’s missing out. But as much as I like the idea, it’s a hella long drive and we’ll be drinking our fair share of beer. Isn’t it a bit late to find a place to stay?”
“I know. I’ll work on it, though. Even if we have to spend a fortune on a hotel room in Portland and a ride share to get us there, we’ll make it work.”
My excitement is building, as flashes of our September trips to Mount Angel before the three of us left for college each fall rush through my memory bank.
“Yes! Just us girls. No boys allowed.”
“Boys always find you, Daisy. You’re like a magnet that draws them in.”
“Nope. Not interested. A weekend with the girls is all I’m hoping for.”
“I’ll remind you of that.”
“Whatever.”
She picks up her phone and types out a text. It only takes a beat before a ping sounds in response. “Ryan’s in!”
“Let me know when you find a room and what I owe you. It’s so nice to have something to look forward to.”
“Don’t forget you have your date with Owen tonight. That’s something to look forward to.”
“It’s not a date.”
“Of course not.”